Camus shows the absurdity of watching films in Ch. 2 and 4. Explain the contradiction.

In
, Camus gives us an absurd hero in Meursault
who loves life, hates death, and scorns the gods. He
also loves swimming, sex, sleeping, eating, smoking, and going to the movies--all
life affirming activities.  As such, Camus would rather his hero laugh at a movie
rather than cry at a funeral.  Movies celebrate life; funerals celebrate only death.

Merusault's mother dies Wednesday or Thursday.  The vigil is Friday, and Meursault
meets Marie Saturday for a swim, movies, and sex (she spends the night).  Together, they see a
comedy starring Fernandel, a French actor.  Marie notices Meursault's black tie, and she
realizes that he is supposed to be in "mourning."  She thinks it's a bit odd that he
would want to swim, go to a comedy, and have sex so soon after his mother's death.  Later, in
Chapter 4, Meursault and Emmanuel go to see two movies together during the work week
nights.

Movies are places where people come together to view something as
part of a cultural ritual.  Movies are not Camus' targets.  Movies are used to
juxtapose the other ritualistic places where people gather to celebrate death: funerals, vigils,
churches, courtrooms, and public executions (all of the people in these places will judge and
condemn Meursault later). Movies are harmless compared to these institutions.
 These places are the "gods" that Camus says his absurd heroes should scorn.

Camus is using the act of going to a film to show that Meursault is not affected by his
mother's death.  He can go to a funeral one day and then see a comedy the next.  He does not
reject casual relationships the week after the funeral.  Is that so wrong?  Camus thinks
not.

To laugh when one should cry may look like a contradiction of emotions,
and it may look like Meursault is a cold, apathetic person.  Meursault rejects social
expectations that limit a person's freedom and love of life.  Society expects him to wear black,
look sad, and refuse entertainment and casual dates.  In effect, society expects Meursault to
act like he is dying.

Camus rejects this culture of death.  Why can't he go
to the movies and see comedy?  Why can't he go swimming?  Why can't he have sex that night?  Who
makes these silly cultural rules about the mourning process?

At the end of
the novel, Merusault, just before he is to be executed, will say that no one has a right to cry
over his mother's death.   Merusault loves life: the water, the sun, girls in bathing suits,
funny movies, sleeping, eating, drinking.  All these acts are celebrations of life.  Wearing a
black tie and locking oneself in an apartment all week only celebrates the culture of death that
Camus' absurdism wants us to escape.