Amusing Ourselves to Death, Forward: Open Thread
Amusing Ourselves to Death was on the list of 4-5 books Elly and I agreed we wanted to read together this year, and it is our summer book. For years it has been on my “to read” list, and I’ve always felt mildly embarrassed and lacking that I had not read it. Geoff also commented that he wanted to read it, and so we have a little mini book group going on here online.
The plan is that I will make a short post about the section we’re reading, then we’ll have a conversation about it in the comments thread. Anyone who has read or is reading the book is welcome to join in. If you haven’t read it, of course you’re welcome to listen in on the conversation if you’re interested. :)
My plan is to post each week a post encompassing several chapters. Then whoever is reading it can start participating whenever they finish reading through the section posted. It’ll probably be something like this: August 3: Ch. 1-3; August 10: Ch. 4-5; August 17: Ch. 6-8; August 24: Ch. 7-9; August 31: Ch. 10-11.
In an ACCS teacher conference session I have, George Grant opens by reading Postman’s Forward. So, as I began to read, suddenly it took on Grant’s voice and inflections in my mind. The forward is excellent, even to someone like me who has read neither 1984 nor Brave New World (but, do you know from where the title came? It is a literature quote.). Both are on my to-read pile. I finally did read Fahrenheit 451, and it certainly sings the Huxleyian tune — or dirge.
What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. [...] Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. [...] This book is about the possibility that Huxley, not Orwell, was right.
Alas… I was reading chapter 4 when I received a nicely worded library message reminding me that Amusing Ourselves to Death was overdue. It was apparently quite overdue and I paid handsomely for the privilege of having it so, but was unwilling to continue renting it at however much extra a day, so I returned it today. So any comments I make can’t be substantiated from the text until I borrow another copy.
Actually, I have read 1984 (with my book group) and Brave New World (when I was a teenager). Brave New World was much more fun. And I think it’s a Shakespeare quote, but couldn’t tell you which particular work of his.
I’ve started this book before and never finished it. Because I grew up with a rather antagonistic attitude toward modern culture in general and tv in particular, I feel like reading the book so far is kind of like preaching to the choir.
However, I’ve watched more TV lately – in the last 3 or 4 years – all of it merely entertainment oriented. I think Postman was right when he said that the junk was the best thing on there. It’s things like the 6 o clock, 8 o’clock, and 10′o’clock news that are more insidius because they lead you to think that the information and how it’s portrayed is somehow important and makes you more virtuous for watching it. When really it’s packaged and massaged to make it “entertaining” just as much as the fictional TV shows – but without acknowledging the fact. Really, is anything going to happen between 6 and 10 that anybody NEEDS to know about? That will affect their lives? That they couldn’t reasonably hear about tomorrow evening – or next week? And it’s all in soundbites – not long reasoned conversations (or 19th century debates) because who would watch that?
Oh, your comments regarding the age of google, twitter, facebook, etc. are good – very good questions. I wonder what he’d write about them now over 20 years later?
I have been curious to see if the book really is mostly a diatribe against television, which is what I always assumed. But even if it is, I think it’s a good and relevant exercise to take his arguments and thoughts and apply them toward computer and internet usage.
You might find this a nice visual aid to go with your Postman quote!
http://www.recombinantrecords.net/docs/2009-05-Amusing-Ourselves-to-Death.html
Oh, and Brave New World is a quote from Shakespeare’s Tempest.
I really enjoy the irony of using a visual aid to illustrate Postman’s work.