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Infinite Endnotes and Important Clichés: New Sincerity in David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest

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Author

  • Aili Pettersson Peeker

Summary, in English

In the past decades, a field of so-called Wallace Studies, i.e. academic studies dedicated to the investigation of David Foster Wallace’s writings, has emerged and developed. These studies are often connected to the equally new literary concept of new sincerity. However, despite the number of articles published on the subject, the scholarly works going into any textual, exemplifying analysis of Wallace’s literature are few. The result is a research field with vague definitions, generalizing conclusions and many ambiguities.

The aim of this thesis is to investigate how the depiction of clichés and compassion as well as aspects of the narrative structure of David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest relates to the concept of new sincerity. By a close reading, an examination of the ironic norm of the novel as well as examples illustrating deviations from this norm is performed. It is further argued that Wallace’s novel portrays an alternative to the cynical default setting of postmodern culture. The thesis concludes with a discussion regarding how Wallace’s use of endnotes affects the relationship between reader and writer.

Department/s

Publishing year

2014

Language

English

Document type

Student publication for Master's degree (one year)

Topic

  • Languages and Literatures

Keywords

  • New Sincerity
  • Post-postmodernism
  • Cliché
  • David Foster Wallace
  • Irony

Supervisor

  • Alexander Bareis