White Noise, Don DeLillo
Historical and Cultural Context
In the years following World War II, American literature entered a new phase called postmodernism. This was a time when the old, clear-cut ways of understanding the world didn't fit anymore. Writers like Don DeLillo, who penned White Noise, explored how the busy buzz of city life, the flicker of TV screens, and the lure of shop windows began to shape people's thoughts and experiences.
As the 1980s rolled around, the United States faced a growing unease with science and technology. Environmental catastrophes and high-profile accidents made many Americans question whether technology was safe. Yet, amidst this fear, the rise of personal computers offered a glimmer of hope, showing that technology could still improve lives.
Economically, the 80s were booming times. Americans had more money to spend, and they spent it freely, often on things they didn't need. The era was marked by a "show-off" culture, where the things you owned were a sign of your success. Large companies grew even larger, and the phrase "Greed is good" seemed to sum up the spirit of the times.
Television transformed entertainment, with channels like MTV reshaping how people enjoyed music. It was also the era of 'eatertainment' — places like Chuck E. Cheese and Hooters combined dining with fun and games, embodying the decade's love for leisure and consumerism. These elements created a vibrant, if sometimes overwhelming, tapestry of American culture that DeLillo captured in his writing.
What movement is Don De Lillo's White Noise associated with?
A) Romanticism
B) Realism
C) Modernism
D) Postmodernism
What was a big concern for Americans about science and technology in the 1980s?
A) Space travel
B) Internet usage
C) Environmental disasters
D) Medical advancements
What did the economic boom of the 1980s lead to in American society?
A) Less spending
B) Higher taxes
C) Conspicuous consumption
D) Decrease in big companies
Which of the following phrases became symbolic of the 1980s economy?
A) "Save is safe"
B) "Greed is good"
C) "Less is more"
D) "Share the wealth"
DISCUSSION: How do you think our daily lives are affected by the constant noise from the media, like adverts on TV, messages on our phones, and advertising everywhere? Do you believe this "white noise" changes the way we think or feel?
Further reading
Bloom, Harold, editor. Don DeLillo’s White Noise. Chelsea House Publishers, 2003. This book is a collection of critical essays and interpretations of Don DeLillo's novel.
Engles, Tim, and Hugh Ruppersburg, editors. Critical Essays on Don DeLillo. G. K. Hall, 2000. The book compiles various scholarly essays that critically examine the themes and narrative style of Don DeLillo's works.
LeClair, Tom. In the Loop: Don DeLillo and the Systems of the Novel. University of Illinois Press, 1987. LeClair's work explores the narrative structures and thematic concerns in the novels of Don DeLillo.
Lentricchia, Frank, editor. New Essays on White Noise. Cambridge University Press, 1991. This text presents a series of new essays that analyze White Noise, focusing on its contribution to contemporary literature.
Osteen, Mark, editor. White Noise: Text and Criticism. Penguin Books, 1988. Osteen's edition offers the complete text of White Noise alongside critical essays and commentary.
Osteen, Mark. American Magic and Dread: Don DeLillo’s Dialogue with Culture. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2000. This book discusses Don DeLillo's engagement with American culture through his novels and their dialogues with societal issues.
Yuknavitch, Lidia. Allegories of Violence: Tracing the Writing of War in Late Twentieth-Century Fiction. Routledge, 2001. Yuknavitch examines the depiction of war and violence in late twentieth-century fiction, including DeLillo's work.