The Myth of Sisyphus

Camera is following Sisyphus up and down the mountain

Reporter: Alright so you’ve been in the business for a while, of course you gained some recognition with the Greeks but with the expose done on you by the wonderful Albert Camus you’ve really sort of taken the limelight. Tell me, has it really gone to your head all that much.

Sisyphus: You know, John, I hate to admit it, but it really has.

Reporter: Oh?

Sisyphus: Well yeah because each work gave me a bit of perspective. At first, when I arrived at what I like to call ‘the hill’ I was thinking ‘This sucks’. I mean I’m a clever guy, but I couldn’t work my way out of the binding will of the Gods.

Reporter: Now that those God’s are dead, shouldn’t you be free to go?

Sisyphus: Oh I’m free to leave, but where will I go? Obscurity? That’s the thing… since Camus I’ve learned to love my job. I mean check out my arms - nothing hotter than a eternal damnation sculpted body.

Reporter: Can you explain this?

Sisyphus: Well Albert, who I loved working with, gave me a reason to find purpose in my task at hand here. I mean it’s really not that strange when you think about it, and I get to do it forever. I mean… that’s a pretty sweet deal. Plus there is decent medical.

Reporter: But as you write about in your new book, that isn’t always the case now is it?

Sisyphus: Well, yeah, the existential life is great in theory but when you are amidst the swirling chaos of the absurd industry psychology just wears thin, sometimes and I’ll go on streaks of depression.

Reporter: Now, in the book you allude to the fact that sometimes you actually stop pushing the rock?

Sisyphus: Listen, I’m not going to comment on that.

Sisyphus stops on the mountain, camera zooms in on his expression

Sisyphus: Alright get that thing out of my face you fucking vultures, this interview is done!

You see, I wrote a variation on this theme (a news story about Sisyphus) into a novel some time ago but in mine the guy wasn’t actually identified as Sisyphus and refused to answer the questions of the reporters, scientists and philosophers.

So he didn’t talk to anyone?

That pic is cool, albiet a little big.

No, in my piece it was only 2 passing references to news items on on TVs in bars (probably the most common way tha I use of introducing these little narratives into my stories) so I didn’t have the guy say anything, it is only presumed by others that he is Sisyphus.

I like this piece of yours - have you been reading Camus lately? The whole interview with a fictional or non-present person is quite old but this is a good way to rework it. :smiley:

The pavement art pic is too big but I’m waiting to see whether the moderators have the balls to tell me off for it…

Were you looking for…

“That thing of yours is just too damned big. Please put it away… You’re scaring the children.”

…something like that?

No, it was weird I was about to go to sleep and I just sort of had the idea. I had been looking for a way of dealing with the ‘flaw’ I touched on that had always bothered me with Camus. Its a little too easy with him, I find Dostoyevski to be a bit better at dealing with the nature of human psychology.

About the pic,

I particularly like the bricks at the far that gives the appearance of the sidewalk ‘ending’.