Amusing Ourselves with Visual Imagery

It is very clear what you need to watch a movie or a t.v. show: eyes. On page 7 of Amusing Ourselves to Death, Postman describes how a person's looks can determine whether or not they are successful or "amusing". I know for a fact that when I am watching a show, looks play a tiny role in whether or not I continue to watch. Whether they be extremely beautiful or outrageously odd looking, physical features that stand out keep me watching the show. However, those features are not the only things that keep my eyes glued to the screen. I also want to make sure the show is amusing. Am I being entertained? That is the main question I ask myself when watching a show. Is this show worth watching or could I be doing something better? As Postman says, looks play a big role in amusement. Many teenage girls, and even their mothers, have become addicted to the famous Twilight Saga. I have asked some of my lady friends why they liked it so much and I would get responses such as "Because Robert Pattinson is so hot" or "I wanna bake cookies on Taylor Lautner's abs." Half of these girls don't even know what the twilight saga is about. All they care about is what these characters look like. These twilight fangirls have proved Postman's point exactly. They could be talking about blowing up the United States, but because they look like an underwear model, they are "amusing." Now, the question is: Do some of our role models today hold that title because of looks or because they have actually made a difference?