David Foster Wallace: The Writing Style Of David Foster Wallace

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Stemming from World War II, a period full of death and uncertainty, post-modernist literature sought to deviate from the past and create something new. David Foster Wallace exemplified these ideas through his unique style. His writing contained jumbled ideas with copious footnotes and acronyms that he invented. The use of dark irony in his work parallels his psychological troubles, which are also echoed in this image. A dark eerie background surrounds Wallace with his only company being the singular light source to his left. Looking away from the viewer, he appears in a solitary state and disconnected from the rest of the world. By creating this mysterious façade, Wallace personifies his writing style, being unusual and different. His audience …show more content…

The dark color of the chair fades into the background, making the focus solely on him. His white shirt contrasts the dimly lit room, pulling the viewers eye right to him. The blue rectangle spread across his chest highlights his heart down to his abdomen, arguably the most sensitive parts of the body. It is flanked by the two other primary colors, red and yellow quilts that lay under his arms. These two colors make their final appearance on a tied wrapped around the lamp. With the base of the lamp blending into the background, the light bulb has the illusion of floating. This tie not only grounds the lamp, but speaks to Wallace’s style as a writer, being focused on irony and deviating from society. Also, the bulb leans slightly to the viewer’s left, being the same direction as his gaze. While a more polished image would have the bulb be parallel with the side of the image, Wallace’s work dove into the truth behind the human mind, thus promoting individuality. Having this perplexing perspective of the bulb emphasizes the genuineness of Wallace as a writer. The odd symbols on his bandana also symbolizes individuality, leaving the audience confused and questioning its meaning. It draws the attention to Wallace’s mind and his gaze, as he appears to be drifting off into another world. Due to the scene’s lack of color and other objects to hide

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