Biddies and Philosophy

Last night I was trying to watch a movie call "Waking Life," a cartoony mix of dreams and philosophies. It seemed like such a beautiful movie, but I was having trouble focusing on it because I was sitting between the two chattiest girls I have ever met. They wouldn't shut up. Perhaps Drunk Sarah would get along with them, but last night I wasn't drunk and wasn't amused with these chicks.

Anyway, they stopped talking for about a minute and a half to focus on the movie themselves, but after realizing there was no hope of picking up the plot line, they returned to gabbing. The brunette, Carly, turns her head towards me and says, "Ya know, this movie seems like it's pretty philosophical. It reminds me of when I learned about existentialism in class. Gosh, my mind was absolutely blown that day!"
I just nodded and smiled approvingly and then turned back to the movie, again having no idea what I missed and being quite angry about it.

Later, I thought about what Carly had said and about when I first learned of existentialism. I knew immediately after a quick journal excerpt that I was an existentialist. Things about existentialism have never "blown my mind" but instead reinforced things I've already thought or decided. So I wonder, is philosophy now some sort of fad? Are people who don't understand it dabbling in hopes of gaining some sort of intellectual cred? I've had "aha" moments after reading quotes or articles from more established and learned existentialists, and I often have dazed moments where I'm lost in thought, staring at a blank screen (or sometimes, awkwardly,  another person), losing myself in my own existential thoughts, but I don't think the premise of the philosophy is capable of blowing anyone's mind.

 Was it really groundbreaking for this girl to hear that she creates her own purpose for life? That the only purpose can be created by us, much like we've created God or authority?  Did it short a fuse when someone told her that she was nothing greater than what she does, the decisions and impact she makes?

If these concepts drove her crazy, imagine throwing determinism into the mix!