Neil Postman would be rolling in his grave
by Sam on January 20, 2010
In 1985 Media Ecologist Neil Postman wrote a book, Amusing Ourselves to Death, that forewarned of Huxleyan future where the public was oppressed through pleasure, delivered through the medium of Television. Postman viewed Television as a “soma” for the world; as a result mankind would exchange his intellect for entertainment. Because of the proliferation of television, everything has to be in Entertainment form: Education, evangelism, and news are all packaged to amuse.
Postman criticized the presentation of television news, as it is projected as merely entertainment programming. Because of the nature of the medium, it cannot be taken seriously.
“What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy.” –Neil Postman
With that in mind, look what Hong Kong’s Apple Daily News has produced:
One comment
Just killing some in between class time on Stumbleupon and I found your entry. Not normally what I like to learn about, but it was certainly worth my time. Thanks.
by Glenn Vangyi on February 25, 2010 at 1:11 am #