Influence of White Noise
As made clear by the title, the concept of White Noise is a focus in the novel. As defined by Delillo, the “white noise” is “a dull and unlocatable roar, as of some form of swarming life just outside the range of human apprehension” (36). Loosely, the white noise simply refers to the constant influence from various sources. As DeLillo illustrated, these influences are very effective in changing the opinions of others. Throughout the book, this is demonstrated through various sources.
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The
supermarket in the book holds special importance. Continuing with the theme of
a distorted religion, the supermarket acts as a Cathedral.
"Some of the houses in town were showing signs of neglect. The park benches needed repair, the broken streets needed resurfacing. Signs of the times. But the supermarket did not change, except for the better. It was well-stocked, musical and bright. This was the key, it seemed to us. Everything was fine, would continue to be fine, would eventually get even better as long as the supermarket did not slip." (162)
The supermarket, a location held in such high regard and almost holy, is still filled with “white noise”. As described by Murray, “It’s full of psychic data” (37). The supermarket is full of messaging, as illustrated by Delillo’s repeated use of “Kleenex Softique, Kleenex Softique” (39). These messages are all "quietly" coming from the background, but all seem to have a tremendous effect. All the food packaging in the supermarket contains labels and warnings, which seem to easily influence the characters.
"She waited a long moment, then said evenly, 'That stuff causes cancer in laboratory animals in case you didn't know.'
'You wanted me to chew sugarless gum, Denise. It was your idea.'
'There was no warning on the pack then. They put a warning, which I would have a hard time believing you didn't see.'" (41)
The Gladney’s read everything on the packaging, and take things that are simply warnings as truth. They go even further and take things that are intended to simply be opinions as truth.
"Everything we need that is not food or love is here in the tabloid racks. The tales of the supernatural and the extraterrestrial. The miracle vitamins, the cures for cancer, the remedies for obesity. The cults of the famous and the dead." (310)
"Some of the houses in town were showing signs of neglect. The park benches needed repair, the broken streets needed resurfacing. Signs of the times. But the supermarket did not change, except for the better. It was well-stocked, musical and bright. This was the key, it seemed to us. Everything was fine, would continue to be fine, would eventually get even better as long as the supermarket did not slip." (162)
The supermarket, a location held in such high regard and almost holy, is still filled with “white noise”. As described by Murray, “It’s full of psychic data” (37). The supermarket is full of messaging, as illustrated by Delillo’s repeated use of “Kleenex Softique, Kleenex Softique” (39). These messages are all "quietly" coming from the background, but all seem to have a tremendous effect. All the food packaging in the supermarket contains labels and warnings, which seem to easily influence the characters.
"She waited a long moment, then said evenly, 'That stuff causes cancer in laboratory animals in case you didn't know.'
'You wanted me to chew sugarless gum, Denise. It was your idea.'
'There was no warning on the pack then. They put a warning, which I would have a hard time believing you didn't see.'" (41)
The Gladney’s read everything on the packaging, and take things that are simply warnings as truth. They go even further and take things that are intended to simply be opinions as truth.
"Everything we need that is not food or love is here in the tabloid racks. The tales of the supernatural and the extraterrestrial. The miracle vitamins, the cures for cancer, the remedies for obesity. The cults of the famous and the dead." (310)
Tabloids are one of the most prominent sources of “white noise” in the novel. Babette frequently reads tabloids to Old Man Treadwell, as if tabloids were suspenseful stories. It is a source of information that Babette has constantly been exposed to. Throughout the novel, Jack, Babette, and the other characters use tabloids as sources of definitive information. This has taken the place of their religion as a source of information about life and death. When the Gladney’s were hiding at a Boy Scout camp because of the Airborne Toxic Event, Babette started reading a tabloid titled "Life After Death Guaranteed with Bonus Coupons” (137). It detailed a study done at Princeton, and how researchers had confirmed life after death. During the entire reading, Jack genuinely believed what the tabloid was saying, and seemed fascinated by its messages. “Even Babette in her tone of voice betrayed no sign of skepticism or condescension” (138). Everyone listening was mesmerized by what the tabloid said, and took it essentially as truth. They almost use tabloids as if they were an escape and cure from the sorrows of reality.
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"Babette picked up a tabloid someone had left on the table.
'Mouse cries have been measured at forty thousand cycles per second. Surgeons use high-frequency tapes of mouse cries to destroy tumors in the human body. Do you believe that?'
'Yes.'
'So do I.'” (225)
They want to believe that death can be escaped by following the words of the tabloids. The tabloids have become a source of religion. Both Jack and Babette are constantly looking for cures to their fear of death from tabloids. Babette jumps at every opportunity to improve her condition by listening to tabloid messages.
"It haunts me, Jack. I can't get it off my mind. I know I'm not supposed to experience such a fear so consciously and so steadily. What can I do? It's just there. That's why I was so quick to notice Mr. Gray's ad in the tabloid I was reading aloud. The headline hit home. FEAR OF DEATH, it said. I think about it all the time. You're disappointed. I can tell." (187)
This is how Babette gets involved with the Dylar drugs. She gets heavily influenced by the information given by the tabloids, and believes every word of it. In the large scheme, DeLillo demonstrates that tabloid messages, even the most absurd and impossible stories, are effective.
Another source of “white noise” is the influence of the television. DeLillo personifies television by stating “The TV says” whenever quoting something that was heard on TV. The TV is something that constantly reoccurs in the text, and constantly supplying information. As Murray stated,
"You have to learn how to look. You have to open yourself to the data. TV offers incredible amounts of psychic data. It opens ancient memories of world birth, it welcomes us into the grid, the network of little buzzing dots that make up the picture pattern. There is light, there is sound.” (51)
Consistent with the definition of “white noise”, the TV is a constant source of influence. Murray, in this instance, seems to even elevate the TV as mysterious and supernatural. The TV is like a prophet to them.
'Mouse cries have been measured at forty thousand cycles per second. Surgeons use high-frequency tapes of mouse cries to destroy tumors in the human body. Do you believe that?'
'Yes.'
'So do I.'” (225)
They want to believe that death can be escaped by following the words of the tabloids. The tabloids have become a source of religion. Both Jack and Babette are constantly looking for cures to their fear of death from tabloids. Babette jumps at every opportunity to improve her condition by listening to tabloid messages.
"It haunts me, Jack. I can't get it off my mind. I know I'm not supposed to experience such a fear so consciously and so steadily. What can I do? It's just there. That's why I was so quick to notice Mr. Gray's ad in the tabloid I was reading aloud. The headline hit home. FEAR OF DEATH, it said. I think about it all the time. You're disappointed. I can tell." (187)
This is how Babette gets involved with the Dylar drugs. She gets heavily influenced by the information given by the tabloids, and believes every word of it. In the large scheme, DeLillo demonstrates that tabloid messages, even the most absurd and impossible stories, are effective.
Another source of “white noise” is the influence of the television. DeLillo personifies television by stating “The TV says” whenever quoting something that was heard on TV. The TV is something that constantly reoccurs in the text, and constantly supplying information. As Murray stated,
"You have to learn how to look. You have to open yourself to the data. TV offers incredible amounts of psychic data. It opens ancient memories of world birth, it welcomes us into the grid, the network of little buzzing dots that make up the picture pattern. There is light, there is sound.” (51)
Consistent with the definition of “white noise”, the TV is a constant source of influence. Murray, in this instance, seems to even elevate the TV as mysterious and supernatural. The TV is like a prophet to them.