It strikes me, reading this book about the death of the printed word in books and its replacement by television how our media has changed so much in the past two decades. I was a child when this book was written and now television will either be replaced by or completely altered by new media.
In chapter 3, Postman argues that the speaking style of colonial Americans mimicked written language, or, “falls into a dissertation” (pg 42). Have we lost the formality of language through the use of TV as a medium of entertainment? If so, how will newer forms of media change the way we speak to one another? Are blog comments the same as a paper response to literature? On page 45 of Amusing Ourselves to Death, Postman quotes Stephen Douglas addressing the audience in the Lincoln-Douglas debates saying, “I desire to address myself to your judgment, your understanding, and your consciences, and not your passions and enthusiasms.” Our current politicians don’t debate for 6-8 hours. They can’t keep the attention of their audience. They don’t rely on spoken words, but use graphic organizers, images, or emotional illustrations. Their speeches don’t focus on the issues, but instead focus on the, “passions and enthusiasms,” of the audience. It is more entertainment than informative. This absence of content does seem pervasive in TV as a medium.
I do feel that Postman seemed quite pessimistic. I hold more hope for newer forms of media. Using Web 2.0/3.0, people will not only interact with the medium for entertainment, but use it to create, to produce. They have the ability to use the information that is provided to them and to formulate it into their own product and to make new meaning from it. TTYL.
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