David Foster Wallace on American Stupidity

Even though America has the strongest economy in the world, our interest in the arts and education lags behind other European countries. In this video, David Foster Wallace discusses American stupidity and why Americans are scared of transformation.
Discover over 100 of David Foster Wallace's favorite books and the three books he wrote with by his side below
writeconscious.ck.page/8956ce...

[@Maggdusa]

Michael Silverblatt said, "I get afraid that no one is going to be writing the kind of novel I love anymore, that no one's going to know enough to write that kind of novel." (Silverblatt is a genius, like DFW.) He said this on stage at "Everything and More: A Tribute to David Foster Wallace"

[@iuseitToo]

His archive of interviews is a blessing. As well as the scattered appearances on various lit panels

[@assembly2593]

I showed up right as class started. Gotta love it!

[@WriteConscious]

Ayyeeee!

[@ainslie187]

FWIW I’d like to hear you talk about meditation/spiritual practice. Mighty keen discussion here, keep it up!

[@WriteConscious]

Will have a lot of content on it soon!

[@LayneRaisor]

I’ve only started The Burnout Society, as recommended on Leaf x Leaf, but it’s pretty enlightening in its philosophy about the ills of modern society and the importance of contemplation, as well as adversity, in the creative process. Our achievement oriented paradigm has largely eliminated both which then stifles the creation of authentic, meaningful art.

[@WriteConscious]

Love that book!

[@apokalupsishistoria]

My dude, we need to talk about Philip Sidney, the proto Shakespeare. Go read his “Defense of Poesy” or watch our breakdowns of it, but I think you’ll have a lot to chew on if you get around to reading it.

[@WriteConscious]

Read it in university! Good stuff

[@flynnjaman]

I find myself at a bit of a crossroads. For the past 6 years, mental health and growth have been my main goal. I've been with a woman & we've grown together, and now have grown apart. Both aspects of growth are important. With her, I've learned to be less reactionary to people's POMO bs, and simply listen and be compassionate, while recognizing the pain we all live with. Covid was a great time for encountering my demons. I found weed was something I could only smoke alone, because tapping into myself became almost a schizophrenic experience. It was both horrifying & awesome, but the takeaway has been worth the fire. I'm interested in people like Tomi Ungerer, who found the sexual revolution to be apart of the creative act, and not simply some lustful aesthetic. Today, the sexual revolution seems very confused, much like everything else, yet something I still think is worth exploring. I want to continue on this path of mental health, and from listening to your casts, I feel like the answer lies someplace with living a subject reality, yet communicating on some sort of objective ethic or morality, resting someplace with compassion and curiosity. TY again for all of this, and any type of answer would be welcomed

[@hector-rb7rv]

as usual, loved the video. question for you: do you think the millennial generation has produced a great work of literature akin to the works of dfw, pynchon, mccarthy?

[@WriteConscious]

Not yet, (or that I know of) but I think they will. The real question is will we even know it exists? We only know McCarthy, Pynchon, and DFW exist because they got a hard push by publishing houses.

[@JBreedloaf]

I think it’s really hard to decide what standard to hold other people to as a younger person these days as examples of a standard that includes caring about art dwindles. I agree that if you could “get into it for the girls” way more guys would care, but we as men also don’t hold each other to that standard anymore like it’s okay to have no knowledge or opinions on the subject of the the written word. I would like to hold my friends to higher standards but they just aren’t interested in reading anymore and if they do it’s all fantasy/sci fi popcorn character dramas. I guess it’s just hard to be openly judgmental about something I can sympathize with not caring about. Maybe trying to start something amongst friends or trying to organize a singles literature club?

[@winwinnington1647]

To truly acquire the type of spiritual depth that could illuminate the dark corners of the human psyche and convey that through writing in this shallow and fragmented age you would have to be truly called and willing to sacrifice many comforts to that calling. There are great writers who are still coming from a place of fundamental confusion and will not necessarily lead their readers to a place of clarity. Many great writers have lived lives of pain and transgression, we may be dazzled by there virtuosic wordplay but in the end they too may lead their readers to a philosophical dead end, for the most part, even the best writers may still be entertainers, in love with own thoughts and in love with their elevated status. But on the other hand it’s always nice to read a good book.

[@samuelallen8945]

yes yes yes

[@0andy1w]

I’d be interested to hear your take on Bloom’s criticism(s) of Wallace

[@WriteConscious]

Soon!

[@johnmcmahon5225]

How to explain the fact that the USA has over 123,000 libraries and that more books are published every year due to the ease of doing so? Serious art has always been elitist. The USA has won far more Nobel Prizes than any other country.

[@WriteConscious]

What are you talking about? Americans have won 3 Nobel prizes in literature since 1980, one of those was to Bob Dylan and another to Louise Gluick. Both of them were political picks to ensure they didn't have to pick real American authors like McCarthy, Delillo, Pynchon, or others. 28 Europeans have won in literature since 1980... Four African authors have won nobel prizes in literature since 1980 lmao..

[@johnmcmahon5225]

@@WriteConscious I don't believe that you said "in literature". The USA had 6 Nobel laureates last year, in less subjective categories. But yes the judging is based on politics, not good art. I saw Zimmy in concert a few years ago and he had his medal on a mannequin on stage along with a table with his Oscars and Grammys. The idea that he isn't one of the greatest and most influential writers in history is ludicrous unless you are some kind of highbrow elitist.