In chapter one, The Medium Is the Metaphor, of Neil Postman's book , he states "[the] media favor kinds of content and therefore are capable of taking command of a culture," which i agree with. Everyday millions of people tune into the 'popular' music stations to find out what new music they should listen to, turn on the t.v so they can watch the 'hottest new show' on that night (or so that's what the media proclaims), and go and buy that months magazine so they know what to wear that summer, what the celebs are up to, and where the hots spots are that week.This is easy to do because most of the things on the t.v./radio, and in magazines are mostly frivolous things that are there to entertain people, and not inform them of the important things that are happening in the world.
I feel that this is done for a reason, that reason being what Neil Postman wrote , that the media favor content that they now certain cultures will like so that they capable of taking command. Even the news has been affected. I've noticed that when the news show something devastating, or of world importance afterwards they immediately show something that has no significance of what they have just reported, and is usually something that has to to with cute animals, celebrities, or some other nonsense. What does this show about are world and are future as a nation?
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Rickell, you are right. I am extremely guilty of practically stalking Kristen Stewart; I love her look, her style, she is such a beautiful person so I read up on what she recently did or who she was with at that one spot and what she likes to do in her spare time. It's embarrassing but I do it, even when I say to myself "Breahna, no Kristen Stewart stuff today" I end up researching the latest gossip crap on her anyways! You talk about that "Now...this" they do on the news; talk about annoying huh? Like Charles said in another blog post, "I wasn't done worrying about that killer on the loose!" It made me start wondering--do they talk about cookie ADs and puppies after that controversial "killer" update so you don't tune out? So they grab your attention to keep watching? I still don't understand why they do that; I mean, would you tune out if they replaced those "Now...this" topics with more info on the killer? I guess it's hard to say but I don't think I would. You make very great points though, has the News become silly entertainment?
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