Nihilism and The Absurd in Rick and Morty: The Conscious Repurposing of The Mainstream as a Way of Coping with Contemporary Apathy

Abstract

This paper concluded, that Rick and Morty proves to be different than the other similar cartoons on Adult Swim, because it uses the idea of Albert Camus’ rebellion against the absurdity of existence in a very sophisticated way, in order to accept life’s inherent meaninglessness and cope with contemporary apathy caused by our impossible dream of gaining mastery over everything. [...] In my opinion, the philosophical depth of Rick and Morty foreshadows a tendency in animated cartoons, which, after outgrowing their own subculture and entering the mainstream media, can be extremely influential on the way humanity perceives itself.