The Cult of the Amateur

In his book, Andrew Keen complains about "a flattening of our culture." What do you think he means by that phrase and why does the phrase -- or, more precisely, what it represents -- seem to scare him so much? Please respond prior to class, Monday, Oct. 20.

Pbwiki

Please examine the pbwiki below (and listed in Links). This is the direction the final project is leaning, though I'm open and even eager for your input as to how the wiki and the assignment might be revised to take advantage of the particular talents and interests of each of you. As I've created user accounts for each student, you should leave comments directly on the wiki's front page by class Monday, Oct. 6, when we'll discuss your ideas.

http://pressinamerica.pbwiki.com

Media Reform

In the last few pages of Amusing Ourselves to Death, Postman makes several suggestions for fixing the problems represented and created by modern media, particularly TV and computers. Which of his suggestions strike you as most feasible? Why? Do you have any suggestions of your own? You should. Please comment by 10 a.m. Wed., Oct. 8.

Information-Action Ratio

Describe what Postman means by the term "information-action ratio." Now answer his question: How often does it occur that news causes you to alter plans, take some action, etc.? (He's not talking about weather or traffic news, but so-called "serious" news, the kind that shows up on the network evening news or the pages of a newspaper.) What does your answer tell you about the nature of what passes for news today? (You might recall the Crane poem if that helps or Postman's quotes from Thoreau or watch this music video: http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=PsGwsIlb-Es.)

Portable Electronic Devices

I want to reiterate something I said in a previous e-mail: keep portable electronic devices out of sight during class time. That was a condition stated at the outset of the class, both by me in person and on the syllabus. If you can't abide by it, please officially withdraw from the class. The use of such devices during class is not only disruptive to teaching and learning, but also personally insulting to me. I do my best to treat students with concern and respect; I expect something of the same in return. If that seems too much to ask -- though, of course, it's not -- then, as I said, please offically witdraw.

Deep Ecology

Read the handout from the book Deep Ecology. Now apply the questions it asks of technology to Web 2.0. Based on Andrew Keen's analysis in The Cult of the Amateur and/or your own experience, does the Web meet the criteria for a "fully informed, appropriate technology"? Please post your comments (which should be proofread before posting; sloppy writing is simply unacceptable) by the start of class Thursday, Oct. 23.

Is the Daily Show Amusing Us to Death?

Please discuss by Monday, Sept. 15, 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.