Words from DFW

The David Foster Wallace Dictionary. More here (Griffin and Hoxie/Kottke)

Tableaux

Definition: (noun, plural of tableau) [1] A vivid or graphic description [2] A striking incidental scene, as of a picturesque group of people [3] An interlude during a scene when all the performers on stage freeze in position and then resume action as before. [4] A tableau vivant.

DFW's Sentence: "Steps" gets called a novel but it is really a collection of unbelievably creepy little allegorical tableaux done in a terse elegant voice that's like nothing else anywhere ever. — [Editor's note: Mr. Wallace is referring to this book by Jerzy Kosinski, who also wrote "Being There", which was made into the Hal Ashby movie of the same name staring Peter Sellers as Chance the gardener. Mr. Kosinski also wrote the "Being There" screenplay based on his own book.]