
Episode 3 - Discussing David Foster Wallace with Robyn O'Neil
Explicit content warning
11/05/15 • 63 min
See more of her work at http://robynoneil.com/ or listen to her reading stuff on her own podcast called "Me Reading Stuff" - http://robynoneil.com/me-reading-stuff/ She's @Robyn_ONeil on Twitter.Our podcast is @ConcavityShow on Twitter.
Show Notes
(00:00) - Intro(00:39) - Guest Robyn O’neil
(02:00) - Robyn’s Image For the Podcast (http://www.themodern.org/programs/Past/Robyn-ONeil/1464)
(02:40) - Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
(04:38) - The Believer Interview with Wallace (http://www.believermag.com/issues/200311/?read=interview_wallace)
(04:38) - The Believer Interview with Robyn (http://www.believermag.com/issues/200811/?read=interview_oneil)
(05:05) - Robyn’s Style of Work
(07:50) - An Obsession with Oprah
(11:08) - Robyn’s Background with Wallace
(11:25) - Reluctance to Read Contemporary Literature
(14:28) - Vladimir Nabokov and A Passion for Writers
(17:24) - Nabokov’s Connection to Updike
(17:40) - The Obsession with Writers
(18:40) - Steeply/Marathe and The Idea of Attachment
(18:55) - The Connection Between Self-Obsession and Creation
(21:38) - This is Water Commencement Speech (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CrOL-ydFMI)
(22:20) - Finding Meaning in Art vs. A Higher Power
(23:49) - Art and Transcendence
(28:30) - Pop Culture’s Dominance in Society
(33:10) - Robyn’s Podcast (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/me-reading-stuff/id1010827465?mt=2)
(37:29) - A Radically Condensed History of Postindustrial Life and Self-Awareness
(44:20) - Handling a Public Profile
(48:38) - ‘Midwestern’ Politeness
(49:15) - Robyn’s Influences
(55:00) - Hurricane Sandy
(56:48) - Final Thoughts on Obsession and Ambition
(57:00) - Robyn Reading From Infinite Jest
(01:03:12) - Outro
People Mentioned
Robyn O'Neil (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robyn_O%27Neil)
David Foster Wallace (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Foster_Wallace)
Oprah Winfrey (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey)
E. Tyler Lindvall (http://etylerlindvall.blogspot.com)
Cormac Mcarthy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cormac_McCarthy)
Donna Tartt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Tartt)
Donald Barthelme (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Barthelme)
Vladimir Nabokov (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Nabokov)
Jeffrey Eugenides (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Eugenides)
John Updike (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Updike)
Hugh/Helen Steeply (http://infinitesummer.org/characters)
Remy Marathe (http://infinitesummer.org/characters)
Elena Ferrante (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Ferrante)
Howard Stern (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Stern)
Wallace Stevens (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_Stevens)
Kevin Christy
Nick Youssef
See more of her work at http://robynoneil.com/ or listen to her reading stuff on her own podcast called "Me Reading Stuff" - http://robynoneil.com/me-reading-stuff/ She's @Robyn_ONeil on Twitter.Our podcast is @ConcavityShow on Twitter.
Show Notes
(00:00) - Intro(00:39) - Guest Robyn O’neil
(02:00) - Robyn’s Image For the Podcast (http://www.themodern.org/programs/Past/Robyn-ONeil/1464)
(02:40) - Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
(04:38) - The Believer Interview with Wallace (http://www.believermag.com/issues/200311/?read=interview_wallace)
(04:38) - The Believer Interview with Robyn (http://www.believermag.com/issues/200811/?read=interview_oneil)
(05:05) - Robyn’s Style of Work
(07:50) - An Obsession with Oprah
(11:08) - Robyn’s Background with Wallace
(11:25) - Reluctance to Read Contemporary Literature
(14:28) - Vladimir Nabokov and A Passion for Writers
(17:24) - Nabokov’s Connection to Updike
(17:40) - The Obsession with Writers
(18:40) - Steeply/Marathe and The Idea of Attachment
(18:55) - The Connection Between Self-Obsession and Creation
(21:38) - This is Water Commencement Speech (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CrOL-ydFMI)
(22:20) - Finding Meaning in Art vs. A Higher Power
(23:49) - Art and Transcendence
(28:30) - Pop Culture’s Dominance in Society
(33:10) - Robyn’s Podcast (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/me-reading-stuff/id1010827465?mt=2)
(37:29) - A Radically Condensed History of Postindustrial Life and Self-Awareness
(44:20) - Handling a Public Profile
(48:38) - ‘Midwestern’ Politeness
(49:15) - Robyn’s Influences
(55:00) - Hurricane Sandy
(56:48) - Final Thoughts on Obsession and Ambition
(57:00) - Robyn Reading From Infinite Jest
(01:03:12) - Outro
People Mentioned
Robyn O'Neil (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robyn_O%27Neil)
David Foster Wallace (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Foster_Wallace)
Oprah Winfrey (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey)
E. Tyler Lindvall (http://etylerlindvall.blogspot.com)
Cormac Mcarthy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cormac_McCarthy)
Donna Tartt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Tartt)
Donald Barthelme (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Barthelme)
Vladimir Nabokov (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Nabokov)
Jeffrey Eugenides (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Eugenides)
John Updike (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Updike)
Hugh/Helen Steeply (http://infinitesummer.org/characters)
Remy Marathe (http://infinitesummer.org/characters)
Elena Ferrante (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Ferrante)
Howard Stern (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Stern)
Wallace Stevens (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_Stevens)
Kevin Christy
Nick Youssef
Previous Episode

Episode 2 - Discussing David Foster Wallace and The End of the Tour
In this episode, we spend most of the show discussing James Ponsoldt's film "The End of the Tour." If you have not seen the movie yet, there are spoilers of a sort.
Thanks again to Robyn O'Neil for her artwork, Parquet Courts for the intro song, and Jordan Tibbett for the transcript and show notes.
Show Notes
(00:00) - Intro
(00:30) - End of the Tour (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_end_of_the_tour_2015/)
(02:39) - James Ponsoldt
(04:20) - Jason Segel’s Performance
(07:42) - Faithfulness to The Book
(08:00) - David Lipsky
(09:54) - Jesse Eisenberg’s Performance
(10:53) - Lipsky and Wallace’s Relationship
(13:33) - The Facade of Fame vs. Authenticity
(15:00) - Success, Fulfillment, and Happiness
(17:25) - Today’s Relevance
(19:30) - Self-Promotion in Writing
(22:00) - Should It Exist (http://biblioklept.org/2013/12/13/although-of-course-you-end-up-riffing-obliquely-on-how-a-david-foster-wallace-road-trip-movie-is-a-terrible-idea/)
(23:47) - The Denunciation from Wallace’s Estate
(24:52) - “Saint” Dave
(28:39) - Wallace’s Portrayal Too Happy/Sad?
(36:45) - DFW’s Cultural Relevance
(37:26) - Other Adaptations
(41:30) - The Novel’s Cultural Relevance
(43:19) - 20th Anniversary of Infinite Jest
(46:49) - Wallace and Feminism
(48:08) - Final Thoughts on The Movie
(51:37) - The Director James Ponsoldt
(54:44) - Outro
People Mentioned David Foster Wallace (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Foster_Wallace)David Lipsky (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lipsky)
James Ponsoldt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Ponsoldt)
Jason Segel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Segel)
Jesse Eisenberg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Eisenberg)
Don DeLillo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_DeLillo)
Cormac McCarthy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cormac_McCarthy)
Thomas Pynchon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Pynchon)
Edwin Turner (Biblioklept) (https://twitter.com/biblioklept)
Brian Eno (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Eno)
Bonnie Nadell
D.T. Max (http://dtmax.com)
Michael Schur (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Schur)
John Krasinski (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Krasinski)
Chris Ayers (Poor Yorick Ent.) (http://pooryorickentertainment.tumblr.com)
Mary K. Holland (https://faculty.newpaltz.edu/maryholland/index.php/cv/)
Robyn O’Neil (robynoneil.com)
Parquet Courts (https://parquetcourts.wordpress.com)
Next Episode

Episode 4 - Discussing David Foster Wallace with Corrie Baldauf
In this episode we talk with artist Corrie Baldauf. If you haven't seen her Infinite Jest project, check it out here: http://hyperallergic.com/178866/reading-david-foster-wallace-for-the-colors/
And follow her on Twitter! https://twitter.com/CorrieBaldauf
Show notes courtesy of Jordan Tibbett.
Show Notes
(00:00) - Intro
(00:30) - Guest Corrie Baldauf
(01:50) - Corrie’s Infinite Jest Project
(03:50) - Pale King Cover Design
(06:51) - Corrie’s Introduction to Infinite Jest
(08:20) - Color References in The Book
(12:00) - An Excerpt of Color Usage
(13:30) - Jenni Baker’s Erasing Infinite Jest
(15:05) - Matt’s Entry in The Found Poetry Review (http://www.foundpoetryreview.com/wrt-david-foster-wallace/david-foster-wallace-titles-roughly-translated-into-other-languages-and-roughly-translated-back-into-english/)
(16:19) - Various Narrative Threads in Infinite Jest
(20:50) - Corrie’s Profile in Hyperallergic (http://hyperallergic.com/178866/reading-david-foster-wallace-for-the-colors/)
(20:50) - Corrie’s Cover Art on Unspeakable Failures: David Foster Wallace
(25:15) - The Literary Community and Twitter
(28:38) - Infinite Jest’s 20th Anniversary Cover Redesign
(33:14) - Imagery of ‘The Cage’
(38:30) - Karen Green’s Bough Down
(42:28) - Corrie’s Experience Reading Infinite Jest
(45:04) - Autism and Wallace
(48:20) - Characters in The Pale King linked to Characters in Infinite Jest
(50:36) - Corrie’s Optimism Project
(53:50) - Corrie’s New Book
(55:40) - Wallace in The Classroom
(57:45) - Final Thoughts
(59:30) - Outro
People Mentioned
Corrie Baldauf (http://corriebaldauf.com/home.html)
David Foster Wallace (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Foster_Wallace)
Karen Green (http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/apr/10/karen-green-david-foster-wallace-interview)
Jenni B. Baker (http://www.jennibbaker.com)
Clare Hayes-Brady (http://www.amazon.com/Unspeakable-Failures-David-Foster-Wallace/dp/1501313525)
Sarah Rose Sharp (http://hyperallergic.com/author/sarah-rose-sharp/)
Sidney Peterson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Peterson)
Matt Tresco
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