In Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman discusses the shift of America from the Age of Exposition to the Age of Show Business. Accordingly, entertainment is the main goal of almost every television program, which takes its toll on the culture as a whole. Postman’s book is still relevant today, as seen in current events. The recent news coverage of Trump’s travels to Asia confirms Postman’s thesis that each medium dictates the content shared, and consequently, television has lowered the level of public discourse.
Neil Postman introduces his thesis that a particular medium changes the content displayed, and television has lowered the level of public discourse for this reason. Media and culture closely interact. Postman summarizes his thoughts …show more content…
ABC News covered the topic and fell in line with Postman’s thesis, opening up with two attractive reporters. They proceeded to state statistics about feelings toward Trump, which do not affect the fact that he is in office. They made multiple references made regarding the golf Trump and Japan’s prime minister played. The video was designed so viewers would not lose interest, evident by the short clips and engaging voice of the narrator (ABC News). Another clip on Fox News played into Postman’s claims in Amusing Ourselves to Death. The video seemed more like a movie than a snippet of news. It boasted intense music and inserted past clips together. As Postman commented in his criticism of television, viewers are given no time to process the presented information (“Trump Embarks”). These videos are two of many that support Postman’s …show more content…
Although videos tend to convey information in a simpler manner, Postman was correct in his suppositions that media changes a whole culture. President Trump chose to replace his suit jacket with a bomber jacket to address the American troops stationed in Japan, as remarked in a New York Times article. This is an excellent example of emphasis on appearing to connect to the audience outwardly rather than with speech alone (Davis). Another article discussed the situation in more detail than any video, in accordance with Postman’s thoughts, but still showed how the entertainment culture cannot read an article of just words. The viewer cannot scroll without a picture on the screen at all times. In addition, the language was easy to comprehend and only a couple sentences were written before a break, catering to short attention spans (Liptak). Articles written on the subject agree with ideas presented by
Neil Postman introduces his thesis that a particular medium changes the content displayed, and television has lowered the level of public discourse for this reason. Media and culture closely interact. Postman summarizes his thoughts …show more content…
ABC News covered the topic and fell in line with Postman’s thesis, opening up with two attractive reporters. They proceeded to state statistics about feelings toward Trump, which do not affect the fact that he is in office. They made multiple references made regarding the golf Trump and Japan’s prime minister played. The video was designed so viewers would not lose interest, evident by the short clips and engaging voice of the narrator (ABC News). Another clip on Fox News played into Postman’s claims in Amusing Ourselves to Death. The video seemed more like a movie than a snippet of news. It boasted intense music and inserted past clips together. As Postman commented in his criticism of television, viewers are given no time to process the presented information (“Trump Embarks”). These videos are two of many that support Postman’s …show more content…
Although videos tend to convey information in a simpler manner, Postman was correct in his suppositions that media changes a whole culture. President Trump chose to replace his suit jacket with a bomber jacket to address the American troops stationed in Japan, as remarked in a New York Times article. This is an excellent example of emphasis on appearing to connect to the audience outwardly rather than with speech alone (Davis). Another article discussed the situation in more detail than any video, in accordance with Postman’s thoughts, but still showed how the entertainment culture cannot read an article of just words. The viewer cannot scroll without a picture on the screen at all times. In addition, the language was easy to comprehend and only a couple sentences were written before a break, catering to short attention spans (Liptak). Articles written on the subject agree with ideas presented by