Amusing Ourselves. . . , Part 2

Please follow the link below to a NY Times article;

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/17/arts/television/17kaku.html

Please discuss by  4 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 11, whether and how "The Daily Show," as described in the New York Times article and as you have possibly experienced it on TV, confirms, modifies, or refutes Postman's thesis in Amusing Ourselves to Death.

i forgot my phone

http://gawker.com/short-film-about-smartphone-overuse-is-smart-poignant-1189811144

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoVW62mwSQQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qFW4zwXzLs

http://gawker.com/louis-c-k-s-explanation-of-why-he-hates-smartphones-is-1354954625?utm_campaign=socialflow_gawker_twitter&utm_source=gawker_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

Electronic Book Burning

After you have read chaps. 1-4 in Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death, please respond to the following question:

Would Postman agree or disagree with the author of the essay below? Why or why not? Draw directly on the reading to support your interpretation.

In addition, do you agree with the essay? Why or why not?

Your response is due by 4 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 8.

http://www.evergreenreview.com/120/electronic-book-burning.html

Journalist vs. Journalist

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/26/business/media/war-on-leaks-is-pitting-journalist-vs-journalist.html


http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/07/08/opinion/sunday/the-strip.html#1

10 Most E-Mailed Stories

Examine the list of the 10 Most E-Mailed Stories on the home page of the New York Times Web site for  Tuesday, August 27. When you consider them as a whole, do any consistent themes or preoccupations (on the part of journalists or readers or both) emerge? What does the list suggest is the primary function of the press in America today (informing, entertaining, rumor-mongering, counseling, editorializing, advertising, etc.)? Why do you think this function predominates (ideological reasons, economic reasons, cultural reasons, political reasons)? How does that make you feel (optimistic, dizzy, despairing) about the direction of the press and the society it serves? Your response is due -- remember, no late responses are given credit -- by 4 p.m., Wednesday, August 28.

Press Controls

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/20/world/asia/chinas-new-leadership-takes-hard-line-in-secret-memo.html?hp

NY Times for Sale?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/10/business/after-post-sale-spotlight-shines-more-intensely-on-the-times.html?hp