Postmodernism and "White Noise"

Postmodernism, according Dr. Mary Klages of the University of Colorado, does not have a single definition. The word is encompasses not just literature, but also art, architecture, music, film, sociology, communications, fashion, and technology (Klages). Dr. Klages states that one must consider modernism before they try to discover what postmodernism is. This, she says, will help one to define postmodernism by comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences between the characteristics and features of each. (Klages)

It is not just Dr. Mary Klages who defines postmodernism in such a way, however. It seems that the entire academic world does the same. Shannon Weiss and Karla Wesley of the University of Alabama outline the differences between modernism and postmodernism in order to define postmodernism as well. Some of the key differences are as follows:

Modern

Reasoning: From Foundation upward

Science: Universal Optimism

Part/Whole: Parts Comprise the whole

God: Acts by violating "natural"
laws" or by "immanence" in
everything that is

Language: Referntial


Postmodern

Reasoning: Multiple factors of multiple levels

of reasoning. Web-oriented reasoning

Science: Realism of limitations

Part/Whole: The whole is more than the parts

God: Top-down causation

Language: Meaning in social context through usage

Source: http://private.fuller.edu/~clameter/phd/postmodern.html


This chart is very helpful in defining postmodernism, and in discerning between modern and postmodern texts. These characteristics are readily apparent throughout the novel White Noise. The characteristic that seems to stand out the most is the “realism of limitations” in the category of science.


Throughout the entirety of White Noise, the main character, Jack Gladney, lives his life according to the limitations set forth by science and technology. The first section of the novel is titled Waves and Radiation, which represents something like a magnetism of the electronic version of brainwaves drawing in those who live their lives around television, computers, appliances, telephones, and all the other forms of technology that society relies on in everyday life. Almost everything that Jack does is centered around technology, and he realizes this, though he does not seem to resent it. Jack understands that he is limited by the technology he is reliant upon, but is content. For example, one of the last lines in the book is, “a slowly moving line, satisfying, giving us time to glance at the tabloids on the racks” (DeLillo, 326). Jack is waiting in line to check out at a supermarket. He is waiting for the technology of price scanners to tell him how much he owes for his packaged foods, and he is satisfied with it.

With all the characteristics listed above combined, it appears that postmodernism is the realization of whole self, inclusive in society, and reliant upon the rationality of technology and societal norms to discover what is “right”. All of this is present in White Noise. Jack Gladney heavily relies on societal norms, and uses the reasoning of the whole of society rather than basic reasoning. For example, Jack states that he and his family will not be harmed in any way because he is a professor and the head of a department at a major university. Therefore, he is too important to be involved in any sort of catastrophe. Here, he using his societal standings to reason that he is special and nothing will hurt him.


Klages, Mary. University of Colorado. 2003. http://www.colorado.edu/English/courses/ENGL2012Klages/pomo.html

Weiss, Shannon and Wesley, Karla. University of Alabama.
http://www.as.ua.edu/ant/Faculty/murphy/436/pomo.htm