"White Noise" by Don DeLillo and "America" by Jean Baudrillard

Paper Summary:

This paper examines postmodernism in the novel "White Noise" by Don DeLillo and the non-fiction book "America" by Jean Baudrillard. It explains that even though "White Noise" and "America" deal with reality and the undercurrents of postmodern life, both books are essentially different in their ultimate outlooks. The writer discusses Baudrillard's caustic view of American society and life in his book "America" and contrasts this with the perspective in "White Noise", which is more hopeful for America and its future, despite the dehumanization of postmodern living and the "white noise" it brings with it.

Outlook:
Introduction
White Noise & America
Conclusion

From the Paper:

""White Noise" by Don DeLillo and Jean Baudrillard's "America" are, by technical definition, two very different books, the former being a novel and the second a non-fiction musing of a man's travels across the United States. However, both are very similar in that they offer an intense look into postmodern America, with its social relations being affected by society's preferred mediums - television, advertising, radio, and the process of simulacra - that is, the simulacrum that is vanity, a society which places value of false realities over real ones, where a hypperreality has replaced a real existence for human beings. Though both books tackle a reality which may not seem to exist, DeLillo's book at least has some hope for human beings and laughs at life's little hypocrisies, whereas Baudrillard offers little in the way of humor or hope."

Sample of Sources Used:

• DeLillo, D. (1985). White Noise. New York, U.S.A.: Penguin.
• Baudrillard, J. (1999). America. (Translator: Chris Turner). New York: Verso.

More papers on "White Noise" by Don DeLillo and "America" by Jean Baudrillard:

• Book Review # 91969 : "'White Noise' by Don DeLillo"
• Analytical Essay # 46832 : "Don DeLillo's "White Noise"
• Book Review # 126980 : "'White Noise' and Consumerism"

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