The Argument For The Elimination Of Television - 1935 Words

Approximately twenty five billion dollars is spent on advertising a year, a number far greater than the amount spent on education nationally. Why so much money? Jerry Mander in his book Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television, lays out the numerous problems that exist with television, a problem that cannot necessarily be improved. In essence, technology is not a tool that is neutral. Mander describes that in different institutions and technologies, such as advertising, mass production, militaries, the basic structure of particular technology or institution establishes its influence on the world, the types of individuals that will make use of it, and how people will use it. Television is a tool that established the kinds of effects it will have on peoples lives, how people will use it, and who will use it, and if such technology continues to be used, the kinds of effects and political forms that will result from it. Mander develops four arguments throughout his book. The firs t argument Mander describes is that television conditions people to accept another person’s authority. He begins by explaining that although television might be interesting and useful it packs people into a mental as well as a physical condition suitable for the appearance of autocratic control. Artificial environments, therefore, strip individuals of obtaining direct knowledge of nature. He follows his second argument by stating that technological advances are controlled by the â€Å"powers thatShow MoreRelatedMultiple Choice Questions Choose The Best664 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿ Multiple Choice Questions: Choose the best answer. 1. Arguments that try to prove their conclusions with rigorous, inescapable logic are __________. a. logically reliable b. inductive c. abductive d. deductive 2. An argument in which the conclusion is claimed to follow probably from the premises is __________. a. implicative b. inductive c. deductive d. none of the above 3. Which of the following is not a common induction indicator word or phrase? a. it logically follows that b. likely cRead More Televisions Manipulation of the Facts Essay1304 Words   |  6 Pagesparticipate in during their free time is watching the television. Since its invention over sixty years ago, the television has been a source of enjoyment and information for the American citizen (Pember, 1981). Though what one sees on the television is not what one should always believe. Many people look at television with the camera never lies attitude, and are easily manipulated by this medium. People are manipulated by television because most television programming is controlled by a small number ofRead More`` Not Here : If We re Truly Serious About Stopping Massacres Like1687 Words   |  7 Pagesto eliminate evil from society. Argument presented by the Metcalf seems right and accurate because incidents of mass killings are driven by the evil residing inside the human brain. 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