Tuesday, August 14, 2012
To Entertain, Not Teach
When America was founded it was a typographic America, an America based on the written word. Now we have turned to the age of show business where everything is televised. The television is purely a form of entertainment and yet some try to educate or preach through the TV. Something is always lost when you convert it whether it be a real impact on you, the true beauty of something, or just the magic in seeing something live instead of through a screen. Postman makes a very good point in Amusing Ourselves to Death when he says, "If the delivery is not the same, then the message, quite likely, is not the same." Postman uses religion as an example. Many pastors are giving sermons through the television instead of at a church and expecting people to understand and feel the message the same. It can not be done however, because when you are in a church you are surrounded by spiritual and sacred things and you feel in tune with the spirit. When you are at home you can get up, wander around, use the restroom, etc. You are also more inclined to be bored because you know the TV has something more entertaining to watch. And that's what the TV is meant to do. It's meant to entertain, not to teach. So why are we constantly trying to make television educational so that we can justify ourselves watching it? Just keep education and entertainment separate, because when you try to combine then that's when you start falling to a Huxelyan society.
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It is typical human behavior to endure in what is not the best for us. This includes entertainment as one of those factors that do harm to us, yet we still expose ourselves to it on a consistent level. We justify reasons for having both on a regular basis. Justification is used selfishly to explain something unnecessary or unhelpful the majority of the time so that one can convince others to agree with what they want. In this sense, television is a lot like fast food; it's quick, somewhat cheap, and easy to access. You do not necessarily have to be financially wealthy to be exposed to either one. When consumed in moderation, both can be alright and not have a damaging effect on anyone. However, if consumed frequently and without caution, the consequences can be long-lasting and dangerous. Many people are not aware that they are victims of something until it is far too late to repair any collateral damage. As far as television goes, nowadays, it is no longer about education on television, it is about appeal and entertainment, no matter what the price is.
ReplyDeleteTelevision is a very popular form of entertainment; therefore, educational and religious channels are put on in the hopes of attracting more views. In modern society, education received through a television is more likely to be popular than reading a book. How many people do you know today read an educational book just for the heck of it?
ReplyDeleteTechnology has begun to inevitably fuse with education as it rules out books, including the religious ones. In addition, educational shows will sum up more into less words than a book would making this more convenient for anyone. These shows include a colorful pictures and movement unlike a book that contains bolded, still words. In the eyes of the modern society, technology always seems to portray and idea better than a book does. We have become so infused with technology that we even watch these educational shows and videos in school. I personally admit that I enjoy watching an educational show more than reading a documentary but it doesn't hurt to read one once in a while.