Running head: ANALYSIS OF NEIL POSTMAN S AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH 1

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1 Running head: ANALYSIS OF NEIL POSTMAN S AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH 1 Analysis of Neil Postman s Amusing Ourselves to Death Bradley Kempton BYU-Idaho

2 ANALYSIS OF NEIL POSTMAN S AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH 2 Abstract Bradley Kempton, in his paper Analysis of Neil Postman s Amusing Ourselves to Death, reviews the arguments of the discourse presented by Neil Postman at the 1985 Frankfurt Book Fair, where Postman seeks to convince the audience of the technological hazards of the modern world. Kempton begins by introducing the discourse and summarizing its contents. He then proceeds by presenting the logical appeals through statistics of American society used by Postman to support his argument. Further on, Kempton explains how the author uses his knowledge on the subject to successfully bridge and communicate with the audience. The appeal to pathos found in the address is then observed and analyzed to show how effective Postman s word choice and stories may have influenced those present. Due to the fact that Postman s statements are bold and plausibly contradicting to many of the listeners, Kempton closes by inferring that Postman s discourse is convincing due to the uses of strong argumentative appeals.

3 ANALYSIS OF NEIL POSTMAN S AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH 3 Analysis of Neil Postman s Amusing Ourselves to Death As an influential scholar and writer of poignant ideas, Neil Postman is one who seeks to make the world aware of key issues. Postman is a recognized writer and academic who received his education at both Columbia University and the State University of New York in Fredonia. Amusing Ourselves to Death, Postman s discourse, attempts to make individuals aware of menacing changes in society. Postman s address begins in Germany at the 1984 Frankfurt Book Fair, where he unveils his foremost argument that present-day technology is threatening society. Summary Postman commences by recognizing the guests and then begins to analyze the contents of the winning book 1984 by Orwell. He states that in Orwell s 1984, many are dominated by a superior communist force that takes hold on the people. The individuals in Orwell s fictional novel are forced to submit to a tyrannical governing force, thus losing their liberties. Postman states, that in a communist type of government, such oppression is quite realistic; however, he manifests, that for the free societies of the world, the painted Orwellian bondage is not the real threat. The true threat is the revere of technology that is stealing away free people s ability to think. Afterwards, Postman begins to compare Orwell s 1984 to Huxley s Brave New World. Continuing on, he explains that in Brave New World, unlike Orwell s frightening communist world, people are not controlled by the iron fist of government; rather, they are seduced, controlled, and enslaved by pleasures and amusements. One of the points presented by Postman is that the people should have been frightened by Huxley s predictions instead of Orwell s. Postman then imposes the view that, to some extent, Huxley s Brave New World is becoming a current reality. People, Postman suggests, are becoming altered, controlled, and losing common sense from the TV. He then uses American statistics to prove the vast amount of

4 ANALYSIS OF NEIL POSTMAN S AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH 4 time that is being wasted watching television in place of meaningful activities. He analyzes how the old literary arts are becoming inferior; furthermore, the relevance of the written material to the modern American does not mean as much as a façade brilliantly presented on TV. It is felt by Postman, that important parts of society, such as education, religion, and politics, are converted from their original meaningful state into a dimwitted act to attract viewers. He says that the sound parts of society have become a game show, and people are influenced in their opinions, for good or ill, by the amusing TV. Finally, Postman presents that technology is dangerous to society because, like a controlling government, it siphons the life out of society and culture, subjecting it in its foolhardiness. Logos Supporting his claims, Postman presents evidence to his audience that technology is hampering the mind. He begins with simple statistics in relation to television in order to further his argument. About TV, Postman states, The average [American] household has its television sets on approximately seven hours a day [ ] Americans who have reached the age of forty will have seen over one million television commercials (p. 449). This gives the impression that TV is wasting people s intellect on minute things. His point here is justified because he says that television can be more detrimental than beneficial. Though it is supported by research, Postman could support his argument with more solid sources or evidence. Progressing on, Postman makes plain how technology can corrupt the wholesome thought processes and judgment of a culture. He clarifies that since television has gripped American society, a fat person cannot be elected to a high political office. This makes the reader ponder how people, differently than the past, are voting based on a candidate s appearance; furthermore, how TV can have a negative outcome on human ethical decisions. He portrays that religious TV

5 ANALYSIS OF NEIL POSTMAN S AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH 5 shows are more concerned about the audience s approval and entertainment than teaching sound doctrine, principles, and boldly influencing others to do good. Postman shows here the societal decay of religion by seeking praise, and people by voting based on looks. Both of these are an alteration of ethical choices. This causes the reader to contemplate the distortions that have occurred in society due to visual entertainment; also, how modern society is mutating from its classical basis. Religious TV is shown negatively by postman because it intends to be popular rather than helping individuals. Though televised religious programs permit more disabled of infirm individuals to participate, Postman s opinion is convincing to the extent that religion is being changed to fit social appeals. Additionally, he shows how it is affecting children using the story of a Pennsylvanian school that wanted to have its curriculum sung in rock music. Moreover, children s classes, have increased visual stimulation of their lessons, and strive to make their classrooms more entertaining than Sesame Street, states Postman (p. 451). He attempts to help the reader see his opinion that entertainment is not bad, but it is becoming excessive. Ethos Complementing his various arguments, Neil Postman appeals to ethos in his discourse to justify his claim. Postman s university education makes it clear that this man is a qualified speaker. Postman presents himself as an individual that has studied and researched the respective topics that he discusses. Though Postman is known as controversial writer, he is nonetheless fair in his arguments. At the beginning of Amusing Ourselves to Death, Postman tells the audience that Orwell s 1984 was wrongly chosen to be the winning book; afterwards, he then commends them saying that they were half right. Postman expresses, To be precise, it is a half mistake. There is no

6 ANALYSIS OF NEIL POSTMAN S AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH 6 doubt that Orwell s prophecies and parables [from 1984] have application of roughly half the governments of the world (p. 448) (commenting on the prevalence of communist oppression in the world). He gives the audience part of the victory attempting to show them that he is a reasonable person; nonetheless, the argument that he is about to present, though contrary, is imperative and will benefit them. By upholding their correct assumptions, Postman allows the crowd to drop their guard and hear him out. His goal is that they are not defensive, rather that they are accepting of the information that he will present. Still, he reaches out to the audience trying not to make his argument arbitrary expressing, I trust you will not think me grossly disrespectful if what I say is that the choice of this theme [the winning book of the book fair that year] is a mistake (p. 448). All of this allows him build a stronger bridge to the audience and to strengthen his bond with them. As a final point, Postman demonstrates his professionalism in restating statistics and implicating his knowledge as an act of serving the people s needs. He reiterates, According to the Neilson Report [ ] the only activity that occupies more of an American youth s time than TV-Viewing is sleeping [...] (p. 449). Also, by using such information from qualified individuals, Postman displays his expertise and suggests that his view is not solely his, but is actually based on statistical fact. Pathos Postman successfully illustrates the pathos that he wishes to evoke in regard to technology by forewarning, People will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think (p. 448). Postman endeavors to bring out this sense of fear in his audience by making them realize what he sees as an eerie foreshadowing.

7 ANALYSIS OF NEIL POSTMAN S AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH 7 Metaphorically, Postman has many statements that present imagery and paint the picture of his argument. For example, Orwell thought we would march single-filed and manacled into oblivion. Huxley thought we would dance ourselves there, with an idiot smile on our faces (p. 449). This helps the reader understand the author s point that they are not threatened by Marxist oppression, rather they are being threatened by a technological foe that degrades them to puppets. This strong imagery stimulates the human desire to have free agency and liberty. By appealing to their morals and desire to be free, Postman takes a hold on the throng. Using illustration, Postman begins to paint the effects of conniving technology in the United States. By ushering in the television, America has given the world the clearest available glimpse to Huxleyan Future [ ] (p. 449). This makes it appear that such a future is already becoming part of modern reality. He expounds on the point, explaining that entertainment controls the masses with laughter and amusement. Suggesting that individuals are decaying, leading up to his power statement America is amusing itself to death. This successfully wakes up the reader to America s reality. Finally, he pleads, Who is prepared to take arms against a sea of amusements? What is an antidote to a culture dying of laughter? (p. 452). Such questions conjure thoughts of action in the mind, and he asks the crowd to not only listen, but to act. Through pathos, he is effectively summoning human emotion to resist captivity firmly contributing to the end of his speech. Conclusion Though the argument of Postman may seem intense or controversial to the spectator, the audience is likely to accept what he shares due to his solid evidence of the technological effects on culture presented. Hence, he logically demonstrates the peculiar course of America suggesting that soon much of the democratic world will follow in its footsteps. By being well informed on

8 ANALYSIS OF NEIL POSTMAN S AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH 8 the matter, and by using entertaining stories, he displays to the audience the irrational behavior of man when enticed by technology. Consequently, this permits the audience to perceive that the ideas he imposes are quite actual. Postman effectively converts the audience s fear of Marxism to a fear of amusing oneself to death. It is plausible that many may not have accepted Postman s ideas, but the outcome of his words appears to have resonated through the minds of those individuals as he invited them to fight against the tyrant that steals man s ability to reason; thus, achieving his desired change in the people.

9 ANALYSIS OF NEIL POSTMAN S AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH 9 References Postman, P. (1984). Amusing ourselves to death. In R. Seamons (Ed.), the way of wisdom (pp ). Rexburg, ID: Brigham Young University-Idaho. Retrieved from Word Count: 1847