The article I have chosen to respond to is The (Super)Marketplace of Images: television as unmediated mediation in DeLillo's White Noise by John N. Duvall. (written in 1994)
This was quite the article. He made points I wouldn't have thought of making based on the texts he incorporated. So, basically what his whole article was about was how there was this idea of facism that was placed in this book. This idea of fascism was overthrown by post modernity. He is making the arguement for this happening - fascism being overthrown by post modernity. Near the end of the article he says this, "...fascism is diffused throughout American mass media and its representations (451)". This shows exactly what his whole article was about. He brought up points about how the Gladney's lives revolved around television, and they felt lost without it. The Gladney's were living off credit. Everything was aesthetic, only for looks, and not as beneficial as other things could have been. He talks a lot about how the way that the Gladney's were living, and really everyone in Iron City, is all about what they can get to please themselves, and most of that comes from the media that is always around them, nonstop.
My response..
I learned a lot about White Noise, like I said before, he connected things I wouldn't have thought to connect (which happens quite often to me really). However, the main thing that I learned about White noise through this article was that it really is about showing a new perspective on things. DeLillo went into this essay trying to show that the world is not all about fascism, and America is really becoming dulled from that through our media. I understood that media was a big part of this book, I just didn't link that to it being a way of showing what America is NOT and how it is slowly becoming more and more not a fascist place. Fascism is really the opposite of the post modernity that Duvall and DeLillo were talking about and it makes sense how they both pointed that out and how Duvall backed that up.
:)
Citation
Duvall, John N. The (SUPER)MARKETPLACE OF IMAGES: TELEVISION AS INMEDIATED MEDIATION IN DeLILLO'S WHITE NOISE. White Noise. New York City: Penguin Group, 1998. 432-55. Print.
I thought it was interesting that during the "toxic event" people were concerned with when the media would be coming. The Gladney family had the tv set on at all hours of the day and night. Babette reading the gossip magazines, learning what is going on with whom in the world then. Listening to the radio on the drive to shelter. Seems like media was all around their lives in one fashion or another.
ReplyDeleteGood post! It's always nice to see what everyone else has taken away from the reading. It gives more perspective than just the one we have. It helps to look at things in any different lights. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAnother major point Duvall argued was Murray's role in the book. He was presented as a critic of the Gladeney family within the book itself. He had opinions on how they shopped and how they stayed entertained. He could see how this version of "fascism" was affecting the protagonist and his family. Reading reviews of books by other authors is a great way to learn new things and finding new perspectives.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your post! Interesting to read so many reviews on the summaries, helps to take more away from it.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI think the Gladney's life personifies almost all of us today. Mixed families centered around television and wanting things rather than needing them for survival. Duvall and DeLillo opened my eyes to how much we depend on the media. We are only as important as how we dress, or what we drive. We live in a society of wanting more. We need to be satisfied with what we have and the days we live, quit worrying about tomorrow and live for today. The television is a distraction from living or from death. Thank you for your post. Leah
Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteAs always you have a great post. I always enjoy reading them. You have a great point of view, expain everything very well and give great detail.