Existential Crisis Shown in the TV series Awkward

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Existential Crisis in the TV series “Awkward” We are all familiar with the lonely Charlie Brown, who wishes he was popular and courageous enough to sit with the beautiful red-head girl that he has a crush on. In the comic strip, Charlie talks down of himself numerous times such as, “I always have to eat alone because nobody likes me..” and “I’d give anything to talk with her.. She’d never like me, though.. I’m so blah and so stupid.. She’d never like me.” He then explains that if he would go over and talk to her, everyone would laugh and she would feel insulted. Charlie’s, loneliness, low quality of life, and negative self-talk are all symptoms of his existential crisis. An Existential Crisis can be described as a deep, obsessive concern with unanswered questions about the meaning of life and existence, which results in the disruption of one’s quality of life. Like Charlie Brown, Jenna, the main character in the MTV’s television series “Awkward” experiences an existential crisis, as evidenced by the absence of a higher power, a sentimental conspiracy, and futile/useless faith. Existentialism was introduced by a number of philosophers, including Jean Paul Sartre, the “central figure” of existentialism. (Burnham, Douglas) Sartre exclaimed that we are all free, meaning that we may experience the psychological strain of feeling “abandoned”. This forces us to take full responsibility for everything that happens. This unpleasant experience of “abandonment” originates from the realization that there is no God to guide us. It results in the belief that without a guide or role model, there are no values and no morality. Sartre said that everything is permitted because there is no higher power to stop us from doing whatever we want. (Cline,... ... middle of paper ... ...t. 2011. Web. 19 Dec. 2013. . Cline, Austin. "Abandonment: Condemned to Be Free." About.com Agnosticism / Atheism. About.com, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2014. . "Lecture 12: The Existentialist Frame of Mind." Historyguide. Steven Kreis, 13 Apr. 2012. Web. 20 Dec. 2013. . Litt, Sheldon. "Positive Health Online." Positive Health Online. Compass Internet, 6 May 2008. Web. 09 Jan. 2014. . Price, Joan A. "Bad Faith." Understanding Philosophy. New York: Chelsea House, 2008. 127-128. Print. Alberghini, Chris. "Awkward." Awkward. Prod. Lauren Lungerich and Mike Chessler. MTV. New York, New York, 1 Aug. 1981. Television.

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