The Screen Ellen Goodman Analysis

Cell Phones, social media, television, spending nights watching movies and shows, whether with friends or alone, it feels like society have been doing it since forever. Has it become too late to quit? Television has become a huge heavy in families lives, preventing communication and even making ideas all blend into one. Two authors, Ellen Goodman and Ray Bradbury have been looking into this issue in their own style. In Goodman's factual article, “Primal Screen”, she explored how simple it can be to let go from t.v addiction, and get back to being human. While in Bradbury's short story, “The Pedestrian”, he tells readers about a man who feels ‘disconnected’ from the rest of the world. While both authors are indeed discussing the same subject, …show more content…
Using research from a recent Gallup Poll, she introduces the fact , “..a large number of us said that the way to improve family life is by sharing—sharing family needs, recreational activities and chores” (Goodman 640). Goodman continues by commenting, basically saying the simple truth that when watching television, productiveness slackens. This comment brings readers to understand that she is someone who is sure about her subject, and that her words have credibility. It also brings the reader to the conclusion that family members are aware of how sharing happens, and therefore how communicating, the way thoughts are shared, takes place, so it should be a simple concept to understand that being stuck to a screen inhibits our sharing. On the other hand, Bradbury attempts to give the impression that his main character, Leonard Mead, is a unique character, different from the others, from early on. Actions such as, “He walked like a man suddenly drunk”, when ordered to enter a police car to be taken to a psychiatric center, instead of protesting, indicates that he may be as emotionless as the rest of the people in his society that he complains are too connected with technology to be in touch with others; making Bradbury's characters actions and motives unclear. Back to Goodman, clear and summarized research was used, such as “According to a recent Roper Poll, it even causes fights. When people were asked what husbands and wives argued about… television was a strong contender” (Goodman 640). She again follows with her own commentary, saying that this information should not be a shock when families spend a good chunk of our time in front of the screen. This technique in her article tells readers that it is easy to understand what is the cause of our communication problems, consistently