Shop 'Till You Drop

      When reading White Noise by Don DeLillo you can easily recognize the main concepts of the story. Fear of death, Consumerism, and trust (family, as well as, governmental) have been the most profound examples of motifs. The story is as true to American life style then, as it is now, if not more.
      The critical essay, "The (Super)Marketplace Of Images: Television as Unmediated Mediation In DeLillos's White Noise" written by John N. Duvall, in the 1990's, gave evidence supporting that commercialism and consumerism are two ways people indulge themselves in hopes of striving off their fear of death. The more we purchase and eat, the more powerful and bigger we feel we are. If we are this high on life, nothing can harm us.
      The article also emphasized the power media has over Jack Gladney and his family, not to mention the rest of the world. "The awe and terror of this man-made disaster can only be validated through the electrical media" (Duvall, 436) News doesn't just relate what happens around the world, but gives a guide on what is normal and how we should react in situations. Unfortunately, with competition for ratings, Duvall believes the "network and cable news programs operate under capitalism's demand to make it a newer form of entertainment"(Duvall,436). This modern form of news begins to desensitize the public, leaving the viewers wanting more, but not teaching us to handle our own catastrophes.
     John N. Duvall likened DeLillo's White Noise as a predecessor toward fascism. "Each element of Jack's life world mirrors back to him a postmodern, centralized totalitarianism that this professional student of Hitler in unable to read"(Duvall, 433). Jack and his family are so absorbed in television and marketing that their free will is spent in feeding the need to feel apart of America. Everyone wants to be apart of something that is bigger than themselves, it makes them feel like they are not alone.
     I was surprised that Duvall considered Murray Siskind "the true villain of White Noise"(Duvall 443). I admit, while reading White Noise, I would wonder how Jack's only friend and confidant could be so blatantly flirting with Babette, then give him such really bad advise as to go kill somebody. Murray says, "think what it's like to be a killer. think how exciting it is, in theory, to kill a person in direct confrontation. If he dies, you cannot."(DeLillo, 290)
     I think this is a good source for my third essay, because it helped me think beyond what I read in White Noise. The article helped me understand some of the symbolisms that I didn't pick up on at first. Know I have a better understanding of what I need to look for and hopefully will be able to put into coherent words. The main concept I can take away from this article is that we all watch, or listen to, too much television. I made it a point to turn the television off while writing this blog. I will confess I miss my white noise.


DeLillo, Don  White Noise, The Viking Critical Library, 1998

Duvall, John N. "The (Super)Marketplace Of Images: Television as Unmediated Mediation In                         DeLillos's White Noise" The Viking Critical Library, 1998

 

White noise from Leah Wade

Dear Laura Cline,

            I want to thank you for the opportunity to broaden my reading and writing skills this year. I was never very good with my English writing skills and rules, but I enjoy writing. When I was in high school I wanted to be a writer, but sad to say I never followed through. My favorite class was creative writing, we did analysis of television shows and song lyrics. I had no idea that was what we were doing then, it was just fun breaking the words down and writing our thoughts and opinions about them.

            Writing a blog and doing the introduction video was difficult for me. I have been working very hard the last couple of years at controlling my shyness and social anxieties. I usually keep my thoughts and opinions to myself, then again it was nice to learn a way to express my feelings through words. The video blog is still a challenge, but I never give up in defeat. I am grateful for the chance to step out of my comfort zone and learn new ways to communicate my opinions.

            “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift was definitely the hardest assignment I have had this year. It took several attempts to completely read the proposal: My stomach couldn’t handle the contents. I knew it was supposed to be satirical, but it didn’t change the descriptive content that I imagined. I may been affected more because I am a mother, soon to be grandmother, and an elementary school librarian. I see kids all the time, and the thought of the unspeakable disgusted me. Writing my essay, I tried to stay away from the main concept of cannibalism, which made it easier to come up with a thesis.  

            I am a perfectionist.  My writing has too many grammatical errors, that I have trouble finding on my own. I hope that the more I write, the better the writer I will become. My goal for the second half of English 102 is to continue working at improving my sentences. I am looking forward to reading White Noise by Don DeLillo. I just hope it doesn’t contain cannibalism. Thank you for your constructive criticism, challenging and sometimes perplexing analysis assignments, and instructing us to be the best writers than we can be.

Your Appreciative Student,

Leah Wade

 

A Drastic Proposal

            The imagery in “A Modest Proposal” is represented as harsh, barren, and undeniably bleak.  Jonathan Swift describes “the streets, the roads, and cabin doors, crowded with beggars…” (Swift, 1) as he introduces his “modest” proposal to end the strife that embodies 1729 Ireland. The proverb “drastic times, calls for drastic measures” comes to mind as Swifts satirical proposition to solve the problematic over-population, and poverty by consuming the horde of infants and children that seem to be loitering the country.  The unconceivable notion that cannibalism could be ordained to satisfy the political, religious, and economical unrest that occupies Ireland is outrageous. Swift attempts to shock and shame his readers, land owners, and law makers into acknowledging Ireland’s main grievance, separation on state, rather than the destitute, famished, and apartheid under the control of the British Monarchy.

Published on Jun 6, 2012

A short production on life in Ireland in 1729

Meow Smithers to YouTube