David Foster Wallace and the Ethics of Writing

“If words are all we have as world and god we must treat them with care and rigor: we must worship.”—David Foster Wallace

This interdisciplinary symposium, organized by Gallatin professors Gregory Erickson and Scott Korb, brings together scholars, authors, students, and actors to explore the ethical and moral side of writing through the work of David Foster Wallace. Comprising five events, diverse in format and approach, the symposium will engage topics including Wallace and religion, Wallace and race, and the ethics of biographical writing. The final event will be an excerpt from director Daniel Fish’s acclaimed theater piece based on audio recordings of Wallace, to be performed by Mary Rasmussen and Jenny Seastone. Participants include Maria Bustillos, Samuel Cohen (The Legacy of David Foster Wallace, Paul Elie (Reinventing Bach), D.T. Max (Every Love Story is A Ghost Story: A Life of David Foster Wallace), David Lipsky (Although Of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself: A Road Trip with David Foster Wallace), Matthew Sitman, and Kevin Timpe (Free Will).

This event is hosted by New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study and the Gallatin Writing Program, with co-sponsorship from NYU’s Creative Writing Program.

Schedule of Events
3:00 - 3:45 Student reading of Wallace passages
4:00 - 4:45 Wallace and Religion | a round table
                    With Paul Elie, Gregory Erickson, and Kevin Timpe. Matthew Sitman moderates
5:00 - 5:45 Two short talks
                    Maria Bustillos presents “Since Man First Crept From The Primeval Slurry”
                    Samuel Cohen presents “The Whiteness of David Foster Wallace”
6:00 - 6:45 The Ethics of Biography | a panel discussion
                    With David Lipsky and D.T. Max. Scott Korb moderates
7:00 - 7:45 An excerpt from A (radically condensed and expanded) SUPPOSEDLY FUN                     THING I'LL NEVER DO AGAIN
                    Based on works from A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again and Brief                     Interviews with Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace
                    Conceived and Directed by Daniel Fish
                    Produced with the permission of the David Foster Wallace Literary Trust
                    Performed by Mary Rasmussen and Jenny Seastone, Assistant Director                     Alexandra Kuechler-Caffall

Book sales courtesy of Books on Call. Authors will be available for signing.