Boredom: From Aristotle to David Foster Wallace | Katia Mitova | First Friday Lecture

Boredom has many other names: tedium, apathy, ennui, melancholy, disquiet, nostalgia, solitude. It is an experience in time, and of time. Its cause may appear to be simple – for whatever reason, we do not appreciate an activity in which we are trying to engage by choice or by duty. Existential boredom, in turn, might seem to be an altogether different thing – an insight into the human condition, an intimation of our mortality. What simple and existential boredom have in common is the awareness – vague or acute – of some undefinable lack or monotonous abundance in our life. To alleviate the discomfort of this awareness, we may simply keep busy with study, work, diversion, or good deeds. We may also try to actively change something in our environment or in ourselves. Or we may embrace boredom as a radical experience of the Now. Western philosophers, psychologists, and fiction writers have explored various facets of boredom, but only David Foster Wallace (1962-2008), the author of Infinite Jest and The Pale King, has paid profound attention to both sides of the coin – boredom and entertainment. This lecture will point to some of Wallace’s major insights into the human condition in consumeristic society. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction and the Basic Program 00:04:49 Western Culture, Disclaimers, and Edward Hopper 00:09:31 Mark Strand Poem on Boredom 00:11:46 The Vocabulary of Boredom 00:16:18 Achilles, Waiting for Godot, and Marx on Alienation 00:25:30 Plato's Charioteer and Aristotle on Motion, Rest, and Knowledge 00:29:05 Lucretius and Pascal on Diversion 00:35:21 Heidegger, Work, Endurance, and Transcending Boredom 00:40:24 Tocqueville on Democracy and American Boredom 00:47:26 David Foster Wallace and Sincerity 00:54:30 David Foster Wallace's 'The Pale King' 01:03:16 Q&A: Meditation, Depression, Children, the Gods, Death, and Thought 01:15:01 Applause and Farewell About the Speaker Katia Mitova was a longtime instructor in the University of Chicago Graham School’s Basic Program of Liberal Education for Adults, where she began teaching in 1998. Widely admired for her deep knowledge of literature, thoughtful use of the Socratic method, and extraordinary dedication to her students, she helped shape the intellectual life of the Basic Program for more than two decades. Her contributions were recognized with the Excellence in Teaching Award in 2008 and the Dean’s Service Award in 2022. In honor of her lasting impact on students, colleagues, and the Graham community, an endowed instructorship was established in her name, ensuring that her legacy of rigorous inquiry, generosity, and lifelong learning will continue to inspire future generations. About the Basic Program The First Friday Lecture series is presented by the Basic Program of Liberal Education for Adults. The Basic Program is a four-year certificate program for intellectually curious learners who want to read and discuss the Great Books in a serious, welcoming community. Through close reading and weekly conversation, students engage works of literature, philosophy, history, and social thought by authors such as Plato, Aristotle, Dante, Shakespeare, de Tocqueville, Woolf, and Morrison—guided by outstanding instructors, with no prerequisites, tests, papers, or grades. Offered online and in person, the program invites adults from all backgrounds to deepen their thinking, broaden their perspective, and join a lifelong community of readers. Learn more at https://graham.uchicago.edu/program/basic-program-of-liberal-education/ About Graham The Graham School is a one-of-a-kind intellectual community that brings the best of the University of Chicago to lifelong learners who are seeking discovery and discernment. Through an array of distinctive programs and courses in the Great Books, the liberal arts, and advanced leadership, we welcome learners who seek to deepen their understanding of the world and lead examined lives of purpose. Learn more at https://graham.uchicago.edu