Postman was correct in saying that anybody from our modern period would be fascinated with the fluency and formality with which most people in the 18th and 19th centuries talked. Back then it was completely normal to talk in the way of print. When typography was at its peak, everyone's lives revolved around literature. People enjoyed reading, debating, listening to debates, and attending sermons, all of which revolved around print. Reading and comprehending a book was no difficult task. Reading was classless and a person of low class had the same amount of respect for his philosophical views as a person of high class. Information that was spread through books could be analyzed and was relevant.
Unfortunately, the telegraph changed the content of public discourse and the television came along to support that change. Since it was easier to communicate with others, it was much simpler to spread stories of little relevance. The news couldn't be analyzed because they lacked intellect. As the content that spread changed, so did our way of receiving that information and reacting to it. No longer were people speaking in long, formal sentences in normal conversations; everything became casual. The topics that our brought up today are irrelevant and don't require thinking. Reading is not as relevant as before. In fact, people today have trouble comprehending the long and "complex" ideas that a book has. People consider those who understand books today "intelligent" when it was normal in the past. This is due to the irrelevant entertainment that television that provides today. Most things that appear on television are not related to our lives. There are news about traffic and weather, but we really don't change our way of living when we watch the news because most of those news don't affect our lives directly. This shows the irrelevance of public discourse.
Hello Israel! I partially agree with you on this.Yes, people enjoyed debates and what not; and unfortunately most of us are really not interested in that, but today, people share their ideas/opinions not only in print but in images and so on. I believe the quality of our writing is becoming far more complex and critical thinking is being enforced, especially on today's students.
ReplyDeleteThis is true Israel. I have to agree with you and Postman on this topic.
ReplyDeleteBefore the age of modern technology, typography guided the public through discourse. Nowadays, the medium has shifted from writing to technology and its entertainment. The content spread through the typographic age was taken into greater consideration which humans enjoyed. However, plenty of irrelevant entertainment provided to the public today has shifted public discourse on a path that is changing how we interpret information in the future, whether it is good or bad.
Yet, Maria does make a good point. It is true that the quality of our writing is developing in complexity and critical thinking, reflected off the students educated today.
DeleteIn my opinion, people do share their ideas, opinions, and expressions not only in print but through images, videos, and more. However, it should be known that all of this captures the ideals from that moment it is published. The world is constantly changing, and it is just a matter of time before it is possible that we as humans can stay constantly updated live, no matter where we are.