25. Future Shlock by Neil Postman

                The author of an article called “Future Shlock” by Neil Postman, defined his title as “the rapid erosion of collective intelligence”. He goes off to talk about how Germanys educational system was one of the best, until racial issues arose, and teachers lost their jobs. After using Germany during WWII as an example, the author concludes that human intelligence is extremely fragile because of its facility in being manipulated and corrupt. Later some movies are used to prove his view, movies such as The gods Must be Crazy, and The Producers. Not only movies but books as well are brought up to prove his point, these book are 1984 by George Orwell, and Brave New World by Aeolus Huxley. Postman explains that in one book they treat intelligence with suffering, yet in the other book they treat it with good feelings. Both of these examples lead to America and how americans are corrupting intelligence with entertainment. Society is suppressing knowledge because its considered ignorance and promoting ignorance because its considered knowledge. This causes people to avoid and not confront the real issue at hand like politics, because of entertainment.

               Neil Postman article has an interesting view in life. He not only has an interesting view, but he proves his view or point, with clear examples and arguments. He prove his view about entertainment, using entertainment (books and media). The way the author writes is formal, and informational. For the reason that the author had many good examples that fit and proved his argument, he is able to form a good ground for his view and argument. Overall the author wrote a thoughtful and deep essay that rises up a point that not manny people realized or dared to think about. 



http://169.204.228.86/OurSchools/Hs/staff/jvoigt/APLanguage/Film%20Studies/NeilPostmanFutureShock.pdf