Here is a quote from Infinite Jest. I had to think about it a lot. But I am not sure about the interpretation.
And then it's stuck there, the weary cynicism that saves us from gooey sentiment and unsophisticated naivete. Sentiment equals naïveté on this continent...
...Hal, who's empty but not dumb, theorizes privately that what passes for hip cynical transcendence of sentiment is really some kind of fear of being really human, since to be really human (at least as he conceptualizes it) is probably to be unavoidably sentimental and naive and goo-prone and generally pathetic, is to be in some basic interior way forever infantile, some sort of not-quite-right-looking infant dragging itself anaclitically around the map, with big wet eyes and froggy-soft skin, huge skull, gooey drool.
My thoughts: I think DFW was very interested in what it means to feel human. He tried to numb him with drugs in order not having to feel this way. I think he was scared about feeling human. His texts often content how different people try to cope with life. DFW believed there were true values one could worship. But they eat you alive. He was opposed to this postmodern sentiment that truth was only subjective and that this "hip cynical transcendence" would offer us a meaningful way how to live our lives. His literature gives us a comfort because we can feel as if we were in the mind of another human being. This decreases our loneliness. Capitalism, marketing and entertainment want to make us believe that we could purchase happiness and meaningful lives. But living as a responsible citizen requires devotion and huge strains. Sacrificing us each day for the sake of other people is what gives life meaning. It is absolutely unsexy to live like this. Making huge efforts despite the fact noone notices it this is how to live as responsible adult.
Okay I would not support all of these statements with 100%. But I relate to a lot. The most interesting thing for me is: How does it feel to be human? Do I know how it feels to be really human? Is my definition of how it feels to be really human different to the perception of people with average lives? Do we talk about the same thing? Though I doubt DFW wanted to make that point.
I think personally I fear to be really human. Because this means also showing your weaknesses and facing your demons. This is at least how I would define it. I think my escapsim is a way to flee from this feeling.
And then it's stuck there, the weary cynicism that saves us from gooey sentiment and unsophisticated naivete. Sentiment equals naïveté on this continent...
...Hal, who's empty but not dumb, theorizes privately that what passes for hip cynical transcendence of sentiment is really some kind of fear of being really human, since to be really human (at least as he conceptualizes it) is probably to be unavoidably sentimental and naive and goo-prone and generally pathetic, is to be in some basic interior way forever infantile, some sort of not-quite-right-looking infant dragging itself anaclitically around the map, with big wet eyes and froggy-soft skin, huge skull, gooey drool.
My thoughts: I think DFW was very interested in what it means to feel human. He tried to numb him with drugs in order not having to feel this way. I think he was scared about feeling human. His texts often content how different people try to cope with life. DFW believed there were true values one could worship. But they eat you alive. He was opposed to this postmodern sentiment that truth was only subjective and that this "hip cynical transcendence" would offer us a meaningful way how to live our lives. His literature gives us a comfort because we can feel as if we were in the mind of another human being. This decreases our loneliness. Capitalism, marketing and entertainment want to make us believe that we could purchase happiness and meaningful lives. But living as a responsible citizen requires devotion and huge strains. Sacrificing us each day for the sake of other people is what gives life meaning. It is absolutely unsexy to live like this. Making huge efforts despite the fact noone notices it this is how to live as responsible adult.
Okay I would not support all of these statements with 100%. But I relate to a lot. The most interesting thing for me is: How does it feel to be human? Do I know how it feels to be really human? Is my definition of how it feels to be really human different to the perception of people with average lives? Do we talk about the same thing? Though I doubt DFW wanted to make that point.
I think personally I fear to be really human. Because this means also showing your weaknesses and facing your demons. This is at least how I would define it. I think my escapsim is a way to flee from this feeling.
