Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show BusinessTelevision has conditioned us to tolerate visually entertaining material measured out in spoonfuls of time, to the detriment of rational public discourse and reasoned public affairs. In this eloquent, persuasive book, Neil Postman alerts us to the real and present dangers of this state of affairs, and offers compelling suggestions as to how to withstand the media onslaught. Before we hand over politics, education, religion, and journalism to the show business demands of the television age, we must recognize the ways in which the media shape our lives and the ways we can, in turn, shape them to serve out highest goals. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 41
Page 68
... it dramatically altered what may be called the “informationaction ratio." In both
oral and typographic cultures, information derives its importance from the
possibilities of action. Of course, in any communication environment, input (what
one is ...
... it dramatically altered what may be called the “informationaction ratio." In both
oral and typographic cultures, information derives its importance from the
possibilities of action. Of course, in any communication environment, input (what
one is ...
Page 69
You may, of course, cast a ballot for someone who claims to have some plans, as
well as the power to act. But this you can do only once every two or four years by
giving one hour of your time, hardly a satisfying means of expressing the broad ...
You may, of course, cast a ballot for someone who claims to have some plans, as
well as the power to act. But this you can do only once every two or four years by
giving one hour of your time, hardly a satisfying means of expressing the broad ...
Page 76
And that, of course, is to amuse. The pseudo-context is the last refuge, so to say,
of a culture overwhelmed by irrelevance, incoherence, and impotence. Of course,
photography and telegraphy did not strike down at one blow the vast edifice ...
And that, of course, is to amuse. The pseudo-context is the last refuge, so to say,
of a culture overwhelmed by irrelevance, incoherence, and impotence. Of course,
photography and telegraphy did not strike down at one blow the vast edifice ...
What people are saying - Write a review
User ratings
| 5 stars |
| ||
| 4 stars |
| ||
| 3 stars |
| ||
| 2 stars |
| ||
| 1 star |
|
User Review - Flag as inappropriate
really goot, taught me a lot about the tv and the way that tv shocks our life.
User Review - Flag as inappropriate
"What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. 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."
Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business, (Penguin Books, 1986, 2005), p. xix.
http://archivalqualitycommunication.blogspot.com/
Contents
The Medium Is the Metaphor | 3 |
Media as Epistemology | 16 |
Typographic America | 30 |
Copyright | |
11 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business Neil Postman Limited preview - 2006 |
Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business Neil Postman Limited preview - 2005 |
Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business Neil Postman Limited preview - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
advertising America amusing appears argument assumed attention audience become beginning believe called century changes character claims communication continuous conversation course created culture discourse entirely example expressed fact give given human idea important intellectual interest kind knowledge language largely learning least lives look matter means medium ment merely metaphor mind move nature newspaper offer once oral photograph play political possible present President printed printed word problem produce public discourse question rational readers reason religion religious remarked sense serious sion social speak speech story Street suggested symbolic taken telegraph television television commercial tell thing thought tion tradition true truth turn understanding universe viewers watch writing written York
Bibliographic information
| Title | Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business Elisabeth Sifton books Penguin books |
| Author | Neil Postman |
| Edition | reprint |
| Publisher | Penguin Books, 1985 |
| ISBN | 0140094385, 9780140094381 |
| Length | 184 pages |
| Subjects | › Language Arts & Disciplines / Communication Studies Social Science / Media Studies |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |