Summary of Are You Entertained—Or Addicted?:
In David Foster Wallace’s novel Infinite Jest, the main theme is that it is possible to be too entertained by media. Wallace wrote the book in the 1990s, when television, video games, and blockbuster movies were becoming increasingly popular, and he saw the potential for addiction in this new media. This has become a reality today, with streaming services, Hollywood, and music all optimized for addictiveness rather than entertainment. This has led to a lack of creativity and innovation in art, and has also extended to politics, with politicians incentivized to create more engagement rather than smart policy. In the book, Wallace provides an example of how to break free from this cycle, in the form of Don Gately, a recovered addict who is able to step above the fray and demand substance over bluster.
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