America's intellectual downfall
When I first began reading Susan Jacoby‘s Article, I was excited. “Finally,” I thought, “America’s intellectual downfall will be brought into the open.” Her statement of the problem was right on; America‘s intelligence is declining with each passing generation. The more I read, however, the more disappointed I became in her solution.
To comment on this letter, click on “Comments” below
American intelligence is not dependent on the content of television and the internet. They are forms of media. I can’t blame paper for bad grammar, so how can I blame television for what I choose to watch? Television programming is determined by ratings. Ratings are determined by the American people.
The media plays mindless shows because we watch them more than their educational counterparts. The article also overlooks the media as a form of education. The modern generation learns better through video media than through books. Students remember more about what they saw on the history channel than what they read in their history class, because it appeals to more of their senses.
What confuses me the most, though, is that the author chooses to write a book about how people don’t read enough books. She isn’t speaking to the audience she needs to sway. Unless this is a marketing ploy to make readers feel better about themselves, I think she would have better success at making an impact if she aimed for a spot on primetime and talked to the people she actually wanted to reach. However, I can almost guarantee that a campaign like that would (you guessed it) crash and burn in the ratings.
So before the media becomes the scapegoat for yet another problem, perhaps we should examine the people who determine what’s on - ourselves.
Zach Holoch
North Codorus Township
Leave a comment