What is the speech This is water about?
It is about the real value of a real education, which has almost nothing to do with knowledge, and everything to do with simple awareness; awareness of what is so real and essential, so hidden in plain sight all around us, all the time, that we have to keep reminding ourselves over and over: ‘This is water.
What does David Foster Wallace say is the reason why people typically worship some sort of god or spiritual type thing?
He establishes that by stating, “An outstanding reason for choosing some sort of God or spiritual-type thing to worship…is that pretty much anything else you chose to worship will eat you alive… If you worship money and things… then you will never have enough” (657).
What is the point of the fish story at the beginning of Wallace’s speech?
Wallace quickly explains that “The point of the fish story is merely that the most obvious, important realities are often the ones that are hardest to see and talk about.” Against the story’s backdrop, he argues that the significance of a liberal arts education isn’t so much about learning how to think, but that it …
What is the purpose of the anecdote with which David Foster Wallace opens the speech what is the effect of his returning to the line This is water again near the end of the speech and repeating it there?
The anecdote that David Foster Wallace presents in his speech is to make the students all the listeners aware of the fact that there are the most basic things in life, the most basic realities that some time are the most overlooked.
Does David Foster Wallace break the rules by violating the genre?
With “This is Water”, David Foster Wallace has broken out of the genre conventions of a commencement speech. In doing so, he proves that it is not essential to follow genre if you are trying to write an effective commencement speech.
What is the capital T truth?
The capital-T Truth is about life before death. It is about making it to thirty, or maybe even fifty, without wanting to shoot yourself in the head.
How did David Foster get his start?
Early life and career In 1965 he auditioned to lead the band in an Edmonton nightclub owned by jazz musician Tommy Banks. Banks mentored Foster in jazz, producing records, and music business. After a year there, he decided to move to Toronto to play with Ronnie Hawkins. In 1966, he joined a backup band for Chuck Berry.
What is the tone of this is water?
The overall tone of the piece is calm, collected and down to earth. He describes lives in a context which all of us can connect to.
What does David Foster Wallace say is our default setting?
The natural default setting is to think I am at the center of the world and my immediate needs and feelings are what should determine the world’s priorities. Most days, if you’re aware enough to give yourself a choice, you can choose to look differently at life.
What does Wallace mean by default setting?
The author explained the “default setting” as the unconscious mind we all possess (Wallace, David). In other words, like an instinct that has been instilled in us- a certain way of perceiving the world.
Why does Wallace use hypothetical anecdotes to tell his story?
In his speech, Wallace first uses hypothetical anecdotes in order to show the effect of self-centered thought on one’s happiness.
What does David Foster Wallace think water for humans?
It is about the real value of a real education, which has almost nothing to do with knowledge, and everything to do with simple awareness; awareness of what is so real and essential, so hidden in plain sight all around us, all the time, that we have to keep reminding ourselves over and over: “This is water.” “This is …
When did David Foster Wallace give his commencement speech?
This speech was originally delivered by David Foster Wallace as the 2005 commencement address at Kenyon College. There are these two young fish swimming along, and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, “Morning, boys, how’s the water?”
When did David Foster Wallace give this is water?
The piece of rhetoric I have chosen to analyze is a speech called “This is Water.” This was a commencement speech delivered at Kenyon College in 2005 by American author, David Foster Wallace.
How to be less arrogant David Foster Wallace?
To be just a little less arrogant. To have just a little critical awareness about myself and my certainties. Because a huge percentage of the stuff that I tend to be automatically certain of is, it turns out, totally wrong and deluded. I have learned this the hard way, as I predict you graduates will, too.
Which is the most popular commencement speech cliche?
So let’s talk about the single most pervasive cliché in the commencement speech genre, which is that a liberal arts education is not so much about filling you up with knowledge as it is about “teaching you how to think.”
