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. |
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Page 13
Anthropologists know that the written word, as Northrop Frye meant to suggest, is
not merely an echo of a speaking voice. It is another kind of voice altogether, a
conjurer's trick of the first order. It must certainly have appeared that way to those
...
Anthropologists know that the written word, as Northrop Frye meant to suggest, is
not merely an echo of a speaking voice. It is another kind of voice altogether, a
conjurer's trick of the first order. It must certainly have appeared that way to those
...
Page 42
But obviously I do not mean to say that print merely influenced the form of public
discourse. That does not say much unless one connects it to the more important
idea that form will determine the nature of content. For those readers who may ...
But obviously I do not mean to say that print merely influenced the form of public
discourse. That does not say much unless one connects it to the more important
idea that form will determine the nature of content. For those readers who may ...
Page 74
... prints, posters, drawings, advertisements. I choose the word “assault”
deliberately here, to amplify the point implied in Boorstin's “graphic revolution."
The new imagery, with photography at its forefront, did not merely function as a
supplement ...
... prints, posters, drawings, advertisements. I choose the word “assault”
deliberately here, to amplify the point implied in Boorstin's “graphic revolution."
The new imagery, with photography at its forefront, did not merely function as a
supplement ...
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really goot, taught me a lot about the tv and the way that tv shocks our life.
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"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 |