Stephen Therrien Iadeluca
500594565
MPS 508 – 011
September 22nd, 2015
Reading Response
Although a work of fiction, Don DeLillo makes a few poignant observations on photography in White Noise that relate very well to the realities of photography in the non-fiction world. The expert selected revolves around “The Most Photographed Barn in the World.” Our main character, Murray, states: “No one sees the barn.” While this seems contradictory considering we are told there are forty cars and a tour bus at the sites, Murray’s comment could not be better placed. While all these people are in fact seeing the barn, they are not there to actually stand and observe, but rather to take part in this famous ritual of photographing the barn. The physical presence of the barn takes a backseat to be over shadowed by photography and the outer calling to maintain the tourist attraction as to what all the signs says: “The Most Photographed Barn in America.” The barn itself has no significance, but rather the site that carries all of the importance. This is a common concept in such an information saturated world. When you think about all the great wonders around the world, whether it be the Eiffel tower, the tower of Pisa, or another, the way we learn about all these marvels…show more content… The subject looses all importance, history, uniqueness, and meaning and is replaced by this urge to take part in what Murray