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Amusing Ourselves to Death Summary

In his book, Postman seeks to address his thesis that Television has ruined Public

discourse among contemporary Americans. In his view, he posits that people have embraced

technology in media, impeding their capacities to think. To set us off, he introduces two past

prophesies recorded by two dystopian writers, namely, George Orwell and Aldous Huxley. In

1984, Orwell foresaw an externally imposed oppression. He predicted that the government would

overreach people's right to information. The state would deny people avenues to learning the

truths, which were a crucial part of their lives. Orwell further feared that the state would ban

books hence holding people captive. However, Huxley held a contrary position. According to

Huxley's novel, Brave New World, he posits that people would love their oppression by

embracing technology, which would destroy their capacity to think. Unlike Orwell, Huxley held

that no one would ban books; however, people dislike reading books. He pointed out that an

inflicted pleasure would destroy people. They would expose themselves to so much, making

them passive and ego-seekers.

Between the two dark visions, Postman believes that Huxley, and not Orwell was right.

He takes on investigating media to prove his position (Postman & Postman, 19). In the first

chapter, the author evaluates the ‘media-metaphor.' The section argues that discourse in
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civilization is dependent on the media platform employed (Postman & Postman, 21). As such,

print media speaks to the world differently, compared to oral media. The media concept is

further drawn in the second chapter, 'Media as Epistemology.' Postman argues that a society's

perception of the truth is dependent on the type of media (Postman & Postman, 32). For instance,

oral culture would pass truths as sayings and proverbs. People would then memorize the ideas, to

pass them orally to succeeding generations. Print media, on the other hand, passes information in

publications and print form. Information is thus held permanently in prints. In this chapter, he

illustrates that television has immensely impacted on our off-screen lives.

Across chapters three to five, Postman provides a historical perspective on the

development of American literacy culture since the nation’s inception. According to him,

Americans were largely literate population during the colonial period (Postman & Postman, 46).

At the time, the written and spoken word presented rational discourses. As such, people would

read them and judge for themselves whatever was right or wrong. However, the introduction of

photographs and telegrams presented instantaneous information, which was not limited to

geographical location. Hence, information was taken without regard to their context. The second

part of the book, chapters six to ten, presents an in-depth exposition of television media. In the

sixth chapter, Postman notes that entertainment has taken precedence of the message and the

content; thus, people are more intrigued by the entertainment, rather than the message.

According to Postman, television gives us a biased perspective of information. Chapter Seven's

title is a common phrase taken from television news programs. In this chapter, he posits that

television presents information in a disconnected manner denying the viewers the chance to have

their considered opinions.

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In chapter eight, television considers religion as empty rhetoric displaying it as a

spectacle, without the power to accord transformative religious experience (Postman & Postman,

117). The ninth chapter basis television media on politics and elections, comparing political

campaigns appear as business commercials. As such, politicians paint abstract presentations and

images of what the public wants. As a result, voters end up electing individuals based on the

perception created by the media. Chapter ten illustrates the downside of television as a teaching

medium. Postman states that teaching kids to use television will not make them love what they

teach (Postman & Postman, 139). In his view, television is biased, and we should strive to

control it, rather than have it control us.

Reflection: Evidence of agreement with Postman’s book

Having established Postman's position, this essay agrees with his view. Considering the

wide range of aspects addressed, including education, religion, politics, and business, the

contemporary world is indifferent. Given an era of heavy business commercials, television has

been an effective tool for shaping people's opinions. Politicians are increasingly using the media

platform to endear their agenda in public ears. Therefore, the various aspects and perspectives

shared across the book are identified in this reflection as both strengths and weaknesses.

Excessive exposure to television content affects children and adolescents through

violence and irresponsible sexual behavior illustrates the strength of Postman’s argument. The

effects are directly proportional to the level of exposure. Therefore, the images they see become

their reality (Freedman, 10). Research indicates that an average child sees approximately 12,000

acts of violence, such as rape and murder. The violence displayed on television screens makes

them susceptible to vices. Also, a lot of time is lost to television programs, affecting other
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aspects of their lives, such as reading, playing, interacting with peers, and developing other

skills. Owing to this, children lack wholesome development, as they become copy-cuts of what

they view on the screens. Therefore, the media platform is detrimental to children.

Another aspect of television is the use of fake news. During the presidential campaign in

America in the year 2016, false stories were circulated about President Donald Trump. While

dissecting this allegation, Matthew Gentzkow, an economist from Stanford University, pointed

out that the news was meant to shape public opinion (Allcott & Gentzkow, 212). In his research,

he created what he termed as Placebo news; about 12% responded in the affirmative. Gentzkow,

therefore, concluded that a large number of citizens had watched the fake news. According to the

study, fake news significantly influenced voters' decisions in the ballot (221). Hence, we can

affirm that many people form an opinion and change their perception based on what they view

on television. This proposition further advances Postman's view of his book. It, therefore,

concurs with his idea that people are influenced by inflicted indulging rather than what is

imposed on them. Thus, we further agree with Huxley, that exposure to biased information

impedes our capacity to think. The book was written about three decades ago, therefore, while its

arguments are credible, they may lack position in the contemporary world. Media integrity and

governmental policies have affected the assumption that television is used as a means to transmit

fake news.

Another justification for this position is the effect of television and mass media on

youth's attitude in society. Television exposure affects teenagers' identities based on specific

models through emulation, varying from news anchors to celebrities to media personalities.

Consequently, young people end up adopting and exhibiting irresponsible social behavior.

Additionally, the increase in the number of television commercials influences people's health and
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wellness. There has been a rise in the number of obese youths in America today due to

advertisements for junk foods displayed on television screens (Wilks, 20). Some of the adverts

are eye-catching and appealing. In the long run, the youth adopt lousy health habits, leading to

obesity and lifestyle disease. Postman indicates that instant attractive flashes have replaced

‘Typographic America’. Many youths would not investigate the information that they watch, but

end up believing in them. Thus, this essay takes a position agreeable to Postman's hypothesis.

However, while the book presents numerous strengths with relation to the author’s argument, its

weaknesses stand out across its perception of media and television influence in the society.

Conclusion

This essay has presented several points justifying Postman's arguments. From the book,

it is evident that the quest for instant gratification and entertainment has substituted the real

search for truth. The effects have been adverse as shown in televised Islamic teachings and

religion in general. In Islam, Sharia laws implies that the means to a duty and regulation should

share a perception of integrity in the ends met (Raquib,340). Therefore, the use of technology

according to Raquib (2015) should address issues within the contemporary society in adherence

to ethical truths. In the book, the author asserts the impact of televised media in the society based

on religious principalities. Therefore, when religious institutions applying the potentials of

television media in spreading their preaching, need not be swayed into providing untruth

messages in the name of preaching. The society should, therefore, strive to overcome the bias

brought about by television media. We should heed the Huxleyan warning, which we should not

control television rather than having it control us.

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Works Cited

Allcott, Hunt, and Matthew Gentzkow. "Social media and fake news in the 2016

election." Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 31, no. 2, 2017, pp. 211-36,

doi:10.3386/w23089.

Eron, Leonard D. "Relationship of TV viewing habits and aggressive behavior in children." The

Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, vol. 67, no. 2, 1963, pp. 193-196.

Freedman, Jonathan L. Media Violence and its Effect on Aggression: Assessing the Scientific

Evidence. U of Toronto P, 2002.

Postman, Neil, and Andrew Postman. Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age

of Show Business. Penguin, 2006.

Raquib, Amana. Islamic Ethics of Technology: An Objectives' (Maqasid) Approach. The Other

Press, 2015.

Wilks, Nicoletta A. Marketing Food to Children and Adolescents: A Review of Industry

Expenditures, Activities, and Self-regulation. Nova Science Pub, 2009.