Overview

This book breaks new ground by showing that the work of David Foster Wallace originates from and functions in the space between philosophy and literature. Philosophy is not a mere supplement to or decoration of his writing, nor does he use literature to illustrate pre-established philosophical truths. Rather, for Wallace, philosophy and literature are intertwined ways of experiencing and expressing the world that emerge from and amplify each other. The book does not advance a fixed or homogenous interpretation of Wallace's oeuvre but instead offers an investigative approach that allows for a variety of readings. The volume features fourteen new essays by prominent and promising Wallace scholars, divided into three parts: one on general aspects of Wallace's oeuvre - such as his aesthetics, form, and engagement with performance - and two parts with thematic focuses, namely 'Consciousness, Self, and Others' and 'Embodiment, Gender, and Sexuality'.

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9781526172327

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Reviews

Reading David Foster Wallace between philosophy and literature explores Wallace's unique way of being a writer and shows that this uniqueness resides in how his work functions in between philosophy and literature. Philosophy is not a mere supplement to or decoration of his writing, nor does he use literature to illustrate preestablished philosophical truths. Rather, as this collection aims to demonstrate, for Wallace philosophy and literature are co-originating ways of apprehending and articulating the world. The readings of Wallace presented here follow an investigative approach rather than a fixed methodology or homogenous theoretical slant. Sixteen prominent and promising Wallace scholars present their individual takes on Wallace's in-betweenness, which are clustered around three themes: general aspects of Wallace's oeuvre - such as his aesthetics, form and engagement with performance - 'consciousness, self and others', and 'embodiment, gender and sexuality'. Readers will find fresh insights on key issues in Wallace's work - from solipsism and narcissism to the problem of other minds and role of the imagination - together with investigations of gender, performativity and race, and Wallace's engagement with writers such as Joyce, Dostoevsky, Hegel and Lasch.

Author Information

"Allard den Dulk is Senior Lecturer of Philosophy, Literature and Film at Amsterdam University College and Research Fellow at the Faculty of Humanities of the VU University Amsterdam. Pia Masiero is Associate Professor of American Literature at Ca' Foscari University of Venice. Adriano Ardovino is Full Professor of Theoretical Philosophy at ""G.d'Annunzio"" University of Chieti-Pescara."

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