Section I
Many students come to class with a grand vision of their future. Personally, I did not come with a vision in handy as I joined. The only thing I hope is to do well in class and sustain a good grade that will steer me to the next level in school. To be able to achieve a quality grade, I have to demonstrate coherence of the topics covered. I took this class, as part of the general requirements as writing was not a pivotal niche in life. I have the tenacity to catapult this condition and perfect my writing to meet the required standards.
I find the book written by Postman informative and interesting on the effect of television towards culture. I agree with Postman views when he mentions that Aldous Huxley author of Brave World who attests to public oppression by an addition to assuming (Postman, 2006). The totalitarian governments reiterated by Orwell vision for the future is not true, and I disagree with it. I think people in this generation sacrifice their right instead of the government seizing their right. For instance, I have witnessed army recruits volunteering themselves to a worthy cause of fighting and even dying to protect the country from terrorism. Citizens volunteer to enroll in the army since the state does not coerce people to work for the society. I believe as Postman (2006) does this is an era of reason where the government and society have equal participation. The government works with the public in mind and often involves them when formulating policies in the country. The media place the current administration in the limelight as the president makes a valiant effort to articulate issues that affect the nation. I agree with the author that a free nation deserves free media to enable people give out their rights and that leaders do not take advantage of the people. I disagree with the author who comments that television works to make quick money rather than encourage social progression. I believe that television does not work to limit viewers to engage in meaningful conversations rather the media is informative to benefit concerned organizations and consumers. I agree with the author that, in the past, one would only recognize the president by the written word rather than the media. I agree with the author that the television does not have honest intellectual involvement since it has a form of exaggeration that is not rational. Postman (2006) contemplates that television commercials interrupt televised news and fails to depict seriousness.
I think the media highly relies with the commercials so as to sustain their business and if they choose to stop, they might as well collapse. Postman (2006) finds that television shows have shows that are in tandem with the popular culture that entertain one another rather than inform the audience. I think it is up to the media to generate content that meets demand from the audience. The media bring shows of fashion and series that are entertaining to the young people. I disagree with Postman, who asserts that television replaces the written word with visuals and the ideology that television offers passive information that does not strive to educate. I think television airs both entertainment and serious information to stir intellectual debates on some of the perturbing issues in the society. Additionally, as intellectuals we have the opportunity to decide on the information so as to follow and information so as to discard. Postman is correct to note that television permit impersonal communication that has fragments. This does not mean one can fail to obtain educative information from the televisions. The television encourages cultural conversation to enable social interactions.
I agree with the view of Graber (2009) who cites the reason of television offering mixed content that is in line with meeting entertainment objective. It is true that television is a device that fosters social integration Postman's views. Postman wrong view is that televise ion fails to foster social cohesion. I disagree with the author who says that television shows insulate viewers with harsh realities. Most of the People fail to embrace the truth depicted by the television shows and result to escapism. When the media invade people’s privacy it does, so to achieve an intended interest such as enable people make a better decision when faced with a similar situation. I agree with Graber (2009) on the role of the media to shape the current America politics. Citizens can understand better understand the voting process in America. The media are an important component in the political campaign process. The problem with the media according with Graber (2009) is that the media perpetrates bias by focusing on an issue and obscuring others due to lack of coverage. People always question the treatment of the cues attached to an object. I agree with Graber (2009) on the importance of the informative role of the media. Children can only get a real life experience of politics from the television. Television depicts the real life scenario that is well articulated. I disagree on the criteria, which the media uses to focus on a single candidate during the election primaries. I believe that the depiction of a candidate during campaigns can tilt the election to one candidate over another. Some of the material of the author is superficial especially the information about the quality of information during the election period. In some instances, Graber fails to provide empirical evidence instead of relying with speculative assertions in the research literature.
Section III
Both authors agree on the inherent biases of the media, and it is the duty of the audience to control this. The views of Neil Postman and Doris Graber coupled with real life experiences concerning the world will advance my understanding on the relationship between media and democracy.
References
Graber, D. A. (2009). Mass media and American politics (4th ed.). S.l.: CQ Press.
Postman, N. (2006). Amusing ourselves to death: public discourse in the age of show business (20th anniversary ed.). New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Penguin Books.
