Jean-Paul Sartre is known for defending existentialism against challenges and giving further explanation regarding the meanings of existentialism’s claims. After reading the Stephen Colbert interview with GQ, I believe Sartre would promote Colbert’s way of living. Sartre has a very precise outlook on how the human should act and his beliefs are briefly summarized early in his book when he says, “not only is man what he conceives himself to be, but he is also only what he wills himself to be after his thrust toward existence” (Sartre, 16). Stephen Colbert’s interview covered a broad amount of his material, but from the beginning of the article Sartre would be impressed with Colbert’s performance on “Only In Monroe, a local public-access program
…show more content…
The author observed Colbert act as a leader during this time, and considering the amount of detail he included on this matter, I do not doubt that Colbert was performing his actions with purpose, which is something Sartre would admire. What I believe would please Sartre even further is the author’s mentioning of Colbert’s reflection of their time in the construction site. Lovell writes, “[b]ack at his office, Colbert delivered a soliloquy on the necessity of focus and intention, being fully present for whatever moment you are in (GQ, 3). This reminded me of Sartre’s work because he mentions, “man is in an organized situation in which he himself is involved” (Sartre 41). I interpret this as Sartre’s view on what a man is suppose to do as he continues to perform actions. We are constantly making actions and those actions create the reality that surrounds us, which also provides us with opportunities for future actions. Colbert identifies his work as something deeper than just joke. He’s quoted saying, “the end product is jokes, but you could easily say the end product is intention. Having intentionality at all times… The process of process is process” (GQ, 3). Colbert clearly sees his work as a continual process in which he must choose actions that fit into his “organized situation.” Another example of Colbert’s views being parallel to Sartre’s is Colbert’s opinion on the show Chopped. Colbert’s reason for loving the show “is that it’s a show that is wholly about creation within a limited range” (GQ, 3). Colbert admires the confrontation with reality and how it requires action to create something in the end. Sartre wrote, “man is always the same. The situation confronting him varies. Choice always remains a choice in a situation” (Sartre, 44). Sartre is dedicated to expressing the necessity of action and the necessity to accept
The author observed Colbert act as a leader during this time, and considering the amount of detail he included on this matter, I do not doubt that Colbert was performing his actions with purpose, which is something Sartre would admire. What I believe would please Sartre even further is the author’s mentioning of Colbert’s reflection of their time in the construction site. Lovell writes, “[b]ack at his office, Colbert delivered a soliloquy on the necessity of focus and intention, being fully present for whatever moment you are in (GQ, 3). This reminded me of Sartre’s work because he mentions, “man is in an organized situation in which he himself is involved” (Sartre 41). I interpret this as Sartre’s view on what a man is suppose to do as he continues to perform actions. We are constantly making actions and those actions create the reality that surrounds us, which also provides us with opportunities for future actions. Colbert identifies his work as something deeper than just joke. He’s quoted saying, “the end product is jokes, but you could easily say the end product is intention. Having intentionality at all times… The process of process is process” (GQ, 3). Colbert clearly sees his work as a continual process in which he must choose actions that fit into his “organized situation.” Another example of Colbert’s views being parallel to Sartre’s is Colbert’s opinion on the show Chopped. Colbert’s reason for loving the show “is that it’s a show that is wholly about creation within a limited range” (GQ, 3). Colbert admires the confrontation with reality and how it requires action to create something in the end. Sartre wrote, “man is always the same. The situation confronting him varies. Choice always remains a choice in a situation” (Sartre, 44). Sartre is dedicated to expressing the necessity of action and the necessity to accept