Susan Jacoby believed that America was gradually becoming less intelligent. This is absolutely true. As the media continues to dominate our contemporary society, we are continually becoming more ignorant. Reading has declined, not just among those who are less educated. Instead of enjoying the full experience of reading a book, many would probably just watch the movie, or go on the internet for sparknotes.
A test was given to some high school students in California where they were given pictures and tested on whether or not they could identify the people. The result was that 92% of the students were able to identify the celebrities, like Katy Perry, Tom Cruise, Lady GaGa, Rhianna, and Zac Efron. But, sadly, only 26% of the students were able to recognize all of the political figures, like Barbara Boxer, Condoleezza Rice, and (then senator) Barack Obama. This really shows how ill-informed our society is becoming.
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Does it really show it, Roxy?
ReplyDeleteThese are the problems I have with arguments like these; not going personally against you, Roxy. As the informational database of the country grows at an exponential rate, we actually know MORE.
Progressively dumber? It was smart to know back then that humans did not evolve from monkeys. Or, it was smart back then to believe everything revolved in the Universe around this planet.
And has reading declined? People read the newspaper; that's reading. Go to the beach, and what are people doing? Well, they can't look at an iPhone screen with glare from the sun, that's for sure, so they'll grab a book.
Maybe I am saying that as a young generation we know a lot more about the world than did our ancestors decades ago.
Also, what can a student do about politicians when they can't vote yet? Plead their parents to vote for their candidate their pre-algebra teacher told them about? The average teen doesn't give a care about Boxer or Rice. Celebrity knowledge is more natural.