Reinaldo Azevedo Resurfaces Albert Camus' Work and Absurdism to Explain Our Times

Brazilian journalist Reinaldo Azevedo, a prominent voice in contemporary progressivism, recently invoked the example of Albert Camus, the Algerian writer who achieved fame in Europe during World War II. As a longtime admirer of Camus, the author previously wrote an academic article during an internship at Casper Libero’s Faculty focusing on Camus's journalistic work with Combat, a clandestine publication of the French Communist Party during the Nazi occupation. While Camus is better known for his literary works, his journalism deserves greater attention. Camus favored opinion journalism and wrote editorials that critiqued Nazism, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and war in general, while also supporting left-wing resistance movements. After leaving Algeria, he entered French intellectual circles with the assistance of Jean-Paul Sartre, though the two later experienced a profound disagreement regarding revolutionary tactics. Sartre advocated for armed rebellion, while Camus preferred a more pacifistic approach. This difference in opinion led to a public and rather pointed disagreement, with Sartre criticizing Camus's stance and some accusing Camus of anti-communism. Azevedo referenced Camus's The Myth of Sisyphus and its central question regarding suicide as a key to understanding his philosophy.

Reinaldo Azevedo Highlights Camus' Absurdism and Its Relevance in Modern Times Through The Plague Adaptation

Although often associated with French existentialism, Camus passionately embraced absurdism, particularly humanity's capacity to develop self-destructive technologies. This theme is evident throughout his writings and journalism. Camus’s exploration of suicide in The Myth of Sisyphus provides a crucial lens through which to view this preoccupation. Subsequently, Camus's novel The Plague gained renewed relevance during the COVID-19 pandemic and was adapted into a play starring Thiago Lacerda, who was interviewed by the author for Meteoro Brasil. Azevedo's reference to Camus highlights a significant figure in leftist debates, both in Europe and globally. For further insights, see the author’s editorial on Folha TV.