What’s Dumbing Down America?!

Chapter four’s title caught my attention and drew me into reading the chapter.  Sternheimer elaborates on the recent news stories argue that the internet is “re-wiring young people’s minds, and not for the best.” That statement made me ponder, and it’s leaning me more and more to believe it. There is so much negative corrupted media out there that it could potentially send mixed signals to young viewers. These signals may have bad intentions subliminally hidden behind the message, but the young viewer isn’t aware of it and may conceptualize it for something else. Moreover, Sternheimer also refers to a Chicago Sun-Times story which discusses how the ability of graduating high school is based on the kid’s ability to reject all the nonsense he/she is exposed to in our pop culture.

Additionally, she also refers to Neil Postman’s book Amusing Ourselves to Death, which talks about how the United States has shifted from the “Magic of Writing to the magic of electronics.” I thought that was interesting because i can relate to that statement. Just thinking back on how i was brought up in a society where media didn’t have an effect on individuals, and observing what’s currently going on, has made me realize the enhancement media has gone through!