On target. The superficial amusement syndrome is visible in the magazine rack of any drugstore or supermarket. Essentially nothing on public affairs. I attach responsibility to our schools of education and teachers colleges, who adopted “chid-centered” educational principles in the 1960s and 70s. Individual concerns and interests are more important than knowledge. civics and serious history were dropped or downgraded. Any idea or conviction is as good as any other.
I wholeheartedly agree - in the mid 70s I was at a grammar school and the government announced it was no longer necessary to study grammar! Incredible decision. We do need a serious rethink of education and indeed technology related consumption.
It's definitely one to be re-read. He was much more vocal on politics in his book Technopoly. Television certainly added to a change in culture... and each time becomes more and more addictive, eg now we have binge watching on Netflix.
On target. The superficial amusement syndrome is visible in the magazine rack of any drugstore or supermarket. Essentially nothing on public affairs. I attach responsibility to our schools of education and teachers colleges, who adopted “chid-centered” educational principles in the 1960s and 70s. Individual concerns and interests are more important than knowledge. civics and serious history were dropped or downgraded. Any idea or conviction is as good as any other.
I wholeheartedly agree - in the mid 70s I was at a grammar school and the government announced it was no longer necessary to study grammar! Incredible decision. We do need a serious rethink of education and indeed technology related consumption.
What a great book. I can't remember how much he commented on politics but it's remarkable to think about how much television has driven tribalism
It's definitely one to be re-read. He was much more vocal on politics in his book Technopoly. Television certainly added to a change in culture... and each time becomes more and more addictive, eg now we have binge watching on Netflix.
I enjoyed the podcast Slow Burn did about the rise of Fox News; wrote about it a bit here which you might find interesting https://open.substack.com/pub/residualthoughts/p/the-fox-logo-burned-into-the-television?r=9c2r&utm_medium=ios
Excellent, thank you - will read with great interest