25. Future Shlock

The author describes "future shlock" as an increasing stupidity among a once intelligent nation. He talks about how fragile human intelligence can be due to how easily it can be corrupted, giving Germany as an example. Germany was the leading country in education in the 20s, then all of a sudden it started having completely illogical philosophies about racial superiority and dictatorship, and it kicked out some of it's scholars. The author talks about two different kinds of degenerating intelligence. The first is comparable to George Orwell's 1984, and the second to Adolus Huxley's Brave New World. In 1984, they purge intelligence through pain and oppression. In Brave New World, they purge it through pleasure and bliss, which is more subtle and effective, and is the kind going on in America today. The author talks about how America has blurred lines between information and entertainment, so we are constantly entertained but never learn the information. Serious issues like politics are downsized, and even speech is being replaced by slang.

The article made me really think about life. I read 1984, and was terrified of the regime it portrayed, but after I read this article I realized that there's an even better way, a more sinister way of subjugating a nation. Not that entertainment is inherently bad, but is see how many media vehicles are actually inhibiting our learning, therfore it's a good idea to avoid them when possible. The article presents well-made questions. I disagree with his interpretation of the second commandment; he believes that it's wrong to make any image in the likeness of anything, thus, art is condemnable. That's a serious over-interpretation, in my opinion. But the rest of the article is brilliant.