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Franz Kafka "Hunger Artist" english translation

the link above is to an essay by Franz Kafka. I've always admired the work of Kafka, but this may be the most profoundly disturbing piece of writing I have ever laid eyes on.

I have questions about why the hunger artists did it, why he subjected himself to that presentation even as his efforts and "art" -- as sickening as it is to begin with -- were twisted and distorted cruely against his professed purpose. about why he later subjected himself to such demeaning and self-destructive exploitation by his new employers even after leaving his old tormenting manager.

I'm confused, and depressed by this. was there a purpose to his art? was there a message, or some kind of emotion he was trying to evoke? or was he simply nihilistic and self-destructive?

what do any of you think?

funny thing is, Kafka writes pretty much all of his stories like that, and they are what he considers humourous. xd

actually, I read alot of stories and watch alot of films that are as depressing as this. it's realy the kinda stuff I live for, but I've never seen anything leave me this dumbfounded before in litterature or media. only real life has any competition to it. it seems meaningless, though full of ambiguous and open-ended symbolism.

hmmm... I'd realy like to agree with you. thing is, it doesn't seem to be an audience at all, just a handful of the circus members and the ringleader... and he still didn't get any respect for it at the end.

but I like this idea. smile hopefulness makes me feel better.