Consider the Lobster

What genres of writing can you identify in Consider the Lobster?

I can identify as a expository writing. The author not only describes the event but goes into analyst and synthesizing other information about the lobster. From information about the festival, biology of the lobster, stating the history, the ways its cooked, the author goes into much detail, explaining that a lobster is more than just a fancy dish.

What's so important about footnotes in this article? Be specific. Give an example of how David Foster Wallace uses footnotes. 

The footnotes in the article are important because they deepen, elaborate, and clarify specific topics from the article that a reader might find confusing. For example, the 6th footnote elaborates and better explains the festival's atmosphere and who attends. It's a midlevel festival that most upperclass(snooty) people wouldn't attend. The footnote goes into large detail and explanation on this, spanning off multiple points.

Does this article shift topics? In what ways?

Yes, the article shifts topics multiple times, as I mentioned before. It goes from talking about the festival to general knowledge about the lobster, history of lobster, history of cooking lobster, cooking lobster now, the controversy of cooking lobster, the controversy of these festivals.

What does David Foster Wallace mean when he says "Consider the Lobster?"

I think he means that when considering the lobster, or anything for that matter, there are countless things to consider about a creature like this. In your writing there are countless things to consider, and it's up to you whether you will incorporate them or not.