I'm hoping to get some discussion going here about the Postman book. It seems entirely appropriate to do so on a blog, since it's hard to imagine anywhere words are typed that are less typographic. Treat this as an open thread for now. Please post comments, reflections and insights below.
10 comments:
Hello,
I am still going through the book. I am beginning to understand it but more work needs to be done.
Emanuel
Is the internet going to save of from tv or doom us even more>
The internet as a form of conversation brings all modes together. We can read a books listen to the radio watch tv ect. All the context that TV took away is returning ten fold.
Whats so bad about TV. It may be a limited medium but it didnt make us the way we are. We picked TV over the written word becouse it soots us better. Not becouse its limitations left no other choice.
The commenter above makes a good point, one which I wish to see discussed at length. The problem is: the commenter seems functionally illiterate due to the multiple punctuation, spelling, and grammatical errors. How are you to be believed when you cannot even write?
This book makes you realize a few things about television. But I feel as if he says that in America today, we only watch TV and that's what our lives revolve around. I watch TV for certain shows but I'm not addicted to it. I, in fact, read each night for a couple hours. Postman discusses the fact that television has even made religion into entertainment. I understand his point of view but I have to disagree a little bit. What is wrong with learning in a fun way? I don't mean you have to learn by watching television but why does serious learning about any subject have to be done with a ton of in depth reading. I give props to teachers of any subject that can make learning fun. I think most would agree that you learn more when you are having fun. Though, I may be criticized deeply for my opinion, I had to say it.
I don’t know if Postman is saying we revolve our lives around TV. I get the feeling its more about the prism we use to view our lives. TV is a limited medium but we have adopted it as our main source of conversation. When we try to look for the truths of life we falter, due to the fact TV is not a truth preserving invention.
In class we were asked if we knew who the girl in the picture was. Most of us knew it was Britney Spears. I thought about that for a while, and assumed it was a reflection of our current culture. I am not so sure about that now. In Postman’s book he quotes Goodrich in reference to Of Walter Scott’s novels published 1814 and 1832. “ The appearance of a new novel from his pen caused a greater sensation in the United States than did some of the battles of Napoleon.” He also make another reference to a visit from Charles Dickens in 1842. Postman wrote: “ When Charles Dickens visited America in 1842, his reception equaled the adulation we offer today to television stars, quarterbacks and Michael Jackson.” Even Beethoven was popular in his time.
What are we to take from this? I take all this to mean, it is a natural and normal thing to know more about a musician than a guy in a mask.
Lets say they invented a drug, lets call it TV1. The drug has tremendous benefits to mankind. There was one side effect it turned your fingernails blue. Over the next generation the drug had a great impact, it was decided to add it to our water like they do fluoride. With in a couple of generation TV1 is so imbedded into our body’s, even new baby’s are born with blue fingernails. Now to ask a question of these kids in this hypothetical TV1 world. True or False are peoples fingernails blue? I would guess there answer would be something like this. “ True “ TV1 has changed their perception to the core. They may know why and when fingernails changed color but it doesn’t change the reality that fingernails are blue. I don’t know if TV is good or bad, I do accept that it could lead me to false conclusions.
lets say they invented a drug. this drug was then given to a select few subjects in class. say these subjects were the few students who think that they must speak there under-developed minds about every subject brought about by our very well dressed prof. now lets say this drug made them stay quite the whole time, giving a chance for the cute blondes in the class, as well as others, to speak there mind. now wouldn't that be and enjoyable day in class. the only problem is the side effect. its said that this drug causes extreme concentration by all others in the class.
Postman Prophecy reveal yourself and my Professor want to know who you are and stop confusing me
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