David Foster Wallace, 1962-2008.
And the so-called real world will not discourage you from operating on your default settings, because the so-called real world of men and money and power hums merrily along in a pool of fear and anger and frustration and craving and worship of self. Our own present culture has harnessed these forces in ways that have yielded extraordinary wealth and comfort and personal freedom. The freedom all to be lords of our tiny skull-sized kingdoms, alone at the center of all creation. This kind of freedom has much to recommend it. But of course there are all different kinds of freedom, and the kind that is most precious you will not hear much talk about much in the great outside world of wanting and achieving . . . The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day.
--2005 Kenyon Commencement Address
A reading of work in progress:
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Changes of the season are challenging emotionally, especially between the new and full moons in the Fall, especially now. I'm writing about how I feel in response to DFW's death, and how I felt years ago to the death of Elliott Smith, who died around the same time of year, with similiar lunar aspects.
Here's a link to a DFW article in Gourmet I like a whole lot.
http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/2000s/2004/08/consider_the_lobster?printable=true
Posted by: genevelyn | Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 08:42 PM
It's a great article--I love it too.
Posted by: Brandon | Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 09:01 AM