Chapter 39

In this chapter, Neil Postman describes television as the "big bang of our century past". The t.v. is a form of technology that has revolutionized. From starting as one big giant box with antennas on top to get a black and white image, forming into what we have today: a flat screen that comes in all different sizes displaying high-definition color images. Postman's goal is to make the epistemology of television visible again. He wants to show that television promotes "incoherence and triviality" and speaks in only one voice: the voice of entertainment. He then stated that television "transformed our culture into one vast arena for show business". I agree with this fact because television is used for advertising by showing commercials. Television has gone from a revolutionary invention to a method for parents to give punishments to their children by banning their t.v. time. For example, there are shows on MTV about the lives of rich, young adults. These shows such as The Hills, 90210, and The O.C. deal with drama in the different actors' lives. Jersey Shore is another example of a poor use of television. This show has absolutely no point in being aired. They use improper language, they wear distasteful clothing, and they make immoral decisions. The goal for television now is to get the most ridiculous shows on the air, because these shows are what attract viewers, which brings in the money because of high ratings. This is not what television is used for, and Postman recognizes this issue.