Neil Postman, 72, Mass Media Critic, Dies [View All]

[Sufi Marmot]

Neil Postman, a prolific and influential social critic and educator best known for his warning that an era of mass communications is stunting the minds of children — as well as adults — died on Sunday at a hospital in Flushing, Queens. He was 72 and lived in Flushing....

In "Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business" (Viking, 1985; Penguin, 1986), he indicted the television industry on the charge of making entertainment out of the world's most serious problems. The book was translated into eight languages and sold 200,000 copies worldwide, according to N.Y.U.

Dr. Postman was particularly offended by the presentation of television news with all the trappings of entertainment programming, including theme music and "talking hairdos." Only in the printed word, he felt, could complicated truths be rationally conveyed.

Entire article here.

Given the recent events in California, his thesis in "Amusing Ourselves to Death" was certainly vindicated... for DUers who haven't read the book, it would surely resonate with most of you, although by now it would probably be preaching to the choir...

-SM