Media and Culture

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer discusses different views regarding media and culture. The writer notes that concepts about the media are very diverse and that different insights offer an understanding of the media's impact on modern-day culture. The writer discusses the views of Steven Johnson in his work 'Everything Bad is Good for You' and Neil Postman in 'Amusing Ourselves to Death'. The writer considers the question if IQ is indeed getting higher and people have more cognitive skills, what is being done with this increased ability? The writer concludes that if things that we are doing, or not doing, with our higher IQ and cognitive ability include road rage and increased stress, perhaps we are not better with higher IQs and cognitive ability.

From the Paper:

"Postman uses the show "Sesame Street" as an example of this use of television. Educators approve of this show, because it is "educational." It supposedly teaches children how to read and to love school. But what kind of school are they expecting, he questions. The traditional learning and language-centered classroom is nothing like the vibrant and ever-changing environment seen on TV. Education is no longer organized around the slow-moving printed word, but on the rapid movement of the electronic image. Education is becoming entertainment."
"Postman's views are not any more positive about the connection between the media and politics. He points to Ronald Reagan's comments equating politics to show business."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Johnson, Steven. Everything Bad is Good for You. New York: Riverhead Books, 2005.
• Postman, Neil. Amusing Ourselves to Death. New York: Viking, 1984.

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