Existentialism

Existentialism

Belief #1•When society tries to impose

certain arbitrary beliefs, values, or rules that must be faithfully accepted and obeyed, individualism is destroyed and a person becomes whatever the people in power desire, thus dehumanizing and reducing him to being an object

Belief #2

•Each person is an isolated being who is cast into an alien, absurd universe that possesses no truth, value, or, possibly, meaning

Belief #3

•Human life is in no way optimally satisfying because of losses or suffering that occurs when considering the lack of power and control one has over his life

Belief #4

• A person's life begins and ends at nothing; it is an anguished existence in which the individual spends a lifetime changing himself and what he values through the choices he makes

Belief #5

•Finding one’s self and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibility

Belief #6

•People are searching to find out who and what they are throughout life as they make choices based on their experiences, beliefs, and outlook

Belief #7

•A person should commit to choosing an individual, authentic code of ethics based on personal judgment

Belief #8

•A person should be responsible for his actions/decisions without the help of society’s laws, traditions, or pressures

Arnie the Doughnut

Belief #3

•Human life is in no way optimally satisfying because of losses or suffering that occurs when considering the lack of power and control one has over his life

Arnie has a lack of control over his life (due to the bakery and Mr. Bing), so life is not optimally satisfying for him, until he can exercise his free will as a donut-dog in the end.

Belief #5

•Finding one’s self and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibility

Mr. Bing makes the choices for Arnie; Arnie learns about the life cycle of donut through choices that are made for him.

A person is best and learns most when struggling against his individual nature/ fighting for life

A person is best and learns most when struggling against his individual nature/ fighting for lifeAn existentialist might argue

that this is a learning experience for Arnie; Bing struggles with what to do with Arnie, and he learns to reevaluate his beliefs about a donut’s purpose.

Decisions are not without

stress and consequences

Decisions are not without

stress and consequences After talking to the baker, we see

Arnie struggle with bugged-out eyes/losing sprinkles.

The decision to become a doughnut dog impacts Arnie’s whole lifestyle (a consequence). Since the decision is up to Mr. Bing, Arnie is unable to exercise his own free will.

Ecocriticism, Pragmatism, and

Aestheticism

Ecocriticism

How is nature represented in this

text?

Ecocriticism

Nature is a place for entertainment and enjoyment (doughnut dog walks); bakery is busy and thus Arnie “misses” what’s going on.

Pragmatism

Rejects the impractical

Pragmatism

Bing makes a valuable decision to find a use for Arnie and not have a doughnut uselessly sitting around.

Aestheticism

Beauty is superior to other values

Aestheticism

Bing feels the pull of what is morally right for Arnie and is not overcome by the aesthetics (or, beauty) of Arnie’s delicious-looking sprinkles.