I quite like DFW but he is the definition of midcult. He even says as much himself in interviews when he talks about having the epiphany that intelligent writing shouldn't sacrifice being entertaining. But the result is fundamentally unserious literature, despite how 'serious' the subject matter is. What he didn't realise was that good writing IS entertaining in and off itself. But he was midcult through and through and wanted to write something that would sell millions of copies and he got his wish. Maybe that's why he killed himself in the end.
He was talking about difficult literature, as in literature that expected something of the reader; he felt that literature should challenge while still being entertaining. You might want to rewatch that video. >millions of copies
I don't think it sold anywhere near millions, probably did not even reach a million copies in his life time. First year sales was like 45k.
Also I know what he said and I don't think it changes my opinion. I admit I'm not being generous to him, I'm just trying to articulate why I think his stuff rubs me the wrong way even though I generally enjoy it.
It is a fantastic novel, all about life inundated in information and constant stimulation.
>inb4 Wikipedia
Also I know what he said and I don't think it changes my opinion. I admit I'm not being generous to him, I'm just trying to articulate why I think his stuff rubs me the wrong way even though I generally enjoy it.
Someone so terrible at articulating their own thoughts should probably not be criticizing the writing of others. At least put in a little effort instead of just spewing what ever comes to mind.
Pale King is a weird one, beyond all the metafictional titty-pinching there's this somewhat portentous quality to it, odd given how carefully he'd avoided it in all his previous fiction.
I've only read IJ but his prose there had this anemic, dorky quality to it. Like you could hear the mediocre English Lit. teacher reciting the story to you and just going on and on.
Yeah he definitely comes across like that. My generous interpretation is that he had a lot of deep thoughts about the world and was well aware that saying them aloud made him sound pretentious and so tried to mitigate that with self-deprecation which ironically often ends up making him seem a bit of a tool - but I don't blame him for that, I think he was just an awkward guy.
i like DFW because he uses a lot of good words and comes more good words in absence of one. "amphetminic" is one I like a lot
also E Pluribus Unum is one of the best essays I've ever read and he's completely right about everything
Mad means crazy (unless you're a Black). I'm not crazy about him. He's alright and kind of like him as a person.
Who is that?
Captain Jack Sparrow
YAGSPARRO
Marshall from How I met your mother. Op must’ve though he’s on tv
Kurt Coblaine
I quite like DFW but he is the definition of midcult. He even says as much himself in interviews when he talks about having the epiphany that intelligent writing shouldn't sacrifice being entertaining. But the result is fundamentally unserious literature, despite how 'serious' the subject matter is. What he didn't realise was that good writing IS entertaining in and off itself. But he was midcult through and through and wanted to write something that would sell millions of copies and he got his wish. Maybe that's why he killed himself in the end.
He was talking about difficult literature, as in literature that expected something of the reader; he felt that literature should challenge while still being entertaining. You might want to rewatch that video.
>millions of copies
I don't think it sold anywhere near millions, probably did not even reach a million copies in his life time. First year sales was like 45k.
>inb4 Wikipedia
Also I know what he said and I don't think it changes my opinion. I admit I'm not being generous to him, I'm just trying to articulate why I think his stuff rubs me the wrong way even though I generally enjoy it.
no way
Should've lived longer so as to produce a genuinely novel and astute criticism of the internet age.
He already predicted snapchat filters in IJ what more do you want from him
He did, The Pale King.
>The Pale King.
is he good
It is a fantastic novel, all about life inundated in information and constant stimulation.
Someone so terrible at articulating their own thoughts should probably not be criticizing the writing of others. At least put in a little effort instead of just spewing what ever comes to mind.
He never finished The Pale King. I just want more of his books =[
Pale King is a weird one, beyond all the metafictional titty-pinching there's this somewhat portentous quality to it, odd given how carefully he'd avoided it in all his previous fiction.
>titty-pinching
not to mention shoe-squeezing
le keep it to yourself
I've only read IJ but his prose there had this anemic, dorky quality to it. Like you could hear the mediocre English Lit. teacher reciting the story to you and just going on and on.
I read that book in my internal voice and feel personally attacked by this post, mostly because of the accuracy of it.
I used to like his youtube video interviews. Now that I grew up after 17, he gives off this gut feeling that he is a dickhead.
Yeah he definitely comes across like that. My generous interpretation is that he had a lot of deep thoughts about the world and was well aware that saying them aloud made him sound pretentious and so tried to mitigate that with self-deprecation which ironically often ends up making him seem a bit of a tool - but I don't blame him for that, I think he was just an awkward guy.
a dickhead, maybe
a recently circumcised dick head that's why
he wore the bandage on head ?
Who is that?
Ringo
this is disinfo / misinfo, Homeland Security, pls ‘save me’ like you saved Afghanistan, the pic in the op is clearly john lennon.
i like DFW because he uses a lot of good words and comes more good words in absence of one. "amphetminic" is one I like a lot
also E Pluribus Unum is one of the best essays I've ever read and he's completely right about everything
>comes
up with
They are?
because he's popular
it's only good if normies don't like it or don't know about it
I’m not.
he abandoned us
I don't like pop culture.