Charlie Rose Science Series
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03/27/1997
David Foster Wallace
An interview with David Foster Wallace
Author David Foster Wallace talks about his collection of essays, "A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again".
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Transcripts
Transcripts available through Voxant.
Transcripts available through Voxant.
What is exactly wrong with being "opinionated, talkative and self defacing?"
I want to address 'Callieâ??sâ?? comment in writing that you may want to cut Wallace a little slack. Wallace is clearly exhibiting the symptoms of existing in a culture that is teetering on the edge of their sofas, salivating for the moment when you, quite frankly, F-up. It is my belief that persons who watch television more than read tend to be jaded, jealous, and mocking of anyone having more intelligence or success than themselves and enjoy seeing these persons fail. The writer is inherently aware of reality and of the moment on many levels; everything is omnipresent. Having that kind of awareness of oneself is a difficult thing to ignore. Take a look at the Rose / Jonathan Franzen interview as Franzen tries desperately to not be pegged as narcissistic or too self-aware, which in some eyes might create the very thing he is attempting to ward off. In a culture where everyone on television is automatically assumed to be egotistic what are non-visual artists to do? Perhaps they can work more on appearing to not care, but then they are not actors; theyâ??re writers.
I wish he'd grow up and get out of his head. He speaks of postmodernism as being self conscious, yet here he is --worried about how he looks. Perhaps he is the the living talking example what post modernism wrought in the time he was going to college. That is, opinionated, talkative, and self defacing all at the same time.
very good, maybe the best in our lifetime, i am 29. if you find nothing of interest in this writer, well i really just... you will always be alright, you are ok. really youre alright, no one hates you. im serious.