Absurdism vs Existentialism
Both philosophies face the same void. Existentialism says you fill it with choice and meaning. Absurdism says the void is funny if you look at it right.
Existentialism's answer
Sartre, de Beauvoir, and Heidegger argue that existence precedes essence — we create meaning through our choices. The absence of inherent meaning is a call to authentic action.
Absurdism's answer
Camus argues that the search for meaning in a meaningless universe is itself the absurd condition. Rather than transcending the absurdity (existentialism) or ignoring it (religion), Camus advocates revolt — living fully in spite of it, even finding it funny.
The humor of absurdism vs the seriousness of existentialism
Existentialism tends toward the earnest: choice, responsibility, authenticity. Absurdism tends toward the tragicomic: the joke is that we keep asking the question. The Archive's books are deeply absurdist — they present a ridiculous object (a one-word novel) with complete seriousness.
Related reading
What is Absurdism · Absurdism vs Nihilism · Absurdism vs Surrealism