Amusing Ourselves with Postman

Neil Postman's work "Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business" is an interesting commentary on the way that media was in 1985, and to some extent, what it is today. However in some aspects, Postman could be considered to be inaccurate. Postman could not have foreseen many of the changes in media that were to come, which is part of the danger of writing such a book.

For example, as Postman said, the television commercial became an influential part of American culture - especially during the Super Bowl. However, one could argue that since the arrival of TiVo and other such recording media, television commercials have lost their influence, and things that Postman could not have for seen have taken its place (for example, the rise of internet usage). As far as Postman could tell, however, television commercials were the way to go; and in actuality, they were for many years after this book was published.

An example of something that has not changed, however is the effect that the media still has over the image of those both in politics and just on television in general. We as a people require our politicians and newscasters alike to present themselves as stylish, handsome, and well groomed. Using the Richard Nixon example, if our presidential candidate refuses to wear makeup on screen, and as a result looks sweaty, or pasty on television, we will refuse to elect him, no matter how good his political platform is. Newscasters suffer a similar fate, as Postman mentioned - however I do not agree with his idea that newscasters are more concerned about looking good for the camera than getting a good story.

In short, I had a mixed reaction to Neil Postman's book. It is an interesting commentary on where people in 1984 felt that the media was going, but as for its relevance today, I am not quite sure. Fundamentally, perhaps, Postman's ideas could carry over into the media arena of today, but there are a good deal of things that have changed as well. If you read Postman with the intention of not taking him completely seriously, I believe it can be beneficial. In other words, take Postman's views with a grain of salt.