How Long to Read Neil Postman - Amusing and Informing Ourselves to Death

How Long Does it Take to Read Neil Postman - Amusing and Informing Ourselves to Death?

It takes the average reader and 30 minutes to read Neil Postman - Amusing and Informing Ourselves to Death by Julia Schubert

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

Seminar paper from the year 2005 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 1, Martin Luther University (Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik), course: Orality and Literacy, language: English, abstract: The central topics of the works of the writer, educator, communication theorist, social critic and cultural commentator Neil Postman have always been the media, their different forms of communication and their meanings to people, society and culture. Any of his books was built around the McLuhan-question: “Does the form of any medium of communication affect our social relations, our political ideas, or psychic habits, and of course, as he [Marshall McLuhan] always emphasized, our sensorium” (Postman: 07/30/05)? Postman was aware of the fact that a new technology and therefore a new medium may have destructive as well as creative effects. During the history of mankind there have been tremendous changes in the forms, volume, speed and context of information and it is necessary to find out what these changes meant and mean to our cultures (Postman: 1985, 160). For him, it is a basic principle that “the clearest way to see through a culture is to attend to its tools for conversation” (Postman: 1985, 8). In the book “Amusing Ourselves to Death - Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business” Postman examines, from a 1980s viewpoint, the changes in the American culture caused by the shift from the Age of Reason with the printed word at its center to the Age of Show Business with television as the central medium - or in simplifying terms the shift from rationality to triviality. Twenty years later, the situation has changed again. This term paper will make an attempt to answer the question what the new media, especially the internet, did to the modern (American) culture and to its public discourse. Obviously, Postman’s provocative title “Amusing Ourselves to Death” was just the beginning of a fast moving development since nowadays the modern media world seems to shape our lives under the title “Informing Ourselves to Death” (Postman: 07/30/05) or to use one of the latest terms “Infotaining Ourselves to Death”. ..First of all, the following chapters will examine the line of Postman’s argumentation which led to the conclusion that television has significantly transformed the American society into an amusement and entertainment culture. What has happened and what was the role of the media? Was this the beginning of a “Brave New World”? As a matter of fact, Postman ́s theories and statements are not to be taken as unreflected truth. Subsequently,some critical remarks are to be made from a 21 st -century viewpoint. [...]

How long is Neil Postman - Amusing and Informing Ourselves to Death?

Neil Postman - Amusing and Informing Ourselves to Death by Julia Schubert is 29 pages long, and a total of 7,511 words.

This makes it 10% the length of the average book. It also has 9% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read Neil Postman - Amusing and Informing Ourselves to Death Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes and 41 minutes to read Neil Postman - Amusing and Informing Ourselves to Death aloud.

What Reading Level is Neil Postman - Amusing and Informing Ourselves to Death?

Neil Postman - Amusing and Informing Ourselves to Death is suitable for students ages 8 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

Where Can I Buy Neil Postman - Amusing and Informing Ourselves to Death?

Neil Postman - Amusing and Informing Ourselves to Death by Julia Schubert is sold by several retailers and bookshops. However, Read Time works with Amazon to provide an easier way to purchase books.

To buy Neil Postman - Amusing and Informing Ourselves to Death by Julia Schubert on Amazon click the button below.