Infinite Summer 2015 discussion
Resources and links
date
newest »
newest »
If you're reading IJ for the first time, you'll notice that many sections are preceded by a date in "Subsidized Time™", or years that are named after corporate sponsors, like "Year of the Depend Adult Undergarment". The scenes jump back and forward in time and trying to understand exactly where you are in the time-space continuum of the book can be, to put it mildly, confusing. Greater minds than my own have taken the time to puzzle through possible corresponding years for Subsidized Time™, and this info from the IJ wiki should help you understand what it's all about:Subsidized Time
In the book's future, advertising's relentless search for new markets has led to a world where, by O.N.A.N. dictate, years are referred to by the name of their corporate sponsor.
CHRONOLOGY OF ORGANIZATION OF NORTH AMERICAN NATIONS’ REVENUE ENHANCING SUBSIDIZED TIME™, BY YEAR
(NOTE: Per some concerns that knowing the order of Subsidized Time too soon might deprive the first time reader of a character-building opportunity, the information is under the following spoiler section.)
(view spoiler)
This link will be more useful after you reach the section that begins on page 321. There is nothing spoiler-y about this music video, so nothing to worry about.An interpretation of the Eschaton game in this video by The Decemberists.
This version works in the US:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJpfK...
This version works in Europe, and hopefully elsewhere:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni7T1...
Although the book shows Eschaton in the snow (nuclear winter?), this video gives a feel for the game...
Jim wrote: "Although the book shows Eschaton in the snow (nuclear winter?), this video gives a feel for the game... "Haha, I think the Peemster might take issue with this conflation of map and territory :)
I wonder if the list of subsidized dates might be a little spoilery? I know the list is provided at a certain point in the book, but for me figuring out the timeframe was a big part of the "WTF" element of the early chapters.
John wrote: "I wonder if the list of subsidized dates might be a little spoilery? ..."On the other hand, confusion about time - or lack of easily understandable time - is a cause for much frustration, and for the reader who isn't familiar with pomo lit, this becomes a barrier to entry, and oftentimes leads to early abandonment of the book. So probably worth the risk...
Jim wrote: "On the other hand, confusion about time - or lack of easily understandable time - is a cause for much frustra..."In that case, I definitely think the best approach would be to put the information in spoiler tags with a note saying something to the effect of, "if you're frustrated about the timeline, see here for some explanation".
Because the list is given at a certain point in the text, it's clear that the author intended the reader not to know the information until that time. That should definitely take precedence.
I realize that, especially to someone who has finished the book, this might seem a bit trivial. However knowing this information beforehand really does alter the reading experience. I know I would not have appreciated being told these things while I was reading it.
Mod
Agreed - Jim, please spoiler-tag-ify your post, or change it to link to an external site's info with a warning. It's potentially helpful, and potentially will harm some readers' experiences of the book.
Thank you both for your contributions!
Here's a quick list of things to think about to prepare for reading IJ. No spoilers:http://infinitesummer.org/archives/215
...
Here's a site that provides page-by-page annotations, without any spoilers. Very helpful, especially for vocabulary and cultural references:
http://infinitejest.wallacewiki.com/d...
...
http://www.infiniteatlas.com
has an interactive map of the MANY locations references in the book. If you zoom in and click on things, you will be at risk for spoilers, however I think you can just generally check out the map without much danger.
http://www.infiniteboston.com/
is made by the creators of the site above, and contains photographs of some of the real-life setting in IJ. May have spoilers, and actually I think there definitely are spoilers if you scroll down too much.
....
There is a...thing...in the novel known alternately as the "convexity" or "concavity". The exact details around this item were actually a big source of confusion in the group that I read with, even moreso than the timeline.
https://figurativeink.wordpress.com/2...
At the link above you will find a blog post explaining this issue in detail. It is definitely spoilery, but like the timeline, the spoilers are not plot-related so much as just "mysteries" that some might prefer to figure out on their own.
...
Brickjest is a fun site that recreates IJ scenes in Legos. Hilarious but definitely spoilery.
Mod
John, thanks for the great links!
Jim, thank you so much for all these useful links. I especially enjoyed the theories on when a majority of the novel takes place: (view spoiler) I'd never even thought of that! Throughout my reading, I have wondered about how far into the future it is, but I never really examined the "clues," so to speak. Fascinating stuff!John, thank you for your contributions, as well.
Jim, thanks a million for this. Already I feel relieved...especially with #4 about trusting the author. After reading some of his other things, I do. Mainly because his writing is so gorgeous. I'm glad someone said don't worry about getting every single detail. When I read Pale King, I learned that. But it's nice to hear someone say what I was feeling.
(Good group citizens, please note: if your link is particularly spoiler-y, e.g. a post titled "Explaining the Ending of Infinite Jest" or similar, please mark it clearly.)