White Noise and Postmodernism

There is not a clear and defined definition of postmodernism because of the concepts, characteristics and ideas within it. However, on some sites it is defined as a term that encompasses a wide-range of developments in philosophy, film, architecture, art, literature, and culture. It was originally a reaction to modernism, used to describe the different aspects of post WW2 literature. Started around 1940s, after the modernist era, and peaked around the 1960s and 1970s. In Postmodernism there are no absolute truths, only relative truths of each person or character. Postmodernism is "post" because it denies the existence of any ultimate principles, and it lacks the optimism of there being a scientific, philosophical, or religious truth, which will explain everything for everybody. In postmodernism understanding and interpretation is everything, saying that reality only comes into being through our interpretations of what the world means to us individually (“Gengloss”).

Postmodernist Literature contains a broad range of concepts and ideas that include such factors as responses to modernism and its ideas, responses to technological advances and greater diversity of cultures that leads to cultural pluralism. One indication of a postmodern text is Patiche, when authors often combine multiple elements in the postmodern genre, like mixed media. Another one is metafiction, Writing about writing, often used to undermine the authority of the author and to advance stories in unique ways. Also, a similarity that seems common in all postmodern writing is paranoia (“Gengloss”).

White Noise is a postmodern text, even the opening chapters introduce three postmodern themes that recur throughout the novel. The power of appearances and imagery, the pervasiveness of consumerism, and the palpable but elusive presence of death in the world.

“Man’s guilt in history and in the tides of his own blood has been complicated by technology, the daily seeping falsehearted death.” This quote represents the theme of attacks on the advances of technology and growing consumerism. It’s trying to say that technology has blurred the lines between what we are and are not responsible for and it has also taken away, like Heinrich’s hairline, some essential part of our lives.

“Another postmodern sunset, rich in romantic imagery. Why try to describe it? It’s enough to say that everything in our field of vision seemed to exist in order to gather the light of this event.” In this quote it directly says postmodern. They are showing that they are another part of a postmodern world. In its never-ending repetition, making the pleasure of any individual experience impossible to convey. The sunset is spectacular and beautiful, but those qualities are diminished if its repeated everyday by other sunsets that are also spectacular and beautiful. The experience still matters, but the words that are left to describe it have been flattened out and emptied of any meaning by repetition. In the modern world, words can’t capture the sublime beauty, though romantic images can be invoked (“Sparknotes Editors”).

Works Citied

"Postmodernisn." Gengloss. Counterbalance, Web. 30 Nov 2009. .

SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on White Noise.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2005. Web. 25 Nov. 2009.

Louis Erdrich's Love Medicine

Erdrich writes in a very modern style, but in a unique way. When I read her stories I feel like she puts a lot of her self into what she writes. I feel like she truly believes in the themes, motives and spiritual content of what she is writing. Each chapter in Love Medicine is narrated by a different character, which shows the different perspectives of their society and gives a better understanding of who that character is. These stories are very often from the first-person perspective of who-ever is telling the story. However, there are five chapters that are told from a third-person perspective. The tone of the novel is very conversational, making it seem more realistic and personal. Also, it’s indicative of the traditional storytelling in Native American culture. However, it also shows a bit of the Euro-Indian experience especially through the younger generations who have been forced by government policy to accept and assimilate to Euro-American culture (“freebooknotes.com”).

The Anti-western ideas are present in the texts, but not outright culpable for the characters problems. Some of these things that she writes against the Western culture are Gordie’s extreme alcoholism, Henry Lamartine Jr.’s post-tramatic stress after war and his somewhat suicide, Nector’s affair, Gerry’s imprisonment and the need for material things, such as a red convertible. Even June’s death can be related to writing against western ideas. The only positive towards the Western culture is Albertine, who escapes the reservation and attends a University and seems to live a perfectly normal life outside of the American-Indian culture. Another big component that goes against society today is the loss of a cultural identity. Erdrich goes on to show this loss of culture between the two geneations, the new, Americanized generation with the older, cultural tribe, by saying, “They gave you worthless land to start with and then they chopped it out from under your feet. They took your kids away and stuffed the English language in their mouth.” (“Freebooknotes.com”).

Although individual Indians today vary in the extent to which they follow, and many have drifted towards western society, tribal traditions, their worldviews and values continue to reflect those of their ancestors. There are many themes in Love Medicine, which relate with this idea that American-Indian culture is still alive through the new generations. Some of these themes include abandonment, connection to land, searching for identity and self-knowledge, and survival. Also, the closeness and interconnectedness of the entire family and tribe is emphasized throughout the book. In the article Introduction to Indian Literature, they state the same themes and ideas which occur in Love Medicine, such as an emphasis on the importance of living in harmony with the physical and spiritual universe, the power of thought and word to maintain this balance, a deep reverence for the land, and a strong sense of community (Ruoff 118-198).

"Love medicine ain't what brings him back to you, Grandma. No, it's something else. He loved you over time and distance, but he went off so quick he never got the chance to tell you how he loves you, how he doesn't blame you, how he understands." I think this quote from the book shows a lot of the themes said above, such as the interconnectedness of the entire family , abandonment, identity, self-knowledge, survival and intense belief of the spiritual world.

Works Citied

"Love Medicine." Freebooknotes.com . 2006. Wikipedia, Web. 12 Nov 2009. <>.

Ruoff, A. Lavonne Brown. "Introduction to American Indian Literature." 118-198. Print.

The Poisonwwod Bible and The History of the Congo

In the Poisonwood Bible a family of missionaries travel to Kilanga, Congo to spread western ideas. Back then most missionaries thought of themselves as bringing the "pure light" of Western civilization to shine on the Congolese "darkness." There they experience the harshness of reality in Africa. The turmoil that has been constant in the Congo involves political control, power, land ownership and its resources. The natural resources and minerals that were exploited before the twentieth century are copper, diamonds, cobalt, petroleum, gold, silver, and zinc (‘World Focus’).

The Congo is Africa's third largest country and is home to many of the natural resources we use today. Minerals found in the Congo are also found in cell phones, laptops and other electronics around the world making this region a valuable place to obtain. In the book there is a political power for Congolese independence and Belgium control. In the late 1800’s, King Leopold II of Belgium declared himself the dictator and ruler of the Congo. He only had public support at home because he announced that his intent was to Christianize and modernize the Congolese region and it’s population, similar to what the Price family intentions were. When actually Leopold planned to exploit the land and force it’s people, men, women, and children for mining, especially in the ivory and rubber business (‘Countries and their Culture’). Much like the Price’s Leopold said he had good intentions, but in reality wanted to distort the Congolese society. The big difference though is that the Prices didn’t realize how they were negatively affecting Kilanga society and actually did have good intentions, unlike Leopold who knew of his plans.

In 1908, Leopold was forced to give up his rule and sell his colony to Belgium. The new Belgium government then started to focus on exploiting the land for copper, diamonds, and oil. This switch of power didn’t help the Congolese people one bit. This new rule forced men and children into hard labor, which almost destroyed traditional society in the Congo. The Poisonwood Bible takes place during the end of this Belgium rule in the Congo, when they finally obtain independence. Sadly, this rebellion leads to even more confrontation in the Congo, such as the fall of their newly elected Congolese leader and fighting between it’s own people against it’s government. An example is of Anatole and Leah’s attempts to rally justice, but Anatole just ends up being thrown in jail for speaking out against the corrupt government. (‘Countries and their Cultures’)

"In the world, the carrying capacity for humans is limited. History holds all things in the balance, including large hopes and short lives," (Sparknotes Editors). Before the arrival of Europeans and missionaries the Congolese society was organized and efficient in health, education, and trade, but in their own way. Not being able to understand this culture we send over doctors, missionaries and all sorts of people to ‘help’. Yet, what Adah says at the beginning of this paragraph is we can’t change the balance of the world. It maintains its own balance of all things, even of life and death.

Works Citied

"Democratic Republic of Congo." Countries and Their Culture. 2009. Web. 4 Nov 2009. .

"Resources in Congo." World Focus. 03 011 2008. Blogwatch, Web. 5 Nov 2009. .

SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Poisonwood Bible.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. n.d.. Web. 3 Nov. 2009