History YMMV / InfiniteJest

* CriticalResearchFailure: Some mistakes such the Mean Value Theorem[[note]]concerns continuous functions[[/note]] being used for discrete values and French mistranslations.[[note]]e.g. "Rollents" instead of "Roulants".[[/note]] There is the question of whether these are intentional or not.

* HilariousInHindsight: That part about Orin getting onto Boston University's football team? One year after the novel was published, the university [[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1011495/ disbanded its football team]].

* HarsherInHindsight: The depiction of mental illness, depression and suicide, since [[AuthorExistenceFailure Wallace erased his own map]].

* CriticalResearchFailure: Some mistakes such the Mean Value Theorem[[note]]concerns continuous functions[[/note]] being used for discrete values and French mistranslations[[note]]e.g. "Rollents" instead of "Roulants".[[/note]]. There is the question of whether these are intentional or not.

* HilariousInHindsight: That part about Orin getting onto to Boston University's football team? One year after the novel was published, the university [[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1011495/ disbanded its football team]].

* CriticalResearchFailure: Some mistakes such the Mean Value Theorem[[note]]concerns continuous functions[[/note]] being used for discrete values and French mistranslations[[note]]e.g. "Rollents" instead of "Roulants".[[/note]]. There is the question of whether these are intentional or not

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: In-universe example by both Mario and James Sr.'s portrayals of ONAN history.
* ArtisticLicensePhysics: The depiction of annular fusion relies on highly unorthodox notions of nuclear physics.

* CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming: Mario touching the hand of someone forced to be homeless when nobody else would.

* NightmareFuel: In the first scene, the main character hears himself communicating completely calmly and rationally with those around him. Those around him hear him screaming in horrific pain, convulsing like he's absolutely lost his mind, to the point where they call an ambulance. And, Orin and the cockroaches.
** [[spoiler: After the [[{{Gorn}} lengthy]] description of Randy Lenz's [[KickTheDog nightly walks]], Wallace makes absolutely sure to add the detail that [[ParanoiaFuel there are no locks on any of the doors in Ennet House]].]]

* CriticalResearchFailure: Some mistakes such the Mean Value Theorem[[note]]concerns continuous functions[[/note]] being used for discrete values and French mistranslations[[note]]e.g. "Rollents" instead of "Roulants".[[/note]]. There is the question of whether these are intentional or not.

* HypeBacklash: Has been subject to some of this, as a reaction to its status among most critics and its reputation as a dense, difficult-to-read tome.

* [[PraisingShowsYouDontWatch Praising Books You Don't Read]]: There are jokes and jabs about people who buy the book, display it on their coffee table or bookshelf, and don't read it.
* StrawFeminist: ETA prorector Mary Esther Thode with the emphasis on gender in her course and involvement in violently radical feminist groups is a minor example.

* DoubleStandard: David Foster Wallace has been accused of this with his portrayal of female characters, such as emphasizing their sexiness or not being as developed as the male ones (e.g. ETA students).

* LoveItOrHateIt: Either it's one of the [[UsefulNotes/GreatAmericanNovel greatest American novels]] ever written and a profound study on addiction, entertainment, and the pressure to succeed, or a boring, incoherent slog with [[NoEnding no payoff]] that goes on for [[DoorStopper over 1000 pages]]. Take your pick.

** Limbic system lobotomies.

* LoveItOrHateIt: Either it's one of the [[GreatAmericanNovel greatest American novels]] ever written and a profound study on addiction, entertainment, and the pressure to succeed, or a boring, incoherent slog with [[NoEnding no payoff]] that goes on for [[DoorStopper over 1000 pages]]. Take your pick.

* LoveItOrHateIt: It's either one of the [[GreatAmericanNovel greatest American novels]] ever written and a profound study on addiction, entertainment, and the pressure to succeed, or a boring, incoherent slog with [[NoEnding no payoff]] that goes on for [[DoorStopper over 1000 pages]]. Take your pick.

** James Incandenza's death [[spoiler: by putting his head in a microwave oven. Worse, it's Hal - at thirteen - who finds him.]]

* HarsherInHindsight: The depiction of mental illness, depression and suicide, since [[AuthorExistenceFailure Wallace own erased his own map]].

* HarsherInHindsight: The depiction of mental illness, depression and suicide in the wake of [[AuthorExistenceFailure Wallace's own erased his own map]].

* HarsherInHindsight: The depiction of mental illness, depression and suicide in the wake of [[AuthorExistenceFailure Wallace's own death]] by suicide is pretty uncomfortable to read.

* HilariousInHindsight: The cartridge rental predates Netflix by several years.