Infinite tattoo?
August 26, 2011 2:31 PM Subscribe
How would you represent DFW's Infinite Jest in tattoo form?
So, I'm obsessed with Infinite Jest. I think it's the most amazing work of literature I've ever read, and it's personally profound to me in several ways. I've also been wanting to get a tattoo.
Here's where you come in.
What image or quote or anything else you can turn into a tattoo would you say "represents" Infinite Jest? I realize this is a tough question since IJ is so sprawling and generally unstructured, but take a shot.
Of course, I'm only actually going to get whatever is suggested tattooed on me if I absolutely love the idea, but you're all bright people, so let's make that happen.
So, I'm obsessed with Infinite Jest. I think it's the most amazing work of literature I've ever read, and it's personally profound to me in several ways. I've also been wanting to get a tattoo.
Here's where you come in.
What image or quote or anything else you can turn into a tattoo would you say "represents" Infinite Jest? I realize this is a tough question since IJ is so sprawling and generally unstructured, but take a shot.
Of course, I'm only actually going to get whatever is suggested tattooed on me if I absolutely love the idea, but you're all bright people, so let's make that happen.
I have an Infinite Jest tattoo. It says "I am in here."
posted by sweetkid at 2:35 PM on August 26, 2011 [9 favorites]
posted by sweetkid at 2:35 PM on August 26, 2011 [9 favorites]
I also think "..." would be cool.
posted by Lutoslawski at 2:37 PM on August 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Lutoslawski at 2:37 PM on August 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'd probably use some portion of the the quote from Hamlet (from which the title derives):
Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellowposted by 2bucksplus at 2:41 PM on August 26, 2011
of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath
borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how
abhorred in my imagination it is!my gorge rims at
it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know
not how oft. Where be your gibes now? your
gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment,
that were wont to set the table on a roar? Not one
now, to mock your own grinning? quite chap-fallen?
Now get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let
her paint an inch thick, to this favour she must
come; make her laugh at that.
A few words and a superscript number on one arm/leg, with a footnote on the other?
posted by RogerB at 2:42 PM on August 26, 2011 [15 favorites]
posted by RogerB at 2:42 PM on August 26, 2011 [15 favorites]
Poke around your town (or your tattoo town of choice) for an artist who could help you bring this to life. I guarantee you that there are many tattoo artists, or other artists, who are familiar with it.
Check out this, this, this, and this (the tumblr doesn't have any meeting that tag, but the accompanying book might) for some inspiration.
posted by Madamina at 2:46 PM on August 26, 2011
Check out this, this, this, and this (the tumblr doesn't have any meeting that tag, but the accompanying book might) for some inspiration.
posted by Madamina at 2:46 PM on August 26, 2011
Response by poster: One quote that I really like is:
'I cannot make myself understood, now.' I am speaking slowly and distinctly. 'Call it something I ate.'
It's from Hal's admissions interview at the beginning. I also like the idea of "I am in here."
Keep them coming!
posted by Fister Roboto at 2:51 PM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
'I cannot make myself understood, now.' I am speaking slowly and distinctly. 'Call it something I ate.'
It's from Hal's admissions interview at the beginning. I also like the idea of "I am in here."
Keep them coming!
posted by Fister Roboto at 2:51 PM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
An asterix in a normal tatoo place (forearm, chest, back, w.e.) combined with a footnote around your ankle reading *(See 'Wallace, David Foster. Infinite Jest. [S.I.]: Back Bay, 2009. Print, Pages X-Y)
Pick your favorite quote, or cite the whole book.
posted by Garm at 2:53 PM on August 26, 2011 [12 favorites]
Pick your favorite quote, or cite the whole book.
posted by Garm at 2:53 PM on August 26, 2011 [12 favorites]
I guess it depends on how much you want people to recognize where it's from. With mine, "I am in here," some people get it right away, and some people don't realize it's from anything, which I think is cool -- it has a meaning in its own way. It's on my wrist, so pretty noticeable. Sometimes people say --" Haha, where else would you be?" To which --durrrr.
Anyway, those are just my thoughts on my tattoo.
posted by sweetkid at 2:57 PM on August 26, 2011
Anyway, those are just my thoughts on my tattoo.
posted by sweetkid at 2:57 PM on August 26, 2011
Te occidere possunt sed te edere non possunt nefas est.
posted by SansPoint at 3:02 PM on August 26, 2011
posted by SansPoint at 3:02 PM on August 26, 2011
I've seen several: a Sierpinski gasket, the last line, "..."
Another suggestion I've seen is for the number 1079 in an oval, like the 26.2 for marathoners. I also like the idea of just getting the moon symbol that opens some chapters.
Joe N.'s tattoo.
A tattoo of Hal digging up the grave.
If you do get one, be sure to post a follow up in the thread!
posted by mattbucher at 3:04 PM on August 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
Another suggestion I've seen is for the number 1079 in an oval, like the 26.2 for marathoners. I also like the idea of just getting the moon symbol that opens some chapters.
Joe N.'s tattoo.
A tattoo of Hal digging up the grave.
If you do get one, be sure to post a follow up in the thread!
posted by mattbucher at 3:04 PM on August 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
The word "jest" on a Möbius strip.
Yeah, I'm pretty literal.
posted by pecanpies at 3:13 PM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I'm pretty literal.
posted by pecanpies at 3:13 PM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
A tv/vcr combo and on the screen is a catapult flinging a guy in a wheelchair!
posted by mannequito at 3:39 PM on August 26, 2011
posted by mannequito at 3:39 PM on August 26, 2011
I also like the idea of just getting the moon symbol that opens some chapters.
Yeah, I like that one since "Te Occidere Possunt Sed Te Edere Non Possunt Nefas Est" might be a little long...and weird.
posted by Lorin at 4:12 PM on August 26, 2011
Yeah, I like that one since "Te Occidere Possunt Sed Te Edere Non Possunt Nefas Est" might be a little long...and weird.
posted by Lorin at 4:12 PM on August 26, 2011
A line drawing map of Enfield Tennis Academy and environs? A Statue Of Liberty, holding a bag of Depends Adult Undergarments?
posted by thelonius at 4:57 PM on August 26, 2011
posted by thelonius at 4:57 PM on August 26, 2011
I'd go with an Eschaton beanie or something like this.
posted by Dr. Zira at 5:03 PM on August 26, 2011
posted by Dr. Zira at 5:03 PM on August 26, 2011
I have a friend who designed a great forearm sleeve tattoo of IJ--a collage of characters with a key quote sort of wound through it. Memail if you'd like me to put you in touch with him.
posted by LooseFilter at 5:52 PM on August 26, 2011
posted by LooseFilter at 5:52 PM on August 26, 2011
a microwave with smoke pouring (blood dripping?) out of it
posted by sexyrobot at 6:14 PM on August 26, 2011
posted by sexyrobot at 6:14 PM on August 26, 2011
a screaming man being shoved into a MRI machine by lab-coated technicians?
posted by sexyrobot at 6:15 PM on August 26, 2011
posted by sexyrobot at 6:15 PM on August 26, 2011
YDAU
posted by funkiwan at 9:54 PM on August 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by funkiwan at 9:54 PM on August 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
A few words and a superscript number on one arm/leg, with a footnote on the other?
I actually really like this idea, and may use it for my next tat.
I think I'll look through for my favorite combo of text/footnote, except the footnote will have to go on (duh!) my foot.
But really, fantastic idea!
posted by mannequito at 10:12 PM on August 26, 2011
I actually really like this idea, and may use it for my next tat.
I think I'll look through for my favorite combo of text/footnote, except the footnote will have to go on (duh!) my foot.
But really, fantastic idea!
posted by mannequito at 10:12 PM on August 26, 2011
How about a map the Great Concavity?
posted by dialetheia at 10:45 PM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by dialetheia at 10:45 PM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
A reference to one of the footnotes: "MIT Language Riots '97"
posted by long at 12:49 AM on August 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by long at 12:49 AM on August 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Whatever you go for, you should consider adding a second tattoo in the form of a footnote. Possibly on your foot. Although I suppose they're really end notes...
posted by Segundus at 2:16 AM on August 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Segundus at 2:16 AM on August 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Whatever you go for, you should consider adding a second tattoo in the form of a footnote. Possibly on your foot. Although I suppose they're really end notes...
A lot of people are commenting about footnotes. Remember, they are endnotes. They go on your butt.
posted by Lemurrhea at 4:29 AM on August 27, 2011 [5 favorites]
A lot of people are commenting about footnotes. Remember, they are endnotes. They go on your butt.
posted by Lemurrhea at 4:29 AM on August 27, 2011 [5 favorites]
I also like the idea of just getting the moon symbol that opens some chapters.
I believe this symbol is an annular eclipse, in keeping with the general themes of annulation, rings, recursiveness, etc.
posted by bookish at 7:11 AM on August 27, 2011
I believe this symbol is an annular eclipse, in keeping with the general themes of annulation, rings, recursiveness, etc.
posted by bookish at 7:11 AM on August 27, 2011
I'd go for the ONAN seal, which someone has apparently made into a t-shirt :
http://skreened.com/1percentdesigns/o-n-a-n-seal
posted by Afroblanco at 9:14 AM on August 28, 2011
http://skreened.com/1percentdesigns/o-n-a-n-seal
posted by Afroblanco at 9:14 AM on August 28, 2011
A bowling shirt style embroidered name patch over your heart that says, "Moose".
posted by dirtdirt at 12:25 PM on August 29, 2011
posted by dirtdirt at 12:25 PM on August 29, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Either something like that or a dude with a toothbrush in his ass.
posted by Lutoslawski at 2:35 PM on August 26, 2011