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Amusing ourselves to death8/12/2023 Huxley’s future world order also envisions massive government and cultural control – though by a completely different mechanism. However, Postman asks us to consider an equally plausible alternative to Orwell’s dystopian future – one described in Aldous Huxley’s 1932 novel Brave New World. Published in the late 1940s, it perfectly captured the fears of many Westerners who, having just defeated fascist Germany in WWII, found themselves headed toward another major conflict with communist Russia. In his novel, 1984, George Orwell warns of the dangers of totalitarian government control, cultural manipulation, and blind obedience to authority. Television has become our idol of images, dictating its glib guidance to us on every subject imaginable, while we, its unreflective disciples, nod in agreement. Commercials have taught us that there is a quick and easy solution to any problem.(3) Despite their benefits, educational shows have taught our children that learning should always be fun and easy. Political programming has led us to be more concerned with witty one-liners than balanced debate. The evening news has taught us to inordinately worry about issues that often have little practical effect on our daily lives. Of course, most of the lessons we do learn from television are negative. Whatever lessons we may glean from television are always subordinated to its ultimate goal of gaining and maintaining as many viewers as possible. It is a jealous god, and we shall have no other gods before it. The true purpose of television is to keep you watching. Should any of this surprise us? After all, the true purpose of television is not to help you understand opposing views or educate you or help you solve problems. Such vulgar and ridiculous juxtapositions are so common on television that we no longer recognize them.(1) When issues of existential import are presented side-by-side with topics of utter insignificance, society becomes inoculated from serious thought altogether (while simultaneously congratulating itself for staying “well informed”).(2) A Dateline episode on human trafficking is followed by the season finale of Seinfeld. World news coverage of a genocide overseas is punctuated with fast food commercials. More importantly, we become desensitized to the line of demarcation that separates serious thought from the merely frivolous. And emotion slowly encroaches into areas where reason should rule. Contradictions abound in the sea of constantly shifting sights and sounds. Nuance is discouraged, and partisanship is heightened. The public gains a false sense of understanding of complicated policy issues. However, when it comes to serious programming, the results are disastrous. The formula for viewership becomes decontextualization, simplification, and a steady sequence of action – which are all fine for sitcoms and game shows.
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