BASC70175 - Infinite Jest: Part I

Course Description

Asked if he was proud of his Infinite Jest (1986), David Foster Wallace said, “Yes. No line was unconsidered, no fact was unresearched.” This means everything is meaningful in the novel’s epic labyrinth of comedy and tragedy, philosophy and science. While it can be seen as an entertaining take on the modern addiction to entertainment, the novel also invites the reader to rethink the American pursuit of happiness in a somber, unprejudiced way. In Infinite Jest, the eternal question about what makes life worth living looms larger than in any other twentieth-century work of literature. 

We’ll devote two quarters to discussions of Wallace’s 1079-page masterpiece. This winter we will tackle pages 1-538 and Endnotes 1-223 (pp. 983-1036). In Spring 2023 we will complete the second half of the journey.

Required Text:

Wallace, David Foster. Infinite Jest. Back Bay Books. ISBN 978-0274994748.

Notes

Online registration deadline: Thursday, December 29 at 5 pm CT