On Consumerism And Resistance In Don Delillo’s Underworld

Consumerism prevails in the highly affluent contemporary society. It is no exaggeration to say that modern society is a consumer society since consumption has replaced production as the major promoter of the progress of society. Don DeLillo portrays a panorama of the post-industrial American society under the shadow of the Cold War in his eleventh novel, Underworld (1997). The multifaceted book covers almost half a century of American history and entails a large number of motifs, among which the depiction of post-industrial consumer society deserves careful examination.This thesis is an attempt to explore the expressions of consumerism in Underworld and its adverse effect on the characters with theoretical backings from Jean Baudrillard’s semiotic analysis of consumerism as well as works of other relevant postmodern theorists. It goes further to argue that instead of tolerating the impacts of consumerism passively, DeLillo renders hope to his readers by suggesting that art can serve as the force of resistance to consumerism.Chapter one endeavours to reveal varied expressions of consumerism in the novel. DeLillo not only brings up the problem of industrial waste which is often neglected in modern society, but also foregrounds the ideological waste. Waste is not merely the leftover of the chain of production and consumption. It comes back to besiege human, beings. Moreover, as a result of the propaganda of mass media, the consumed violence as a foil for the tranquillity of everyday life permeates the whole society and affects the characters’ thoughts and behaviour. In addition, the innovation of science and technology ensures the constant supply of high-tech commodities, and at the same time, they become the object of consumption as well.Chapter two expounds the negative impacts of consumerism on the characters, mostly people bewildered and desperate in the face of the predicaments of contemporary life, and multifariously alienated in the contemporary buzzing world of high capitalism. Thus they turn to the "safe" signs for relief, which results in blind worship of commodity. The rampant consumerism also leads to general moral degeneracy and indifference to social injustice. What’s more, the consumer society provides the buyers with structural models in order to formulate their lifestyle. The characters live an improper life in the book.Chapter three contends that although consumerism is on the rise, DeLillo believes that art can become the hope of confronting the trend. Firstly, characters represented by Klara Sax recycle and humanize the waste with their own hands. Secondly, such artists as Lenny Bruce and Ismael Munoz regard art as a means of defiance and self-expression. They can speak out the "unspeakable" through art. Moreover, art can also recall the lost conscience and compassion for those who are suffering.In light of Baudrillard’s theory of consumer society, the present thesis probes into the modern dilemma of consumer society through thorough text analysis. Characters in the book are gravely affected by consumerism. Enjoying the convenience brought about by commodities, they are also endangered by the estrangement, indifference and anxiety in the wake of it. However, it is suggested that art can become the counter-force to confront consumerism.