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Reader comment on:
Standing Athwart E-History
in response to reader comment: Neil Postman, RIP: What Is Lost and What is Gained?

Submitted by George T.Karnezis, Mar 4, 2008 14:45

Thanks, Chuck Lanigan, for the reminder, I used to teach Postman's book (AMUSING...) and found students would feel attacked personally by it. While his attack on imagery may be extravagant, what he has to say about the poverty of public discourse remains cogent and his critiques are echoed by others who haven't even read him. Another fine resource is the work of James Carety, CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION. NETWORK remains a film worth watching.

I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHY the media continue to be so mediocre given all these college educated communications majors. Could it be that they are, as Postman would say, more interested in their hair-do's than in the quality of the programming? Are they getting a real and substantive liberal education, or are they just learning how to fiddle with the bells and whistles. Of course, there are exceptions, but watching Billl Moyers and a few others is really the only anecdote we have to the current toxic "coverage" of our political and public life.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
When I read that, the following recent article came to mind: - Has the unbridled spread of commercialism and technology transformed... [MORE]	C. Ikehara	Mar 4, 2008 21:57
Is there a more worn-out phrase? Perhaps "X is a necessary book" might be. After the first couple of paragraphs,... [MORE]	Dan Mayes	Feb 23, 2008 03:26
1. "The fault I find with our journalism is that it forces us to take an interest in some fresh... [MORE]	Mike Boehm	Feb 21, 2008 04:14
Similar thoughts abounded with the advent of the printing press and the Gutenberg bible. I wonder if Mr. Siegel drafted... [MORE]	Michael Makowsky	Feb 20, 2008 14:15
Thanks for a thoughtful review. Over 20 years ago Neil Postman also raised questions over the impact of mass media... [MORE]	Chuck Lanigan	Feb 19, 2008 16:46
Thanks, Chuck Lanigan, for the reminder, I used to teach Postman's book (AMUSING...) and found students would feel attacked personally...	George T.Karnezis	Mar 4, 2008 14:45
The internet is no obstruction to democracy as it is a mirror to what democracy is essentially or at bottom:... [MORE]	SL	Feb 19, 2008 11:45
An exceedingly large amount of bloggers are people who WERE trained as journalists. They blog rather than write for a... [MORE]	Kristen O	Feb 19, 2008 01:45
It's unfortunate that Wikipedia gets picked on so much - it's a paradise of truth and light, compared to most... [MORE]	Paul Perry	Feb 18, 2008 23:52
i relish the fact that i'm reading this anti-technology review on a laptop in bed in between refreshing my facebook... [MORE]	massrepublican	Feb 18, 2008 23:44
This book sounds like something we need much more of ie: critical examination of a modern phenomenon that is too... [MORE]	id hamilton	Feb 18, 2008 23:20
Oh please. Lee Siegel goes to a baseball game and is dismayed to note that some people near his seat... [MORE]	Ellis Weiner	Feb 18, 2008 20:47
The advice to those who overeat should be the same to those who spend inordinate time on the Internet: .... [MORE]	Harvee	Feb 18, 2008 14:53
Ms. Rosen tells us that Siegel makes three points: the Internet, under the guise of promoting democracy, actually leads to... [MORE]	Stephen Kennamer	Feb 18, 2008 13:38
A few more minusses 1)The Internet has enabled easier Terrorist connection and action 2) Hate- groups thrive on the Internet. And they... [MORE]	Shalom Freedman	Feb 18, 2008 02:42

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