The Environment

doi:10.1017/9781009025676.027

Chapter 21 - The Environment

Postmodern Ecology in Don DeLillo’s Fiction

from Part V - Material Contexts

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 May 2022

Elise Martucci

Edited by

Jesse Kavadlo

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Jesse Kavadlo: Affiliation:
Maryville University of Saint Louis, Missouri

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Summary

“Postmodern Ecology in Don DeLillo’s Fiction” offers an ecocritical reading of DeLillo’s fiction through the lens of pastoralism, nature studies and apocalypse. Drawing from earlier discussion of ecology in DeLillo’s novel as well as from discussions of ecocrtiticism and place-based studies, this chapter focuses on several of DeLillo’s seminal works, White Noise, Underworld and Zero-K, along with his early short story “Creation” to demonstrate the presentation and evolution of environmental themes and messages throughout his oeuvre. By first looking at DeLillo’s inclusion and inversion of the tradition of pastoral in fiction and then moving towards a consideration of the trope of apocalypse, the chapter aims to prove how DeLillo makes an argument for place-based consciousness and environmental awareness and responsibility throughout his fiction.

Keywords

Don DeLillo postmodernism ecology place pastoral ecocriticsm apocalypse nature

Type: Chapter
Information: Don DeLillo In Context , pp. 196 - 206

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009025676.027 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2022

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References

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