John Krasinski reading David Foster Wallace at Skylight Books on 09/22/09

[amandacro83]

@FoghornLeghorn55 he is from The Office

[RosarioKobylarczyk]

nice and cool movie..watched 3 times in webmovietube

[Ematched]

@brokennarcissist This is not "what postmodernism means." Wallace was post-postmodern, as are most of the contemporary literary elite. Pomo is find now in television and in the crank turners in contemporary fiction.

[Ematched]

@MyPointyArrow If you read his short fiction, you'll s ee that his struggle with that very theme was the fundamental point of his fiction. See: all the stories in Oblivion, as well as Although of Course You End up Becoming Yourself.

[L0LhahaDEAD]

He does an excellent job of bringing DFW's humor to life. Yeah, sure, maybe some of the real meaning of the text is lost, but that's bound to happen when reading it aloud. But, John's great.

[amandatully]

"so yes that's what the bags are for, i'm leaving!" i love how he says that lol. (: & "i swear if you could see your face right now, anybody would know why i am leaving." & "it's us. us is why i'm leaving." he makes something meant to be serious sound hilarious, i love it. <3 "goodnight everybody!"

[PtAltmVansanTarr]

Doesn't sound good outside of ones head

[serpant111]

Good work Kasinski, trying to butcher a classic.

[flamenewt]

I think DFW said it best when he explained that his writing was not designed to "live on the breath." It admittedly sounds kind out cool when it's read out loud, but much of the power of the prose is lost.

[AngellaKeushgerian]

ohmygod. Tow of the things i absolutly love: DFW novels & John Krasinski's humoristic voice. (L9 thanks for uploading this vid !!

[odpunk23]

It's so interesting to watch John Krasinski read this in a completely comedic manner, and then hearing David Foster Wallace read it in his serene and tragic voice. Lends two COMPLETELY different interpretations to the exact same words. One's laugh out loud funny, the other almost depressingly sad.

[MrPointyarrow]

i find wallace had a troubled mind. he seemed like someone trying real hard to keep his head above insanity. too much thinking searching wanting to know the answers to life stops you from living

[minuhroo]

*drools*

[carlysays]

hm i dunno, i appreciate john's acting abilities however i don't think this is how wallace would've wanted this piece being interpreted. the dialogue out loud, i feel, is supposed to be a serious man speaking. the sarcasm and the comedic aspects of this piece cannot be read aloud, but instead must be interpreted by the reader BECAUSE the person who is speaking is serious. instead, i think john is acting rather, well, corny/insincere/amateurish? ...i hope i'm making some sense..

[blakiecakes419]

I can now see why DFW didn't like his stuff being read out loud.

[MysterioUFO]

this is what david foster wallace needed, somebody hamming up his prose

[douglaswintergreen]

thank you thprfssni1

[thprfssnl1]

"my stuff i don't think is meant to be read aloud, its not supposed to live on the breath" - david foster wallace 2003 interview (found on youtube part 8 of 10)

[bigrobdeezey]

@thprfssnl1 That's the thing about art. Once you put it out there, it's no longer yours. It's open to interpretation, readings and re-readings, and such. You made it, but it's not yours anymore. That's the cool thing about it, but that's also the price you have to pay when you make art.

[thprfssnl1]

you guys should read what was written about this guy on thisrecording(dot)com

[petergib]

He's totally part of 'that whole LA thing'

[gaia1214]

Ah, the intellectual masturbaton of the brilliant depressive. John, you rock, and DFW, bless you and rest in peace.

[brokennarcissist]

Oh, so this is what postmodernism means.

[Katiedora122]

I love him!!!

[Britme87]

i agree with kristentucker word for word!

[ForgeAssassinMovies]

I really want to meet him, but I hate that if I do I would just be another crazed fan and that makes me [sadface] :(

[kaykay4c]

He is so talented!

[kristinetucker1]

It is amazingly attractive seeing an educated guy seduce with comedy. He is so personable and comfortable with any audience. I am sure he wouldn't trade fame and fortune at this point, but he would have been a delightful teacher. I appreciate his involvement in the First Book charity organization. Of course, his character roles are always exceptional.

[turningthetide365]

John is so funny and talented.

[eztereo]

thanks =)

[chlorine56]

how ridiculously overdramatic.

[eztereo]

can someone tell me wich novel is reading?

[johnkbucher]

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace

[toughxlovex]

amazing (:

[carryyouinmyheart]

thank you so much for posting this!! i so wanted to be there....

[johnkbucher]

2009. We made the correction. Thanks.

[km1499]

Wait, is this from 2007 or 2009?