Summary
Amusing Ourselves to Death, published in 1985, offers a prescient critique of television's impact on public discourse. An American educator and media theorist, Neil Postman examines how the rise of visual media, particularly television, has transformed the way we process information, leading to a decline in critical thinking, rational debate, and engagement in civic life. The book’s influence can be seen in various cultural works and ongoing debates about the impact of social media.
Plot
In Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman examines the profound impact of television on American society and public discourse. He argues that the visual medium of television, with its emphasis on entertainment and constant stimulation, has fundamentally altered how we process information and engage in public affairs.
Postman contrasts the modern television age with earlier periods, particularly the 18th and 19th centuries, which he considers the pinnacle of rational discourse. He suggests that the printed word allowed for complex ideas and logical arguments to be conveyed effectively. In contrast, television's format favors quick, entertaining snippets of information that lack depth and context.
The book explores how various aspects of society, including politics, religion, education, and news, have been reshaped to fit the demands of television. Postman argues that these fields now prioritize entertainment value over substance, leading to a degradation of public discourse. He points out that even serious topics are presented in a way that emphasizes emotional appeal and visual interest rather than rational analysis.
Postman concludes by warning of the dangers of this shift towards an entertainment- focused culture. He suggests that we are moving towards a world more akin to Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, where people are controlled not through oppression but through distraction and the pursuit of pleasure. Amusing Ourselves to Death serves as a cautionary tale about the power of media to shape our thoughts and behaviors, often in ways we may not fully realize.
Themes
The impact of television on public discourse
Entertainment as the dominant form of communication
The decline of rational argument in society
The transformation of news into a form of amusement
The erosion of critical thinking skills
The shift from print culture to visual culture
The consequences of prioritizing entertainment over information
Setting
Amusing Ourselves to Death was published in 1985, during the boom of the cable television era in the United States. The book examines American society in the late 20th century, a time when TV had become the dominant medium for news, entertainment, and cultural discourse.
While his analysis focuses broadly on American culture, Neil Postman frequently references New York City, where he lived and worked as a professor at New York University. The book also touches on how television has impacted public spaces across the country, from living rooms to classrooms to political arenas.
Though written before the internet age, Postman's observations extend beyond just television to encompass the larger shift from a print-based, literate culture to one dominated by visual media and entertainment. His insights remain relevant today, as social media and smartphones have further transformed how we consume information and interact with the world around us.
Characters
Neil Postman: The author, a media theorist and cultural critic who analyzes the impact of television on public discourse. He argues that the medium of television has fundamentally altered how we process information and engage in public affairs. Postman draws comparisons between Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and the television-dominated culture he observes, warning of the dangers of prioritizing entertainment over substantive discourse.
Marshall McLuhan: A media theorist whose ideas heavily influence Postman's work. McLuhan is known for coining the phrase “the medium is the message,” which Postman adapts to “the medium is the metaphor” in his analysis of television's cultural impact.
Aldous Huxley: The author of Brave New World, whose dystopian vision Postman sees as more relevant to modern society than George Orwell's 1984. Huxley's concept of a society pacified by pleasure serves as a central metaphor in Postman's critique of television culture.
George Orwell: The author of 1984, whose dystopian vision Postman contrasts with Huxley's. Orwell's ideas about state control through fear and force are presented as less applicable to modern media culture than Huxley's vision of control through pleasure.
Quick facts
Amusing Ourselves to Death originated from a talk Neil Postman gave at the 1984 Frankfurt Book Fair.
Postman argues that Aldous Huxley's Brave New World is a more accurate prediction of modern society than George Orwell's 1984.
The phrase “now this” used in TV news is highlighted by Postman as emblematic of disconnected information.
Postman coined the term “information-action ratio” to describe the gap between knowing information and being able to act on it.
Roger Waters, former member of Pink Floyd, named his 1992 solo album Amused to Death after Postman's book.
Arctic Monkeys referenced Postman's “information-action ratio” concept in their 2018 song “Four Out of Five."
Postman's son Andrew released a 20th-anniversary edition of the book in 2005.
About the Author
Neil Postman (1931-2003) was an influential American educator, media theorist, and cultural critic. As chairman of the department of communication arts at New York University, he founded the graduate program in media ecology in 1971. Postman's work spanned over four decades, during which he authored more than 30 significant books on education, media criticism, and cultural change.
Postman is perhaps best known for his 1985 book Amusing Ourselves to Death, a historical narrative that warns of the decline in serious public discourse due to the rise of television. He argued that TV's emphasis on entertainment was undermining political discourse and turning complex issues into superficial images. Throughout his career, Postman remained critical of technology's impact on society and education, eschewing digital technology and even cruise control in cars.
In addition to his seminal work on media, Postman wrote extensively on education. His books Teaching as a Subversive Activity (1970) and The End of Education (1995) challenged traditional educational paradigms and proposed alternative approaches to learning. Postman advocated for schools to become “convivial communities” and criticized practices like standardized testing and homogeneous grouping of students.
Postman's legacy extends beyond his books. He was a prolific writer, contributing to publications such as The New York Times Magazine and The Atlantic Monthly. He also served as editor of the journal ETC: A Review of General Semantics from 1976 to 1986. His ideas continue to influence discussions on media, technology, and education, with many of his critiques remaining relevant in today's digital age.
