Excerpts
David Foster Wallace Quote
Culled from the current issue of Harper’s (January 2009), as recited by Zadie Smith at a memorial service for DFW at New York University):
“[…]there’s something kind of timelessly vital and sacred about good writing. This thing doesn’t have that much to do with talent, even glittering talent…Talent’s just an instrument. It’s like having a pen that works instead of one that doesn’t. I’m not saying I’m able to work consistently out of that premise, but it seems like the big distinction between good art and so-so art lies somewhere in the art’s heart’s purpose, the agenda of the consciousness behind the text. It’s got something to do with love. With having the discipline to talk out of that part or yourself that can love instead of the part that just wants to be loved.”
So I guess it’s me quoting Harper’s quoting Zadie Smith quoting David Foster Wallace, which is I think part of the magic of words and thoughts — that they course through so many minds, residing, then spreading again.
David Foster Wallace brings back feelings of J.D. Salinger’s alter-ego/character Buddy Glass — the philosopher at the bar, the one who tells you how it is outside the classroom. Much of how I try to act comes from his Kenyon Speech. It just moved me so much, the non-academic “real-life”ness of it all.
Writing as an act of love. If that sounds cheesey, we need more cheese.
Tags: Buddy Glass, david foster wallace, memorial
i really love that dfw speech
the first time i read it a couple of years ago i thought he was being trite
but i caught up with it later on
my opinion: this was a very good post
i really love that dfw speech
the first time i read it a couple of years ago i thought he was being trite
but i caught up with it later on
my opinion: this was a very good post
have you seen they are releasing an expanded version of the speech as a book now?
it is called ‘This is Water’
http://www.amazon.com/This-Water-Delivered-Significant-Compassionate/dp/0316068225/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229461710&sr=8-1
have you seen they are releasing an expanded version of the speech as a book now?
it is called ‘This is Water’
http://www.amazon.com/This-Water-Delivered-Significant-Compassionate/dp/0316068225/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229461710&sr=8-1
Yes- this is beautiful. “this is water…” what a great speech. what soulfulness.
Yes- this is beautiful. “this is water…” what a great speech. what soulfulness.
wow, a hardcover book.
won’t that be a really short book?
i wonder if he had a doing in that, or this is some posthumous thing…
wow, a hardcover book.
won’t that be a really short book?
i wonder if he had a doing in that, or this is some posthumous thing…
i think it is an expanded version, the speech was cut from something larger or something? not sure
i hope its something more than an afterthought
i have also heard there is a journal that will be publishing a large chunk of the big novel he was working on, which he had sent them not too long ago
i think it is an expanded version, the speech was cut from something larger or something? not sure
i hope its something more than an afterthought
i have also heard there is a journal that will be publishing a large chunk of the big novel he was working on, which he had sent them not too long ago
Great quote.
I’m reading Infinite Jest now, and wow, what talent. What heart.
Great quote.
I’m reading Infinite Jest now, and wow, what talent. What heart.
Really great. That quote just got the hairs on my neck standing up. His clips on YouTube from readings and interviews kick my ass everytime. To say that he was a fierce talent or genius or whatever doesn’t really do him justice. He reminds me of what great writing is all about in terms of ideas, language, detail, execution, etc. After listening to him I realize pathetically I’ve been coasting along using a fraction of my brain power for a very long time. Just got a hold of Infinite Jest and will be diving into it very soon.
Really great. That quote just got the hairs on my neck standing up. His clips on YouTube from readings and interviews kick my ass everytime. To say that he was a fierce talent or genius or whatever doesn’t really do him justice. He reminds me of what great writing is all about in terms of ideas, language, detail, execution, etc. After listening to him I realize pathetically I’ve been coasting along using a fraction of my brain power for a very long time. Just got a hold of Infinite Jest and will be diving into it very soon.
not to be a dweeb about it
but i’m pretty sure ‘think’ from brief interviews… is one of the best stories under 1,000 words i’ve ever read
anyway
kind of sucks that they are publishing that speech
but it’s a nice speech
not to be a dweeb about it
but i’m pretty sure ‘think’ from brief interviews… is one of the best stories under 1,000 words i’ve ever read
anyway
kind of sucks that they are publishing that speech
but it’s a nice speech
As a Newbie, I am always searching online for articles that can help me on this subject. Thank you!
As a Newbie, I am always searching online for articles that can help me on this subject. Thank you!