Monday, October 1, 2007

This Juice is Making me Thirsty


Last class Professor Lipton used the word “juicy” when describing the information he was giving us. I’m not sure why he questioned the likeness of the word, but I thought it was both accurate and effective for what he was describing. Wanting to stimulate our minds with “juicy” information, along with his “new” teaching methods is admirable. He questioned the results of being an entertaining educator. I would say that most students prefer being involved in a lesson as opposed to being lectured at, and using different media does keep our attention and adds variety.

Postman clearly states that the image/photograph has brought us into a world of seeing, not reading, which has lead to a culture overwhelmed by irrelevance, incoherence, and impotence (Postman 76). It is also important to note that he describes the television not only as entertaining, but that “it has made entertainment itself the natural format for the representation of all experience” (Postman 87). Is subject matter being presented as entertaining really a sin? Is the move toward an entertaining public discourse really corrupting society? Rather than aiding in this evolution, should we take stand and stick to our old ways of conducting politics, religion, business and education?

Postman explains the telegraph making “relevance irrelevant.” In relation to the news, we are given an abundance of information, which cannot lead to any meaningful action (Postman 67). So, because we cannot attend to every piece of information we receive, is it better to not know what is happening on the other side of the world? Or that people are dying everyday and our environment is depleting? Living in ignorance seems like the easy way out to me. We must be aware of the issues involved in our world in order to become enlightened and create a cure.


Televising mass, and religious aspects, is another controversial topic. The decline in church and the rise of the mall as a social institution is important to note. One would think by making religion available to everyone on television positive outcomes would occur, however, I don’t think this is the case. The sacredness of worship, the process of forgiveness, the feeling of belonging, and most importantly the body of Christ is missing when watching mass on television. I feel movies and pictures portraying God, also have a negative impact on religion. Giving Him a face takes away from his greatness. Since God is a supreme being there is no way we can comprehend his perfection.


I agree that soley relying on new media to educate is not appropriate and would lead to the destruction of our society, but by talking about media, and analyzing them, we are using them not as the message, but as the lesson. We know the shift from typography to the television has changed the public discourse and each medium being as a language provides a new orientation of thought. I appreciate that Postman has outlined his concerns and I do believe they are all valid, however, our situation cannot be reversed. We must learn to adapt while staying true to ourselves, and realize that change, even in every aspect of our lives, doesn’t have to be negative.

Postman, Neil. Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business. New York: Penguin, 1986.

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