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In Joan Didion's essay, The White Album, she reflects on the late 1960s and early 1970s in America, particularly in California. Didion explores the relentless search for meaning in a world that seemed senseless and chaotic. She describes encounters with figures like Jim Morrison and Huey Newton, whose performances symbolized a pursuit of significance. However, she exposes their emptiness and the charade of trying to find meaning in their actions. Didion's fragmented storytelling and episodic structure mirror the formless nature of the time she lived in. Through her experiences and observations, she challenges the notion that everything must have a definitive interpretation, highlighting the futility of searching for meaning in an increasingly meaningless world.