--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I just think that fiction that isn't…" description: "\"I just think that fiction that isn't exploring what it means to be human today isn't art.\" — David Foster Wallace" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca5/david-foster-wallace-161_art_i-just-think-that-fiction-that-isn-t-exp_1106565.jpg" --- # I just think that fiction that isn't exploring what it… ![“I just think that fiction that isn't exploring what it means to be human today isn't art.” quote by David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca5/david-foster-wallace-161_art_i-just-think-that-fiction-that-isn-t-exp_1106565.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca5/david-foster-wallace-161_art_i-just-think-that-fiction-that-isn-t-exp_1106565.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca5/david-foster-wallace-161_art_i-just-think-that-fiction-that-isn-t-exp_1106565.jpg) > “I just think that fiction that isn't exploring what it means to be human today isn't art.” [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art must interrogate contemporary humanity; without that, fiction fails to be meaningful or relevant. **In simple terms:** Fiction should explore modern human experience. Key Takeaway Write about today’s human condition. Themes art humanity relevance fiction culture Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - novels - screenplays - journalism - academic essays Key Concepts existentialism literary criticism philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does your work reflect today’s humanity? - What topics feel essential to explore? A Different Perspective Risk of being overly didactic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [What it means to be human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-it-means-to-be-human/) ## Related quotes > [I think fiction isn't so good at being for or against things in general - the rhetorical argument a short story can make is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-think-fiction-isn-t-so-good-at-being-for-or-against-things-in/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [No, monkeys are still having babies, why don't they have another human today?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-hovind/no-monkeys-are-still-having-babies-why-don-t-they-have-another-human/) [Kent Hovind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-hovind/) > [I tend to think of fiction as being mainly about characters and human beings and inner experience, whereas essays can be much more expository…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/i-tend-to-think-of-fiction-as-being-mainly-about-characters-and-human/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [I can only please one person per day. 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