Kelly Rouse

HU2501
White Noise Critical Introduction
Stephanie Carpenter, PhD
April 26, 2014
Motivated Reasoning: White Noise and Conspiracy Theories
The Airborne Toxic Event that takes place in White Noise has a
significant effect on the thought processes of Jack Gladney and the
characters that surround him. Heinrich is the first character to take notice of
the Airborne Toxic Event because he heard it on the radio. He said to Jack,
The radio said a tank car derailed. But I dont think it derailed from what I
could see. I think it got rammed and something punched a hole in it (108).
This was the first instance in the chapter where Heinrich questions the
information that is being told to them by the media, or the lack of
information. While Heinrich is constantly questioning everything that
happens, Jack is trying to make sense of the information that is being
provided. Jack seems to come up with all types of excuses for why the people
on the radio keep changing the way they describe the airborne leak of
Nyodene Derivative. Jacks response to Heinrichs claim saying that the
event, in fact, looks nothing like a feathery plume, is that air time is
valuable and they cant go into long tortured descriptions (109). When
they change the description to a black billowing cloud, Jack seems to be
happy with the fact that they are being more accurate now (111). Although

Jack and Heinrich disagree with each other, throughout the rest of the
Airborne Toxic Event they both notice a lot of strange and unexplained
incidents going on. The only difference between the two is that Heinrich is
fascinated and wants answers to all types of questions concerning the event,
and Jack is in denial that an event like this could happen to a person like him.
By creating the dynamic between Jack and Heinrich and how they question
the Airborne Toxic Event, Don Delillo highlights that the event could be a plot
planned by the government to conspire against the people.
The first sign that something questionable was going on with the
Airborne Toxic Even was when, the radio said the car derailed, when in
fact, Heinrich said it looked like something had poked a hole through it (108).
There is also no explanation as to where the car was coming from, where it
was headed, and why it was transporting such a dangerous chemical,
especially in such a large quantity (thirty-five thousand gallons (110)).
Later, when Jack talks to Heinrich about the side effects for Nyodene D that
are continuously changing, they find out that, it effects the false part of the
human memory or whateverwhich creates a sense of dj vu (114). This
could be a strategy used by the people who are responsible for the outbreak,
in order to test the citizens, and make them feel irrational. They could
possibly be experimenting on how they react to the Nyodene D, so that in
the future they can use it to their advantage. One of the biggest suggestive
phrases that implied that the Airborne Toxic Event was something planned,
and not simply an accident, was the soul fact that it was named The

Airborne Toxic Event (114). Not only does this sound like a celebration, due
to the use of event, but comes across as somewhat unimportant. Because
of this, Delillo is suggestive towards the fact that, this very well could have
been a conspiracy. People plan events. You dont normally hear about
people planning tragedies, outbreaks, or disasters. Coincidence? I think not.
In todays society, there are a lot of people who think that the
government is trying to plot things against its own citizens because there
are so many unanswered questions. There is a parallel between the
conspiracies in our society and the suggestions of a possible conspiracy that
was made in White Noise. In recent years, there have been multiple
conspiracy theories in the news. But first, what is a conspiracy? a
conspiracy theory is a theory based in supposition, one that flies in the face
of evidence or science, often one that claims its correctness can be shown by
the paucity of evidence in favor of it, in the sense that 'this conspiracy goes
so far that they've even buried all the evidence that proves it!'(Against
Conspiracy Theories). Although 9/11 happened thirteen years ago, there is
still talk about it today, and how people still have beliefs that it was a
conspiracy. What seems most disturbing about the 9/11 controversy is the
widespread aversion by government and media to the evidence that
suggests, at the very least, the need for an independent investigation that
proceeds with no holds barred,(Why the Fuss?). In White Noise, there is
potential for a conspiracy to develop, especially since Jack isnt exactly in a
great state of mind. It might be a bit crazy, but there is always a possibility,

especially when they call something deadly an event. In the book, the
radio puts out information that isnt clear, which causes Jack and Heinrich to
question the situation. Conspiracies are a perennial favorite for television
producers because there is always a receptive audience, (Why People
Believe). Just like the characters in White Noise depend on the radios for
updates and news coverage, we depend on TV for our news. If inaccurate
news is being put out there, then people are going to start asking questions
and looking for their own answers.
In my creative response, Jack will be supporting Heinrich when he
questions the events that are happening, or not happening, during the
Airborne Toxic Event. Heinrich believes that the tank car crash wasnt an
accident and that it is a plot to test Nyodene D for future use. Heinrich is
bringing to light all the questions surrounding the Airborne Toxic Event, and
how it could possibly be a plot executed by the government. He brings up
other recent events, such as 9/11, and how there were many people thought
that was a conspiracy. He will mention certain aspects of the 9/11
conspiracies, such as; The then US Vice President Dick Cheney ordered the
military to stand down and not to intercept the planes,(The evolution of the
9/11) and The World Trade Center collapse appeared similar to a controlled
demolition, (The 11 Most Compelling). My chapter will also focus on how
Jack and Heinrich analyze the way media reacted to the Airborne Toxic Event
and why the event was considered an event instead of a disaster. They will

also talk about the SIMUVAC doing simulations, and how all of these signs
point towards a conspiracy similar to 9/11.

Bibliography
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"The 11 Most Compelling 9/11 Conspiracy Theories." News One RSS. N.p., n.d.
Web. 26 Apr. 2014. <http://newsone.com/742485/the-11-most-compelling911-conspiracy-theories/>.

"The evolution of the 9/11 conspiracy theories." BBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr.
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"Why People Believe Conspiracy Theories." Scientific American Global RSS. N.p.,
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"Why the Fuss? The Call to Arms against UN Rapporteur Richard Falk for Alluding to
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