This essay is, from any pedagogical and/or rhetorical point of view, quite a mess. But it is a beautiful, ultra-appealing mess and I love it. I guess my only quibble is whether attributing "massive insurance coverage" to a category of males is necessarily freighted with contempt. But then, I am 74 yeares of age and while I am not "massively covered" by insurance, I have some and it makes me feel, even at this late date, that I am a real adult, despite a lot of internal evidence to the contrary.
I tried and tried to like, as opposed to admire, the Noah Baumbach adaptation of WHITE NOISE, but I never got there. The rhythms were off, the ironies didn't align with DeLillo's, good try but . . . .
Shortly after the White Noise film was released, there was true airborne toxic event that happened close to the site where the film was shot - in East Palestine, Ohio, caused by a derailed train and deeply affecting the local area and inhabitants. Just like in White Noise. I think many who read this piece will remember that extremely surreal incident.
White Noise so fucking prescient it's almost embarrassing how relevant it still is. DeLillo basically predicted our entire media-saturated nightmare thirty years before Instagram stories and TikTok algorithms started rotting our brains in real time.
I agree, not to mention the toxic spillage /airborne toxic event-- which has proven the most enduring, catchy phrase. But that barn, the riffs on photography and representation, the anticipation of the selfie and all that goes with it… he had that all right so early, it’s wild.
What a beautiful essay, and brings back all the rush and bumble and "time to go now, Mom" of moving in day, which was pretty classic with one of my daughters and not at all with the other. I myself never had a move in day(deft acceleration over college). Maybe time to read White Noise, which never really grabbed me (I know, nobody else feels this way) but you have made me want to pick it up again. Maybe I'm finally ready. Great, great piece. Thank you.
Really appreciated this post about the opening of the book. The list of items on move-in day is endlessly fascinating to me. (dum-dum pops!), and I wrote quite a bit about that opening paragraph in grad school. This is the perfect time of year to revisit the list and the book. Thanks for the reminder. And best of luck with move-in day.
This essay is, from any pedagogical and/or rhetorical point of view, quite a mess. But it is a beautiful, ultra-appealing mess and I love it. I guess my only quibble is whether attributing "massive insurance coverage" to a category of males is necessarily freighted with contempt. But then, I am 74 yeares of age and while I am not "massively covered" by insurance, I have some and it makes me feel, even at this late date, that I am a real adult, despite a lot of internal evidence to the contrary.
I tried and tried to like, as opposed to admire, the Noah Baumbach adaptation of WHITE NOISE, but I never got there. The rhythms were off, the ironies didn't align with DeLillo's, good try but . . . .
This is - to be understated about it - very nice to hear, thank you.
Nice
If you have written about that book or DeLillo in general, please share a link.
Shortly after the White Noise film was released, there was true airborne toxic event that happened close to the site where the film was shot - in East Palestine, Ohio, caused by a derailed train and deeply affecting the local area and inhabitants. Just like in White Noise. I think many who read this piece will remember that extremely surreal incident.
White Noise so fucking prescient it's almost embarrassing how relevant it still is. DeLillo basically predicted our entire media-saturated nightmare thirty years before Instagram stories and TikTok algorithms started rotting our brains in real time.
I agree, not to mention the toxic spillage /airborne toxic event-- which has proven the most enduring, catchy phrase. But that barn, the riffs on photography and representation, the anticipation of the selfie and all that goes with it… he had that all right so early, it’s wild.
What a beautiful essay, and brings back all the rush and bumble and "time to go now, Mom" of moving in day, which was pretty classic with one of my daughters and not at all with the other. I myself never had a move in day(deft acceleration over college). Maybe time to read White Noise, which never really grabbed me (I know, nobody else feels this way) but you have made me want to pick it up again. Maybe I'm finally ready. Great, great piece. Thank you.
Wonderful note thank you. I think White Noise is worthwhile, but a book grabs you when it does, can’t be rushed.
Nobody warns you how much it feels like straight-up grief.
Really appreciated this post about the opening of the book. The list of items on move-in day is endlessly fascinating to me. (dum-dum pops!), and I wrote quite a bit about that opening paragraph in grad school. This is the perfect time of year to revisit the list and the book. Thanks for the reminder. And best of luck with move-in day.
Thanks you. It's such a good opening, so many layers. Holds up.