How David Foster Wallace Shaped the Future: A Legacy Timeline
A closer look at the lasting mark left by David Foster Wallace—a timeline of influence.
David Foster Wallace was an influential American writer, known for his complex narratives and exploration of contemporary American culture. His magnum opus, *Infinite Jest*, received critical acclaim. Wallace's work grappled with themes of addiction, entertainment, consumerism, and the search for meaning in a media-saturated world. He also taught English and creative writing at the university level. Posthumously, his novel *The Pale King* was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, solidifying his legacy as a major literary figure.
1975: Inspiration for "Surrounded by Heads and Bodies"
In 1975, Matty Healy, the lead singer of The 1975 was inspired by 'Infinite Jest' which led to The 1975 song, "Surrounded by Heads and Bodies" from the album A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships, borrowing its title from the opening line of Infinite Jest.
1996: Infinite Jest Cited as One of the Best Novels
In 1996, Wallace's novel "Infinite Jest" was cited by Time magazine as one of the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to 2005.
2005: Commencement Address at Kenyon College
In 2005, David Foster Wallace delivered the commencement address to the graduating class at Kenyon College.
October 23, 2008: Memorial Gathering at NYU
On October 23, 2008, a memorial gathering was held at New York University (NYU) to honor David Foster Wallace.
March 2009: Announcement of "The Pale King" Publication
In March 2009, Little, Brown and Company announced that it would publish the manuscript of David Foster Wallace's unfinished novel, "The Pale King".
2009: Publication of "This Is Water"
In 2009, David Foster Wallace's Kenyon College commencement speech was published as a book titled "This Is Water".
2009: Release of Brief Interviews with Hideous Men Film
In 2009, a feature-length film adaptation of "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men", directed by John Krasinski, was released.
March 2010: Purchase of Wallace's Papers by the University of Texas
In March 2010, it was announced that David Foster Wallace's personal papers and archives had been purchased by the University of Texas at Austin.
2010: Publication of Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself
In 2010, "Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself" by David Lipsky, which formed the basis of the film "The End of the Tour", was published.
2010: Posthumous Publication of Thesis
In 2010, Wallace's senior thesis, "Fate, Time, and Language: An Essay on Free Will", was posthumously published.
April 15, 2011: Publication of The Pale King
On April 15, 2011, David Foster Wallace's unfinished novel, "The Pale King", was published and received generally positive reviews.
2011: The Pale King Publication
In 2011, Wallace's posthumous novel, "The Pale King", was published.
2011: Loyola University New Orleans Offers Seminar
Since 2011, Loyola University New Orleans has offered English seminar courses on David Foster Wallace.
2012: The Pale King a Pulitzer Prize Finalist
In 2012, "The Pale King" was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
2012: Simpsons Episode Based on Wallace's Essay
In 2012, the Simpsons episode "A Totally Fun Thing Bart Will Never Do Again" was loosely based on David Foster Wallace's essay "Shipping Out".
May 2013: "This Is Water" Online Video
In May 2013, parts of David Foster Wallace's "This Is Water" speech were used in a popular online video.
May 2014: First David Foster Wallace Conference
In May 2014, the first David Foster Wallace Conference was hosted by the Illinois State University Department of English.
May 2015: Second David Foster Wallace Conference
In May 2015, the second David Foster Wallace Conference was held.
2015: Release of The End of the Tour
In 2015, the film "The End of the Tour," based on conversations between David Lipsky and David Foster Wallace, was released.
2016: Publication of String Theory
In 2016, David Foster Wallace's tennis writing was compiled into a volume titled "String Theory: David Foster Wallace on Tennis".
January 2017: Launch of Wallace Society and Journal
In January 2017, the International David Foster Wallace Society and the Journal of David Foster Wallace Studies were launched.
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