KairiSameshima

Progression3.4
4/21/15
WTESpring15
Souffrant

AlthoughIwasonlyabletofinishreadingtwomoreofDavidFosterWallacesessays,
hisuseofgroupsofpeoplecontinuesinhisessays
AuthorityandAmericanUsage
and
The
ViewFromMrs.Thompsons.
Likehisotherworksheworksaroundthesegeneralizationsof
Americanpeopleinordertofurtherunderstandthem.IthinkthatWallacecompartmentalizes
thesegroupsofpeoplesothathecanbetterillustratethetensionsthatexistthroughout
Americansociety.InallofhisessaysWallacewillnarrateandexplaintheconflictsthatexist
betweenthesegroups.However,hiswritingisnotmeanttoportrayAmericaasaculturethat
isrippingitselfapartattheseams,butinsteadacultureofconstanttension.Throughthe
analysisoftension,Wallaceshowshisfascinationwiththegrandinventionthatisthe
Americanopinion.Hiswritingseemstoconveythatinacountrywherethefreedomofspeech
andtheexpressionofopinionsisheldinsuchhighregard,ifthereexistsanopinionrighteous
ornot,therewillexistacounteropinion.
Ofcoursetheseobservationsarentmadefromthehighobservationpointofawriter.
IneachofhisessaysDavidFosterWallaceexhibitsatrue,personalconnectionwiththe
materialandthepeoplehewritesabout.Hisconstantuseoffootnotes,quotations,andother
referencesreflectontheaccuracythatWallaceisaimingfor.Forexample,inhisessay
Big
RedSon
,Wallacecouldhavestoodquietlyintheadultvideoconventionhallandmerely
observedthegoingabouts,butinsteadhechosetogouptothepeoplethereandaskthem
questionsofhowtheyfeltabouttheadultvideoindustryanditsfans.Whetherornothisvisits
tosuchconventionsorhistravelsonaluxurycruiseareobligatoryorvoluntary,hisfocusand
questioningofeverydetailoftheseeventsgiveshiswritingaprofoundsenseofintimacywith
histhinking.