Analysis of Neil Postman's Article

ANALYSIS OF POSTMAN’S LEARNING IN THE AGE OF TELEVISION
by Kevin Huels

The article entitled, Commentary: Learning in the Age of Television is a popular piece of reasoning by Neil Postman and published in the Education Weekly magazine. The editor of the popular press utilized this, because in the growing educational system television has influenced curriculum-based schooling by invading the traditional system of education in the public decorum.

The format of the article is a feature story in which seems to be the focal point of this particular issue. The editor’s choice is perhaps a brave one in that they published this heavily anti-television article and because of its content, the article could be seen as an elitist argument. I would agree with the choice of the article’s appearance strictly because of the seriousness of mass media development in the school environment. The article creates a realm of questioning, particularly about popular entertainment and thus resulting in the criticism of what technology brings to the classroom--infotainment.

Throughout the argument Postman makes a clear claim for traditional education and how it works to improve a better social understanding of the world. Television blurs distorts, and simplifies the complexities of reality. Television’s powerful influence on children shapes the way they learn in a traditional environment. Postman basis his theorems on television shows such as Sesame Street, Nova, National Geographic, MTV, and Fantasy Island in comparative analysis to further indicate that the sustenance of television does not provide a balance between what is an educational, realistic rendition of the world and what is purely for entertainment value. Postman brings up an example of Sesame Street being a replica of the American mass-media agenda in current society. According to Postman, “Its use of cute puppets, celebrities, catchy tunes, and rapid-fire editing was certain to give pleasure to the children and would therefore serve as adequate preparation for their entry into a fun-loving culture."

Neil Postman assesses his ability to critique the television medium by multitudes of comparative studies, for example a classroom with text books and one with a televised curriculum. He focuses on the social implications that result in the inept ability of children to communicate properly in a functional traditionally educated society. Postman also draws back history to conduct a more potent metaphor for the current problem of growing interest in television in the classroom.

Neil Postman chose the topic of television in education because he believed very passionately that education is taking a giant step in a new direction, perhaps the wrong direction. He is the author of Amusing Ourselves To Death, which contains media-based criticism that provides rational thinking above entertaining the public.

Postman established his credibility with his non-fiction novels and reputation as one of the greatest founding fathers of media criticism that the world has ever known. A professor for New York University for forty years, the founder of the Media Ecology curriculum, he has written over twenty popular books and twice as many essays on media criticism. Postman’s technique of establishing credibility within his writing is apparent because of the richness in subject matter, and his ability to bring history into the writing to provide retrospective analyses.

The only criticism I can give to Neil Postman’s article Commentary: Learning in the Age of Television is that it is formatted in opinion without citation. The article is grounded in metaphorical speech and heavily focused on meticulous analysis. Those whom are not familiar with his writing may get lost in the analysis, but according to Postman himself it would perhaps conclude that his article does “entertain” the American audience.