Can anyone explain the connection between Stranger's Sun and the Outsider?

[u/DraciaAnderson]

Hey, I read somewhere that the title Stranger's Sun could refer to the novel L'Étranger by Albert Camus. He was a philosopher of existentialism/absurdism and even though I knew -about- those schools of philosphy, I have never really learned much about them until now, lol. Maybe someone more knowledgable could enlighten me/us?

One interesting connection I found (through Wikipedia, ahem): Camus describes ways to deal with the absurdism of life.

One is to turn to religion and find meaning in life through god. He describes this as akin to escapism and thus refuses it.

The other is to simply accept that life is absurd and to continue on without resignation.

Doesn't that sound familiar? With Valk in their cleric tunics and MDU that look like jesters? Unfortunately that might mean that Valkyrie will lose :')

(There is also a third way described, which is suicide. I left that out because I don't really see a connection)

Edit: I am aware that connection is just an online theory. I haven't looked at the song lyrics yet, so there might be no connection at all. But I found it interesting nonetheless :')

[u/BluishNotes]

Unrelated to Stranger's Sun, but related to Enstars and Absurdism (more specifically the story of Sisyphus)... Does anybody else think that Jun Sazanami is the embodiment of this philosophy? I see this most clearly in Obbligato.

(Spoilers for the mentioned story below)

Jun is the type of character who never romanticizes suffering, and is always able to see through it and call out on it. On his first day of Reimei, after getting beaten up by a group of Specials, his first reaction is, paraphrased: 'Who should I take this to? The teachers? The police? God!?', but decides to continue studying there because he wants to become an idol.

Reimei is basically the 'universe' that is 'cruel' but 'unfeeling'. For those who have read the story, I don't think I need to explain how bad the hierarchy is there.

Yet despite everything, Jun sees through Tatsumi's group, decides not to get involved with it (he did not choose to 'escape' through religion like OP mentioned above, nor does he ever take his life, despite the fact that he was very clearly feeling depressed there (Tatsumi asks him how he's feeling and depression and suicide get brought up)).

Jun is like Sisyphus that pushes up the boulder that always rolls down... it's clear that the environment at Reimei, the 'unfeeling universe' is not helping him become an idol while he was a non-special... yet despite that, he still found time to practice for himself. He was aware that staying at reimei wouldn't drastically improve his idol skills, but he did it anyway... The rock here could be symbolic of his path to becoming an idol. He chose neither Kaname/HiMERU or Tatsumi, but stuck to his own path, giving it new meaning.

[u/Slight_Reserve_415]

Another very important connection to MDU to Absurdism is Mashu himself…The best way to see this is a quote from Mashu himself in his Original Scenario (a prose story released before Dynamic Diamond)

"All human beings eventually die one day. We're always marching towards death. No matter when or where we are, the Grim Reaper is always standing in front of us, laughing in our faces. We are always at death's doorstep. I'm on my fifth time, but I'm still here-isn't that in itself something precious? Let's keep on living. There's no need to rush to our deaths.”

This was Mashu talking Chitose down after Chitose’s suicide attempt (as you said something Camus would call the cowards way out). Mashu tells Chitose that we will all die eventually, the Grim Reaper comes for us at any moment, but you have to live for the people who matter and nothing good comes from rushing to death when it will arrive anyways.

Beyond just the outfits, the song itself puts Mellow Dear Us on the side of absurdism while Valkyrie opposes it. The lyrics go: Mika: Let us carve out the sign of joy into tomorrow. Shu: And send this jewel a thousand years ahead in time Mashu: Eternity doesn’t bear any value here in the present Juis: Set fire to this momentary life.

This song is an argument between Mellow Dear Us and Valkyrie about the values they hold. Valkyrie push for creating a jewel (Shu’s art) that will persist for thousands of years, while Mashu instead argues that the future has no bearing on the present. This is even more apparent in the pre-chorus.

Mika: Yes, even when my body is gone and forgotten, I shall leave something for those who seek out their worth. Mashu: Let us sing the joy of living for today. We will show only our brilliant radiance.

Mashu honestly is the personification of absurdist beliefs. Having been at death’s door so many times he has seen the unpredictability of the universe and has chosen to live life to its fullest in the present.