Essay on The Death of Identity in DeLillos White Noise

The Death of Identity in DeLillos White Noise In addition to addressing the premonitory electricity of death, the title of Don DeLillos White Noise alludes to another, subtler, sort of white noise - the muted death of suburban white identity. College-on-the-Hill is not only an elite academic promontory, but also a bastion for white flight in which Jack Gladneys family has taken refuge. Instead of John Winthrops clear City-on-a-Hill morality, DeLillo presents us with J.A.K. Gladneys muddled postmodern inheritance of J.F.K.s civil rights legacy. Racial identity no longer demarcates a simple binary between whites and Native Americans, but complicates a nation in which all races stake a claim towards American nativity.†¦show more content†¦Paradoxically, Jack can only gain this knowledge by embracing his ignorance, a fitting complement to his obsession with death, the great unknown for which science, intellectualism, and religion all concede defeat in explaining or conquering. The most obvious form of racial classification in the novel emerges when Jack confronts the visual hodgepodge of a new, multinational society: What kind of name is Orest? I studied his features. He might have been Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Central Asian, a dark-skinned Eastern European, a light-skinned black. Did he have an accent? I wasnt sure. Was he a Samoan, a native North American, a Sephardic Jew? It was getting hard to know what you couldnt say to people. (208) For Jack, the immediate importance lies within the cross-referencing of race, the permutational mixing-and-matching Jack performs on color and nationality which fosters his conversational anxiety. Several other keys to this anxiety lie within Orest Mercators name. Orest may take his first name from Orestes, the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, who avenged his fathers death by killing his mother and her lover. The Classical allusion repositions Orest as a mythological origin who blends both Greek myth and Biblical allusions (by returning to Eden and confronting the serpent) with his indeterminate lineage. The binary extends to theShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Don Delillo s White Noise1664 Words   |  7 Pageshis work. The title of DeLillo’s eighth novel White Noise brings forth many assumptions towards the overall meaning of the book. If one was to generally interpret the meaning, â€Å"white noise† is produced when sound waves are joined together creating a c onstant buzz. This buzz can produce a relaxing or an overwhelming feeling, depending, if it refers to a repetitive noise one is trying to avoid or perhaps noise one is trying to embrace. With this being said, DeLillo’s White Noise is set in the twentiethRead More Narrative Technique in DeLillo’s White Noise Essay4184 Words   |  17 PagesNarrative Technique in DeLillo’s White Noise American literature has evolved extensively over the course of the history of the republic, from the Puritan sermons which emphasized the importance of a solid individual relationship between the individual self and the omnipotent God to the parody of relativism we find in Joseph Heller’s Catch-22. One of the recurring concerns of American fiction, though by no means restricted to American writing, is the position of the self with regard to the otherRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of The Novel 1480 Words   |  6 Pagesirony to offer critics of society and to display how society should not fear dark and somber things. DeLillo sprinkles irony all throughout his story using it even at the most serious of times. He uses it to show how the characters should not fear death and how the characters ignore danger when â€Å"the smoke alarm went off in the hallway upstairs, either to let us know the battery had just died or because the house was on fire† (8) and they did nothing a bout the possible imminent danger. DeLillo alsoRead MoreTelevision Language of White Noise Essay1736 Words   |  7 PagesTelevision Language of White Noise Television, in our culture, is by far the most dominant medium of communication and stimulation. The fears, the joys, and the horrors of the world are all channeled through television. As seen in the Rodney King police beating videotape, television can incite in a population sheer and utter rage and dark hostility. That same footage; however, can also detract from the very anger it incites. After countless times of viewing the footage, in a never-ending SimulacrumRead MoreDon Delillo s White Noise1239 Words   |  5 PagesDon Delillo’s White Noise is a novel set in twentieth century Middle America. The story follows the life and journey of Jack Gladney, a teacher of Hitler Studies at a liberal arts college, and his family through their lives, which are invaded by white noise, the constant murmur of American consumerism. The narrative follows these characters as they struggle to survive, distracting them from their sense of reality. White Noise explores a host of charactersâ⠂¬â„¢ deep underlying fears and uncertaintiesRead MoreElements of Postmodernism in Ishmael Reeds Mumbo Jumbo, Don Delillos White Noise, Toni Morrisons Beloved and Thomas Pynchons the Crying of Lot 496348 Words   |  26 Pagesconstituencies that modernisms exaltation of unity and grand narrative often obscured, which can easily be observed by reading and analyzing some of the most important works of American postmodern fiction. Works such as Ishmael Reeds Mumbo Jumbo, Don DeLillos White Noise, Toni Morrisons Beloved and Thomas Pynchons The Crying of Lot 49 are only a few of many which contain all or some of postmodernisms most distinguishable elements. Throught these four novels one can perceive the concepts of potmodernismRead More Death and Dying in DeLillos White Noise Essay779 Words   |  4 PagesDeath and Dying in DeLillos White Noise      Ã‚   Among other things, Don DeLillo seems completely preoccupied with death and the arduous task of living with the knowledge of death in his novel White Noise. Acceptance of our finite, fragile existence over time is certainly not a phenomenon unique to a single civilization or historical era. Rather than discuss the inescapable mortality that connects all humankind with broad, generalized strokes, DeLillo is concerned with the particular (peculiarRead MorePostmodernism in White Noise by Don Delillo and Rabbit, Run by John Updike2560 Words   |  11 Pageschange in the world, as evidenced by consumerism in the books Rabbit, Run by John Updike and White Noise by Don DeLillo, gives a false sense of security to the protagonists of the two books thereby blurring the reality they are in and destroying them in the end. *** Don deLillo’s White Noise: Postmodern elements Most postmodern books have been published after World War II. First published in 1984, White Noise by Don deLillo explores the emergence of technology, popular culture, and media in the eyesRead MorePerception of the World and False Images from White Noise Essay2144 Words   |  9 PagesPerception of the World and False Images from White Noise Don DeLillos award-winning novel White Noise takes the idea of the supremacy of false images to the extreme. Through various scenarios, such as the airborne toxic event and the Dylar dilemma, DeLillo critiques contemporary societys over-dependence on false images. The characters in the novel that exemplify this over-dependence appear humorous on one hand, yet tragic on the other. The humor comes from the novels charactersRead MorePostmodernism in Literature5514 Words   |  23 Pagesfeatured characters stuck in inescapable situations attempting impotently to communicate whose only recourse is to play, to make the best of what they have. As Hans-Peter Wagner says, Mostly concerned with what he saw as impossibilities in fiction (identity of characters; reliable consciousness; the reliability of language itself; and the rubrication of literature in genres) Becketts experiments with narrative form and with the disintegration of narration and character in fiction and drama wo n him

Summer And Winter Free Essays

The first paragraph of any essay is the introduction of that essay. Refer to the chapter in your textbook about what belongs or does not belong inside an introduction. This chapter has been assigned or will be assigned soon. We will write a custom essay sample on Summer And Winter or any similar topic only for you Order Now I recommend not writing an introduction until you have a thesis and all of your body paragraphs finalized. After a clear main idea and support for that main idea are established, you can decide how you’d like to introduce it. Beginning an essay about torture with a joke may not be wise, but until you have your essay written, there is no way of knowing whether a joke is appropriate. The final one or two (please spell all numbers under 100) sentences of the introduction is/are the thesis, and it must be followed immediately by paragraphs of support. Every body paragraph must begin with a topic sentence, which contains the main idea of the paragraph, and the following is the topic sentence of this paragraph: There are a few common grammar errors that every student in this class should be aware of, so he or she can earn the grade desired. First, never use 2nd person (you, your) in an essay. There are easy ways around it, and it tends to create problems with clarity of language. For example, â€Å"I never fail to do my assigned reading because you never know† vs. â€Å"I never fail to do my assigned reading because I want to be prepared for class†. The second sentence is more professional, academic, which is what this course is obligated to teach. It may be necessary to use 2nd person if it is within a quotation. For example, â€Å"You know you want to go,† my brother said. When a student rewrites his or her paper, he or she will have the opportunity to improve the quality of a sentence by eliminating 2nd person, and in doing so becoming a better writer, because there are various punctuation marks you will have to use. (That was a joke) Every student will learn to use a comma in five distinct ways, but each student will also learn one way to use a semicolon. A semicolon is only used between two complete sentences, and though there are other ways to use a semicolon, they are not required for this course. If two sentences are closely related or completely opposite, a writer can use a semicolon to show emphasis. For example, my mother is a Democrat; my father is a Republican. This implies that this difference is significant. The other method to connect two complete sentences is to use a comma and a coordinating conjunction, and this sentence is an example. Students must also learn to separate items or phrases in a series. Grapes, oranges, pears and bananas are four of my favorite fruits; the previous sentence is an example. After a grammar handout is given to each student, I will discuss beginning sentences with subordinating conjunctions because when a sentence begins with a subordinating conjunction, that sentence begins with a dependent clause and must be separated from the independent clause. One of my favorite professors once said, â€Å"Perseverance and effort trump talent†. The previous sentence has another example of how to use commas in dialogue. The studious, patient person achieves more in time. In the previous sentence, there is an example of two adjectives modifying the same noun. These two adjectives must be separated with a comma. When a student begins to write essays he or she can be proud of, it is an important, empowering moment. Students in an English 015 course must also learn to write academic and not conversational English. The sharp difference between writing and speaking is the opportunity to clarify what is being communicated. If I accidentally say something rude, I can apologize in person. If I accidentally write something rude, I am not going to be there to correct the mistake. This means anything written must be more precise. Because it often confuses rather than clarifies, slang cannot be used in this course. For example, â€Å"On the real, things were not going well† is slang and may be misunderstood by some. Instead, a better sentence can read, â€Å"In reality, the outlook was very bleak. † It is okay to use profanity, but it must be in proper context and not profanity for its own sake. For example, I was so mad at my brother damaging my car I said, â€Å"I’m gonna kick your ass. † Because the words are inside of quotes, it is okay to use profanity and/or slang, but this is the only time a student may use either. ‘Would’ and ‘Could’ are not past tense verbs and must only be used conditionally. Many students are accustomed to using would as a past tense verb. For instance, â€Å"When I was young, I would ride my back all day. † This is incorrect. As I read that sentence, a question comes to mind; you would ride your bike if what? What the writer of that sentence means is â€Å"When I was young, I rode my bike all day. † This is a better sentence. The word could is used in the same way at times. â€Å"I could run two miles without breaking a sweat in high school. † A reader may understand what is being said in the previous sentence, but â€Å"I ran two miles without breaking a sweat in high school on a daily basis,† is a better sentence. Every student in every class begins with an ‘A’ grade, and that grade drops depending on how much work he or she does. This is the conclusion of this essay and a good student will see that there should be a comma in this sentence. Nevertheless, every student must restate his or her thesis somewhere in the conclusion, but there are also other elements that belong in a conclusion. These elements are listed in the textbook for this course. I’ll end this essay with a quote from one of my favorite writers while in college. Henry David Thoreau once said, â€Å"For it matters not how small the beginning may seem to be, what is once done well is done forever! † How to cite Summer And Winter, Papers

Social Science free essay sample

The Future of Energy: Guiding Decisions with Evidence Kaplan University SC300 Big Ideas in Science: From Methods to Mutation Professor Molika Chea laura lux 2013 Basically, humans use lots of energy for heating, lighting, movement, machines, etc. That energy has to come from an energy source. Some sources are renewable, some sources are non-renewable. Texas energy use per person has fallen in recent years and today is at its lowest level since 1965. Texas per capita residential use of electricity is significantly higher than the national average, however, due to the high demand for air-conditioning during hot summer months and the widespread use of electricity as the primary energy source for home heating during typically mild winter months. Despite large net interstate electricity imports in some areas, the Texas power grid is largely isolated from the integrated power systems serving the eastern and western U. S. , and most areas of Texas have little ability to export or import electricity to and from other states. We will write a custom essay sample on Social Science or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Texas has a great assortment of energy options available to power its future. As the supply of traditional fuels become less certain and more costly, advanced technology will play an increasingly important role. In Texas, solar power is used for a variety of purposes including, powering homes, school crosswalk warning signs and water pumping systems. Texas is ranked first in solar energy potential according to the State Energy Conversation Office (SECO) but is currently only tenth in solar energy production. Homeowners can save energy while improving their homes comfort level by adopting energy-efficient building practices. Substantial savings are possible whether building a new home, renovating an existing one, or simply updating some features to improve your homes efficiency. At the same time, homeowners can use green power for their home to reduce further their consumption of energy from fossil fuels and lower their carbon footprint. Energy efficiency and green power are two ways to go green in your home. You can save energy while improving your homes comfort and helping the environment by making your home more energy-efficient. In fact, making your home energy efficient is the first step to green. And indeed, energy efficiency will save you money, allowing you to invest in other green technologies to make your home more healthy, comfortable and sustainable (energy4me, retrieved 2013). For basic recommendations, strategies and tips for energy efficiency improvements and products for your home, EPA developed the ENERGY STAR program. ENERGY STAR is the government backed symbol for energy efficiency. An ENERGY STAR labeled product, appliance or building indicates superior energy performance. Program is a great place to begin whether making improvements to an existing home or building a new home (energy4me, retrieved 2013). Renewable sources are energy sources that will not run out. They can be used forever. They include Solar Energy; Wind Energy; Wave Energy; Geothermal energy. Fossil Fuel causes lots of pollution. Renewable energy sources dont cause pollution. The advantage of renewable energy is that we will never run out. The disadvantage is we have to work hard to have solar powered cars and homes. The is no advantage of non-renewable energy. The disadvantage of non-renewable energy is that we will never get that energy back and that we have to use some of our most endangered resources to create more non-renewable energy. The non-renewable energy resource refers to different types of fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum products, and natural gas. There are two major disadvantages of non-renewable energy resources. All the reserves of these fuels will be depleted sooner or later and we will run out of their supplies. This will happen for petroleum products and natural gas much faster than for coal. Other major problem with this fuel is the pollution created by their use(energy4me, retrieved 2013). . The major advantages of non-renewable energy sources are low cost and ease of use. But both these advantage may be diluted over a period as prices of such fuel rise withe depleting resources, and as better technologies are developed for use of renewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources, as the name signifies, can be renewed or regenerated, therefor we will not run out of their supplies with use. This is their biggest advantage over non-renewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources include a very wide range of sources including, running water (as in rivers), wind power, tidal power, solar power, bio-fuels and geo-thermal heat. There is also the nuclear power, which is really a non-renewable source of energy, but because of vast reserves of nuclear material available may be treated as renewable source of energy. The major advantage most of the renewable energy is the high cost of equipment required for using them. Also use of bio-fuels is not as convenient as the fossil fuel. Also the current supplies of bio-fuels are limited. It is expected with further development and research, availability and quality of bio fuels will increase and prices will reduce. Similarly technologies are being developed to make use of other renewable energy sources more economical and convenient. BIOFUEL Gasoline and diesel are actually ancient biofuels. But they are known as fossil fuels because they are made from decomposed plants and animals that have been buried in the ground for millions of years. Biofuels are similar, except that theyre made from plants grown today. Much of the gasoline in the United States is blended with a biofuel—ethanol. This is the same stuff as in alcoholic drinks, except that its made from corn that has been heavily processed. There are various ways of making biofuels, but they generally use chemical reactions, fermentation, and heat to break down the starches, sugars, and other molecules in plants. The leftover products are then refined to produce a fuel that cars can use (epa, retrieved 2013). BIOMASS Biomass is carbon based and is composed of a mixture of organic molecules containing hydrogen, usually including atoms of oxygen, often nitrogen and also small quantities of other atoms, including alkali, alkaline earth and heavy metals. These metals are often found in functional molecules such as the porphyries which include chlorophyll which contains magnesium ( epa, retrieved 2013). GEOTHERMAL ENERGY Geothermal energy is the heat from the Earth. Its clean and sustainable. Resources of geothermal energy range from the shallow ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles beneath the Earths surface, and down even deeper to the extremely high temperatures of molten rock called magma (epa, retrieved 2013). Generally speaking, Non-renewable sources are fossil fuels. These come from underground and are Coal, Oil and Gas. There is a fixed amount of coal oil and gas in the world and when we have used it all, there is no more. We cannot re-new them. The potential of renewable energy sources is enormous as they can in principle meet many times the world’s energy demand. Renewable energy sources such as biomass, wind, solar, hydropower, and geothermal can provide sustainable energy services, based on the use of routinely available, indigenous resources. A transition to renewables-based energy systems is looking increasingly likely as their costs decline while the price of oil and gas continue.