Talk:White Noise (novel)

Preceded by / Followed by
It is my understanding that the Preceded by / Followed by element in the infobox should only be used for books that are part of a series, not simply to list the writer's other novels, which can appear as a category at the bottom of the page. If there is some link between all these books, I think it should be mentioned in the articles since it was not obvious to me, in the few DeLillo books I've read (on second thought, it is actually impossible for some of these books to occupy the same world as the others). AshcroftIleum 00:09, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

Wrong publication date
According to my White Noise edition I am sitting with in my hands right now the book was "First published 1984 by Viking Penguin Inc., New York". It also says: "First published in Great Britain in paperback by Picador 1985". As the New York publishment came first this ought to be the correct year of publication as the New Yorkers could enjoy the book earlier than the Brits. Right? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.107.104.173 (talk) 09:51, 17 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Funny, mine says "First published in the United States of America by Viking Penguin Inc. 1985."12.186.80.1 (talk) 16:38, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Edits made to White Noise Wiki Page
If anyone happens to read this, go check out the edits that I made here and let me know what you think! It is under the analysis subtitle and it is the last paragraph about religion! Thanks so much in advance. Aludke96 (talk) 03:30, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

Location
The Wiki states that the College-on-the-Hill is in a "Midwestern" town (Blacksmith), but it is stated in the novel that flights from the nearby Iron City connect through Boston's Logan airport. This would place Blacksmith in New England, not the Midwest. Further hints are in the name "College-on-the-Hill": the College on the Hill is a nickname for Dartmouth (in New Hampshire). The town also has a Congregational church, and these are common in New England but not in other parts of the country. So I am changing "Midwestern" to "New England." Zagraniczniak (talk) 10:01, 8 August 2019 (UTC)

Analysis Section
I am new to Wikipedia, so before editing this page, I thought it appropriate to open a talk page explaining the edit I think useful. I apologize if I am not proceeding correctly.

I believe the sentence "Additionally, the world of White Noise is an unsatisfactory imitation or substitute, also known as a simulacrum” should be revised and the content expanded because the definition is unclear to a general reader and overly simplified to a reader who knows that the term derives from Jean Baudrillard. Much has been written on it and its importance to an understanding of the novel.  However, the entry could establish the direct relevance of the concept simply by referencing the passage on "the most photographed barn in America" which, according to Peter Knight, "has perhaps become “the ‘Most Discussed Scene in Postmodern Fiction’.” Source: Knight, Peter. “Delillo, Postmodernism, Postmodernity.” The Cambridge Companion to Don DeLillo. Ed. John N. Duvall. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2008. 27–41. Print. (I have to figure out how to cite this article from a book collection of essays correctly. This is not an option in the wizard.) Dwarner201 (talk) 18:12, 8 January 2020 (UTC)


 * please do. Very few on Wikipedia add useful literary criticism, with citations. Speaking of which, here's a citation template prepared for you, with that chapter. (Double-check it of course.) You can copy it to the article. Outriggr (talk) 04:34, 9 January 2020 (UTC)

Materialistic Obsession
In Adam Szetela's article materialism, idolization of self, and cultural compression opens the discussion into a society's corrosive standards inflicted upon unknowing participants. Jack Gladney's character forgoes a character arc because of the inability to seek change within himself. A diluted rationality escapes Jack because of his obsession with death. Death comes to every individual unbeknownst to themselves so a clear worry easily is understood though a distraction of possessions is not present with every individual. Material gain in the form of goods can irrevocably lead to an idolization of the self accented by the tapestries of life littered throughout a person's home. DeLillo pervades the reader's curiosity of Jack's purpose throughout the novel. His fear of death, safety provided by his glasses, robe and status as a professor of Hitler studies and his strange family dynamic highlights a problem of cultural influence within the novel that none of the characters can escape. Cultural identity roots itself within the individual on a deep cognitive level that can be difficult to divorce themselves from. DeLilo merely presents a question that threads throughout the novel being what is purpose if the motivation to change remains dormant. Gladney's character arc reaches no conclusion because no principle or lesson is learned within the novel. His culture cements him in a stagnant idolization of things around him. Curiously the same question could be asked of oneself. Sean.Robi733 (talk) 5:14, 4 May (UTC)