Non-creative Response to White Noise

By cjohnson7 from Rochester, Minnesota (Flickr) [<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0">CC-BY-2.0</a>], <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AStorm_clouds.jpg">via Wikimedia Commons</a>

Reading White Noise was an interesting experience. Normally when I read a book I either like it or I don't, it's either interesting or boring; however I have conflicting feelings about White Noise. The story has a bunch of filler that seems unnecessary, off topic and at times monotonous, but somehow I was still entertained. I can't quite explain how I feel about the book which is frustrating but also refreshing. DeLillo managed to create a really captivating and unique feel to his novel, which I think complements the themes and goal of his work.

            The first half of the novel consists mainly of random accounts which when put together develop the characters, it's a quirky approach, but the technique emulates the quality of the characters which I think is brilliant. Although the characters are really weird and not very relatable, certain interactions between them bring to light thoughts and traits that most of us have as humans, some less flattering than others. An example of this would be when Jack says "These things happen to poor people...We live in a neat and pleasant town near a college with a quaint name. These things don't happen in places like Blacksmith" (DeLillo 114). This displays the tendency most people have of feeling we are exempt from certain bad things, thinking things like that could never happen to me. I enjoyed the brief glimpses into genuine human thought that were intermixed with the babble of the Gladney family. 

This link is to goodreads.com the reviews some people wrote for White Noise are really interesting.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11762.White_Noise

Mid-Term Reflection

Dear Mrs. Cline,

            I would have to say that the biggest challenge presented to me in this class has been the essays. I've always had a hard time getting myself to do my writing assignments. When I try putting my thoughts onto paper, nothing sounds quite right or comes out the way I want it to so I end up staring at a blank document for far too long. Due to this I always procrastinate until the last minute (i.e., late Sunday afternoon) because I find the time pressure really helps to push the words out. Its a terrible habit I've tried without success to break. Anyways that is why I've had a hard time with my essays. I don't really think I've had any great triumphs, I suppose that the fact that I'm writing this on Saturday rather than Sunday and have already started working on my essay on A Modest Proposal is a huge win! *sarcasm* At first I wasn't too thrilled by the blog thing, but I think it is a great way to get students to look at other students' opinions and work. Surprisingly, I think there is more interaction with and growth generated by the interplay of classmates than I've experienced in  physical classrooms.

            I've really enjoyed the readings you have assigned. In my experience, you assign works that may not traditionally be assigned (this may just be because this is my first year of college), which spur lots of thinking and reflection in the readers. I haven't done much writing at the college level, so I don't have much to compare literary analysis to in college. Last semester you had us write an I Believe essay which was exclusively personal, where as literary analysis involves interpreting another's work which is much less personal. In high school my English classes actually focused quite a bit on literary analysis. Although I've had the benefit of dipping my toes into literary analysis already, I was not aware of all of the terms and techniques there are in writing. I think learning more about the makeup of literature has improved my ability to analyze literature on a deeper and more educated level.

            My goals for the next half of the semester is to continue to try and succeed at getting my stuff turned in earlier than five minutes before the deadline. I also am planning on writing my essay on Bartleby the Scrivener over spring break and getting that turned in via the no questions asked tab. I'm looking forward to reading White Noise, I'm sure it won't disappoint, hopefully I wont either! Thank you for all you do!

Sincerely,

Samantha Huber

Tentative Thesis: A Modest Proposal

Charles Jervas [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift is a satirical work which sought to draw attention to various, pressing socio-economic issues that plagued 18th century Ireland. The problems Swift directly addressed in his proposal were the overpopulation of his homeland, and the widespread poverty that accompanied this surplus of citizens. In answer to these dilemmas, Swift proposes that at the age of one, the children of the impoverished "be offered in sale to the persons of quality and fortune" (Swift Loc 43). By selling  the children (who indubitably would later have become thieves and beggars), the populations would be greatly diminished, and the economy would be boosted by creating a new market within Ireland itself and providing the poor mothers with a source of income. Throughout this work, Swift criticizes almost everyone; exposing the unjust rule of the English Monarchy, jabbing at the landlords' mistreatment of the common people, and even the lack of exasperation, action, and values of the very people of Ireland.  The underlying purpose of this proposal was to show the wealthy and poor alike their true colors and shock his audience, spurring them into thought and even action.  This proposal is successful because it manages to highlight the injustices of the landlords and the insufficiency of the downtrodden people; shining an unflattering, yet honest light on all the parties' roles in the wrecking of Ireland. 

Here is a link to a brief history of Ireland by the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/ashorthistory/archive/intro126.shtml