Daniel's Analytical Remarks on the Works of Neil Postman

AKA A Review of Amusing Ourselves To Death by Daniel S.

"...short, to the point..." I believe is how Mrs. Klassen described the book in the letter that she wrote to us all, and I could not agree with her more. And not only do I agree with Mrs. Klassen, I agree with Mr. Postman's well constructed arguments. Not only has he composed an eloquent series of expostulations, he has backed every single one of them with citations and references that further prove his point. In the span of 163 pages he has compiled enough resources to prove not only that we are "Amusing ourselves to death," but that we are doing it in such a way that when we "die" we won't even care, but rather we will be amused that the very thing that keeps us entertained is what has killed us. Postman's writing not only convinced me that television will not only "bite that hand that feeds it (as they say)," but it will eventually be the death of society.

Throughout AOTD Postman is always using rhetorical devices to illustrate his point. He uses logos - the rational principle that governs and develops the universe - more often then pathos - the quality or power in an actual life experience or in literature, music, speech, or other forms of expression, of evoking a feeling of pity or compassion - and ethos - the fundamental character or spirit of a culture; the underlying sentiment that informs the beliefs, customs, or practices of a group or society; dominant assumptions of a people or period. One of the most notable uses of logos, at least in my mind, is in the chapter of the book entitled "Now... This (p. 99)." Throughout this chapter, Postman uses logos to convince the reader that television news, however important, is quickly and unconsciously deemed unimportant by the fact that immediately following the news article, however serious, there is a commercial break. During that commercial break one's senses are so buffeted by jingles and images that anything happening in the world outside the television, be it politics, religion, business, etc., is not so important as the breath freshening capabilities of the leading brand mouthwash. Postman's arguments in this chapter and his reasoning behind the arguments provides you with evidence that such a thing is true. His example of the Iranian hostage crisis, for example, shows that even something covered by the news for so long hardly provides the viewers with information that is quickly forgotten. His use of anaphora - the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses or lines - when he repeatedly uses the word "or" at the beginning of each sentence boosts his already strong argument by adding more rhetorical devices to his assertion on television news (p. 107).

Postman uses more than just logos and anaphora in his book, and most are used amazingly, but some he could have used better. One that he could have used better is ethos, the fundamental character or spirit of a culture; the underlying sentiment that informs the beliefs, customs, or practices of a group or society; dominant assumptions of a people or period. Michelle Kennedy already pointed this out to everyone in her analysis, and I believe that she was right to do so. For me, I had no idea at all who Neil Postman was before reading this book, so when the only mention of his credentials was in the introduction written by Andrew Postman(p. vii - p. xvi) and then later in the book when the author mentions his being a member of the Commission on Theology, Education and the Electric Media of the National Council of the Churches of Christ (p. 124). About the only thing that I did know that would convince me to read the book was Andrew Postman mentioning that Roger Waters wrote an album based on the book (p. viii). However, despite this shortcoming, Postman beautifully explains his arguments and makes clear that he is an incredibly brilliant man, whose books should be read.

Regardless of the fact that ethos could have been used somewhat more consistently, Postman makes exceptional use of other rhetorical devices throughout the book. Postman uses irony - an objectively sardonic style of speech or writing - at the end of chapter six, when he says Irving Berlin should have his song, "There's No Business But Show Business (p. 98)." He also uses paradox - a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth - when he makes the statement, "telegraphy makes relevancy irrelevant (p. 67)." Postman also makes us of an ananaclassic pun - repetition of a word in two different sense - with the affirmation that, "This report is not so much a news story as a story about the news (p. 108)," as he tries to illustrate the idea that if it is not amusing, the people do not care that their leader lies to them.

In conclusion, Postman's writing of AOTD in 1985 is just as important to America today as it was when it was first published. Despite the fact that the Internet was relatively unknown and personal computers were just beginning to appear, Postman's message can easily be applied to the present. With things like Google News and podcasts, a person has almost unlimited access to information, but the amount of information that is relevant and/or retained is either the same as it was in 1985 or it is dropping, as I believe Postman predicted it would. After reading this book, I would like to say I now am completely skeptical of television news; knowing that what is being said is the truth, but always wondering, "IS THIS RELEVANT TO ME? WILL THIS AFFECT MY LIFE? HOW WILL I CHANGE WHAT I DO TODAY BECAUSE OF THIS?" I guess it is a good thing my parents decided to not have cable or satellite television in our house while I was growing up, because I think that at this point, I would be smashing my head against the wall struggling to find the meaning. Postman's work seems to me to be the archetype of arguments against television, being resourceful and relevant. After reading this, I have already made up my mind to read Postman's other works.