Comments on: Amusing Ourselves to Death http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/ The State is not the Kingdom of God. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:37:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Top 10 Books for Christian Libertarians – 2009 Edition | LibertarianChristians.com http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/comment-page-1/#comment-1707 Top 10 Books for Christian Libertarians – 2009 Edition | LibertarianChristians.com Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:21:47 +0000 http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/#comment-1707 [...] Amusing Ourselves to Death, by Neil Postman – Does American “culture” sometimes make you wonder what on earth happened here? Neil Postman clarifies the problems we face on a regular basis in this classic book. Check out my book review here at LCC. [...] [...] Amusing Ourselves to Death, by Neil Postman – Does American “culture” sometimes make you wonder what on earth happened here? Neil Postman clarifies the problems we face on a regular basis in this classic book. Check out my book review here at LCC. [...]

]]> By: todd http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/comment-page-1/#comment-975 todd Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:36:26 +0000 http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/#comment-975 Norman, Glad you liked this book. Agree completely with Arnie about Technopoly - you need to read it as well. I know you don't have enough to do. :) I think what I find most intriguing about Postman's discussion here is that the programming of television isn't the issue for him. Rather, it's the format - the very presentation (fast moving pictures, never sitting still, not allowing for contemplation; interspersed with smaller, meaningless narrative commercials, etc) debases our ability to dialogue and think logically, rationally. It is completely antithetical to print culture. I would like to see Postman's theses taken to the internet (thanks to Graeme for the book suggestion!) and other kinds of technology. I've just heard of a new book I'm looking into on Presidents/Presidential speeches by Elvin T. Lim, called "The Anti-Intellectual Presidency: The Decline of Presidential Rhetoric from George Washington to George W. Bush". In it, Lim discusses the complete vacuousness of modern presidential speeches, and the way the use of rhetoric rather than substance is centralizing power in the executive branch. It seems to me that TV and other "dis-logical" media are building a populace ripe for the kind of abuse Lim discusses. Great review, I've been looking forward to it! todd Norman,

Glad you liked this book. Agree completely with Arnie about Technopoly – you need to read it as well. I know you don’t have enough to do. :)

I think what I find most intriguing about Postman’s discussion here is that the programming of television isn’t the issue for him. Rather, it’s the format – the very presentation (fast moving pictures, never sitting still, not allowing for contemplation; interspersed with smaller, meaningless narrative commercials, etc) debases our ability to dialogue and think logically, rationally. It is completely antithetical to print culture.

I would like to see Postman’s theses taken to the internet (thanks to Graeme for the book suggestion!) and other kinds of technology. I’ve just heard of a new book I’m looking into on Presidents/Presidential speeches by Elvin T. Lim, called “The Anti-Intellectual Presidency: The Decline of Presidential Rhetoric from George Washington to George W. Bush”. In it, Lim discusses the complete vacuousness of modern presidential speeches, and the way the use of rhetoric rather than substance is centralizing power in the executive branch. It seems to me that TV and other “dis-logical” media are building a populace ripe for the kind of abuse Lim discusses.

Great review, I’ve been looking forward to it!

todd

]]> By: todd http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/comment-page-1/#comment-3075 todd Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:36:00 +0000 http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/#comment-3075 Norman, Glad you liked this book. Agree completely with Arnie about Technopoly - you need to read it as well. I know you don't have enough to do. :) I think what I find most intriguing about Postman's discussion here is that the programming of television isn't the issue for him. Rather, it's the format - the very presentation (fast moving pictures, never sitting still, not allowing for contemplation; interspersed with smaller, meaningless narrative commercials, etc) debases our ability to dialogue and think logically, rationally. It is completely antithetical to print culture. I would like to see Postman's theses taken to the internet (thanks to Graeme for the book suggestion!) and other kinds of technology. I've just heard of a new book I'm looking into on Presidents/Presidential speeches by Elvin T. Lim, called "The Anti-Intellectual Presidency: The Decline of Presidential Rhetoric from George Washington to George W. Bush". In it, Lim discusses the complete vacuousness of modern presidential speeches, and the way the use of rhetoric rather than substance is centralizing power in the executive branch. It seems to me that TV and other "dis-logical" media are building a populace ripe for the kind of abuse Lim discusses. Great review, I've been looking forward to it! todd Norman,

Glad you liked this book. Agree completely with Arnie about Technopoly – you need to read it as well. I know you don’t have enough to do. :)

I think what I find most intriguing about Postman’s discussion here is that the programming of television isn’t the issue for him. Rather, it’s the format – the very presentation (fast moving pictures, never sitting still, not allowing for contemplation; interspersed with smaller, meaningless narrative commercials, etc) debases our ability to dialogue and think logically, rationally. It is completely antithetical to print culture.

I would like to see Postman’s theses taken to the internet (thanks to Graeme for the book suggestion!) and other kinds of technology. I’ve just heard of a new book I’m looking into on Presidents/Presidential speeches by Elvin T. Lim, called “The Anti-Intellectual Presidency: The Decline of Presidential Rhetoric from George Washington to George W. Bush”. In it, Lim discusses the complete vacuousness of modern presidential speeches, and the way the use of rhetoric rather than substance is centralizing power in the executive branch. It seems to me that TV and other “dis-logical” media are building a populace ripe for the kind of abuse Lim discusses.

Great review, I’ve been looking forward to it!

todd

]]> By: Arnie http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/comment-page-1/#comment-974 Arnie Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:54:35 +0000 http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/#comment-974 Postman was my hero. Technopoly and Amusing Ourselves to Death were my two favorite books for many years. People are now using "Google it" as a tautology - "Of course it correct, it is technological!" I agree with every one of your points about his work. However, I do not concur with your conclusion that it is "our turn to ... rebuild culture...". But if you guys want to take on every dark force in the world, have at it. When God prompts to act I will do so. The battle is His, not mine. Still, thank you for resurrecting a brilliant author whose message of caution to phrases like "Google it!" should not be forgotten. Postman was my hero. Technopoly and Amusing Ourselves to Death were my two favorite books for many years. People are now using “Google it” as a tautology – “Of course it correct, it is technological!”

I agree with every one of your points about his work. However, I do not concur with your conclusion that it is “our turn to … rebuild culture…”. But if you guys want to take on every dark force in the world, have at it. When God prompts to act I will do so. The battle is His, not mine.

Still, thank you for resurrecting a brilliant author whose message of caution to phrases like “Google it!” should not be forgotten.

]]> By: Arnie http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/comment-page-1/#comment-3074 Arnie Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:54:00 +0000 http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/#comment-3074 Postman was my hero. Technopoly and Amusing Ourselves to Death were my two favorite books for many years. People are now using "Google it" as a tautology - "Of course it correct, it is technological!" I agree with every one of your points about his work. However, I do not concur with your conclusion that it is "our turn to ... rebuild culture...". But if you guys want to take on every dark force in the world, have at it. When God prompts to act I will do so. The battle is His, not mine. Still, thank you for resurrecting a brilliant author whose message of caution to phrases like "Google it!" should not be forgotten. Postman was my hero. Technopoly and Amusing Ourselves to Death were my two favorite books for many years. People are now using “Google it” as a tautology – “Of course it correct, it is technological!”

I agree with every one of your points about his work. However, I do not concur with your conclusion that it is “our turn to … rebuild culture…”. But if you guys want to take on every dark force in the world, have at it. When God prompts to act I will do so. The battle is His, not mine.

Still, thank you for resurrecting a brilliant author whose message of caution to phrases like “Google it!” should not be forgotten.

]]> By: Norman http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/comment-page-1/#comment-973 Norman Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:09:50 +0000 http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/#comment-973 Graeme: There are certain things about multimedia in church that I can appreciate. At the church where I help minister, we use "The Paperless Hymnal" which puts the sheet music (including ALL the parts, we're an acappella tradition) up on the screen. I think it's quite valuable to do something like that. But I am extremely wary changing worship for the sake of making things more "palatable" to outsiders. Thanks for that book suggestion as well! Darwyyn: Great points, I hadn't made that connection with the Hulu commercials, that's pretty great. There's an article in that, yes... Wanna write it? ;-) Graeme: There are certain things about multimedia in church that I can appreciate. At the church where I help minister, we use “The Paperless Hymnal” which puts the sheet music (including ALL the parts, we’re an acappella tradition) up on the screen. I think it’s quite valuable to do something like that. But I am extremely wary changing worship for the sake of making things more “palatable” to outsiders. Thanks for that book suggestion as well!

Darwyyn: Great points, I hadn’t made that connection with the Hulu commercials, that’s pretty great. There’s an article in that, yes… Wanna write it? ;-)

]]> By: Darwyyn http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/comment-page-1/#comment-972 Darwyyn Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:53:30 +0000 http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/#comment-972 I really enjoyed this piece, Norman. Thanks for addressing an issue that most people brush off, partly because they are ingrained to the culture which "directs not only our knowledge of the world, but our knowledge of ways of knowing as well". I myself stopped watching TV for news and have also cut back on how many shows I watch, mostly because with the latter I don't get a good critique or fact-checking. With the latter, I recognized a while ago that I was watching more than reading, and while it is possible to take the message in a show and translate it into written thought/analysis, it is a level which many people don't exercise. As Alec Baldwin so blithely proclaims on the Hulu commercials, actors/aliens want us to watch TV because turns our brains to goo. So they can eat them. A better metaphor for government activity would be hard to find. I really enjoyed this piece, Norman. Thanks for addressing an issue that most people brush off, partly because they are ingrained to the culture which “directs not only our knowledge of the world, but our knowledge of ways of knowing as well”.

I myself stopped watching TV for news and have also cut back on how many shows I watch, mostly because with the latter I don’t get a good critique or fact-checking. With the latter, I recognized a while ago that I was watching more than reading, and while it is possible to take the message in a show and translate it into written thought/analysis, it is a level which many people don’t exercise.

As Alec Baldwin so blithely proclaims on the Hulu commercials, actors/aliens want us to watch TV because turns our brains to goo. So they can eat them. A better metaphor for government activity would be hard to find.

]]> By: Darwyyn http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/comment-page-1/#comment-3073 Darwyyn Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:53:00 +0000 http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/#comment-3073 I really enjoyed this piece, Norman. Thanks for addressing an issue that most people brush off, partly because they are ingrained to the culture which "directs not only our knowledge of the world, but our knowledge of ways of knowing as well". I myself stopped watching TV for news and have also cut back on how many shows I watch, mostly because with the latter I don't get a good critique or fact-checking. With the latter, I recognized a while ago that I was watching more than reading, and while it is possible to take the message in a show and translate it into written thought/analysis, it is a level which many people don't exercise. As Alec Baldwin so blithely proclaims on the Hulu commercials, actors/aliens want us to watch TV because turns our brains to goo. So they can eat them. A better metaphor for government activity would be hard to find. I really enjoyed this piece, Norman. Thanks for addressing an issue that most people brush off, partly because they are ingrained to the culture which “directs not only our knowledge of the world, but our knowledge of ways of knowing as well”.

I myself stopped watching TV for news and have also cut back on how many shows I watch, mostly because with the latter I don’t get a good critique or fact-checking. With the latter, I recognized a while ago that I was watching more than reading, and while it is possible to take the message in a show and translate it into written thought/analysis, it is a level which many people don’t exercise.

As Alec Baldwin so blithely proclaims on the Hulu commercials, actors/aliens want us to watch TV because turns our brains to goo. So they can eat them. A better metaphor for government activity would be hard to find.

]]> By: Graeme Brooks http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/comment-page-1/#comment-971 Graeme Brooks Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:56:22 +0000 http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/#comment-971 If this interests you, I would also recommend 'The Hidden Power of Electronic Media' by Shane Hipps. He similarly notes the importance of media on shaping thought processes, but doesn't focus exclusively on television. Released in 2005, it focusses on the internet and the new multimedia churches that you guys seem to have a lot of across the pond (and which we are slowly adopting over here in the UK). There's no real politics in it though, as it concentrates more on how we need to respond to changes in media by adapting styles of community, leadership and worship in the church. If this interests you, I would also recommend ‘The Hidden Power of Electronic Media’ by Shane Hipps. He similarly notes the importance of media on shaping thought processes, but doesn’t focus exclusively on television. Released in 2005, it focusses on the internet and the new multimedia churches that you guys seem to have a lot of across the pond (and which we are slowly adopting over here in the UK). There’s no real politics in it though, as it concentrates more on how we need to respond to changes in media by adapting styles of community, leadership and worship in the church.

]]> By: Graeme Brooks http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/comment-page-1/#comment-3072 Graeme Brooks Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:56:00 +0000 http://libertarianchristians.com/2009/06/26/amusing-ourselves-to-death/#comment-3072 If this interests you, I would also recommend 'The Hidden Power of Electronic Media' by Shane Hipps. He similarly notes the importance of media on shaping thought processes, but doesn't focus exclusively on television. Released in 2005, it focusses on the internet and the new multimedia churches that you guys seem to have a lot of across the pond (and which we are slowly adopting over here in the UK). There's no real politics in it though, as it concentrates more on how we need to respond to changes in media by adapting styles of community, leadership and worship in the church. If this interests you, I would also recommend ‘The Hidden Power of Electronic Media’ by Shane Hipps. He similarly notes the importance of media on shaping thought processes, but doesn’t focus exclusively on television. Released in 2005, it focusses on the internet and the new multimedia churches that you guys seem to have a lot of across the pond (and which we are slowly adopting over here in the UK). There’s no real politics in it though, as it concentrates more on how we need to respond to changes in media by adapting styles of community, leadership and worship in the church.

]]>