Postman: Rant or Reason? Essay -- Essays Papers

Postman: Rant or Reason? In his novel, "Amusing Ourselves to Death", author Neil Postman describes to the reader, in detail, the immediate and future dangers of television. The arguement starts out in a logical manner, explaining first the differences between today's media-driven society, and yesterday's "typographic America". Postman goes on to discuss in the second half of his book the effects of today's media, politics on television, religion on television, and finally televised educational programs. All, he says, are making a detrimental imprint on our society, its values, and its standards. Postman explains that the media consists of "fragment[s] of news" (100), and politics are merely a fashion show. Although Postman's arguments regarding the brevity of the American attention span and the impotence of today's mass media are logical, his opinion of television's inability to educate is severely overstated. Neil Postman is right on the mark when he states that television is having an overall negative effect on our society: It promotes short attention spans. Postman takes as example for this argument the seven famous debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. In that time, Postman explains, audiences would "cheerfully accomodate themselves to seven hours of oratory" (44). This is a concept entirely unknown to today's society. In no stretch of the imagination would a sizeable crowd possibly willingly "subject" themselves to such a lengthy activity. The reason for this anomaly is television. A brief peek at any private television broadcasting station will show the reason: We're having entertainment fed to us in tiny portions. During each thirty or sixty minutes, our favorite sit-com family winds its way throug... ...not one posed by television, but by the potential for the public to overlook the positive qualities of television. Televised education has, despite its need for a short leash, a fair amount of useful applications. Postman must look past the negative image of television-zombie children in order to see the true potential beneath. That said, it is safe to add that network television would still benefit greatly from large handful of additional Postman-influence. Works Cited Fowles, Jib. "Advertising's Fifteen Basic Appeals." Common Culture, 3rd Edition. Ed. Petracca, Michael, and Sorapure, Madeleine. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2001. 60-77. Lasn, Kalle. Culture Jam. New York: William Morrow and Company Inc, 1999. Postman, Neil. Amusing Ourselves to Death. New York: Penguin Books, 1985. Schwartz, Tony. Media: The Second God. New York: Random House, 1981.

Compare/Contrast Organic Food vs Processed Food Essay

How important is the food that the averages person puts into their bodies every day? Eating is a way of making peace, passing the time, sharing friendships, and having a communion. The narrator of Food Inc points out that, â€Å"The way we eat has changed more in the last 50 years than in the previous 10,000† (2008). How has it changed? Americans have gone from eating hunter-gatherer style organic greens and fruits, to severely processed sugars, carbohydrates, and high protein meats. Most Americans eat something similar to a â€Å"chicken and pasta† diet nowadays. This may not be bad, but is this â€Å"new† food really better for us than what people ate 50 and 100 years ago? Organic foods are substances that are produced using ways that do not involve modern unneeded synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Organic foods are also not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives (dictionary). Convenience food, or tertiary processed food, is commercially prepared food designed for ease of buying and consuming. Products designated as â€Å"convenience or processed foods† are often prepared so they can be sold as hot, ready-to-serve plates; as room-temperature, long lasting shelf life products; or as refrigerated or frozen products that require minimal preparation (usually just microwaving). There are studies that show that the food people consume on a daily basis Taylor 2 can influence them for years to come, and can impact the longevity of lives through weight fluctuation, energy, and healing powers. The most common ads on TV nowadays are weight loss commercials. The average American is overweight, sluggish, and unhealthy. More than one-third of U. S. adults (35. 7%) are obese (Ogden). How does food control our weight? Does processed food cause weight gain more than organic would? Processed and packaged food is filled with unnatural dyes, toxins, and genetically modified ingredients that our bodies don’t know how to react to. These artificial chemicals give the food flavor, color, and a long shelf life, but they also build up in the body and cause the nutritional system to be confused, blocked, and set into fat-storing mode (Davis, William). Consuming fresh vegetables, fruits, and other items grown naturally without any preservatives is what the body naturally expects. It’s easy for that sustenance to be converted to energy because that’s what one’s body expects. An organic diet usually results in a trimmer and more energetic body and mind set. Eating organic is not always helpful to one’s budget; the supply of organic food is more limited than the demand. Handling the food results in higher costs because of the mandatory separation of organic and conventional products, and selling and dispersing the organic food throughout the country can also result in higher costs because it’s rather inefficient and the volumes are smaller (FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization). Fast food may appear to be cheap food and, in the literal sense it often is, but that is because huge social and environmental costs are being excluded from the calculations. Taylor 3 Any analysis of the real cost would have to look at such things as the rise in food-borne illnesses, the advent of new pathogens, such as E.coli 0157, antibiotic resistance from the overuse of drugs in animal feed, extensive water pollution from intensive agricultural systems and many other factors. These costs are not reflected in the price of fast food (Prince Charles). Beyond prices is food security. Can farmers produce enough organic food to sustain the global population? Conventionally made food is easier to find, a lower price, and quicker to prepare. But organic food does yield more than one would think (Michigan State University). The wrong foods have been known to cause diseases, but the right ones have also been known to prevent them, or rid the body of harmful toxins causing the illness. â€Å"Although human bodies are incredibly adaptable and may maintain themselves for a long time when nutrition is improper or lacking, ideal health is dependent on optimum nutrition. † (Allman, 9). â€Å"In 1972, the FDA conducted approximately 50,000 food safety inspections. In 2006, the FDA conducted 9,164† (Food, Inc). Not all food is safe for the body to digest. This quote is not saying that all processed food is bad for the body, and that all organic food is perfect, it’s saying that most food people eat isn’t as clean as it used to be which is much like â€Å"going backwards† from all the progress America has made with food codes and regulations. The question throughout all of this still stands, â€Å"Can the food one eats truly help them live longer? † One of the oldest people alive, Walter Breuning, had an interview about his diet recently. All his life he’s said that most people eat â€Å"just too darn much† (Sanders). Breuning hasn’t eaten supper for the past 35 years. He eats lots of fruit, lots of vegetables, and drinks a Taylor 4 large amount of water. He says that’s the way he likes it, and there’s no denying that it’s helped him go far beyond the average lifespan of an adult male. Whether one considers their weight, lifespan, budget, or general health next time they go out to the grocery store, or consume something to eat, it’s always good to consider something. Mindless eating doesn’t benefit anyone. Do people â€Å"eat to live,† or do they â€Å"live to eat? † Food can affect our weight, lifespan, energy, and health. Eating will never go out of style, and it will always be something that’s talked about in everyday lives.

The Father Of String Quartets - 1437 Words

Known primarily as the father of string quartets, Joseph Haydn played an extremely important role in the development of the string quartet. When the composer first arrived on the scene, the usual name given to a string quartet composition was actually considered a divertimento . This title was a general term to describe any â€Å"one on a part† type instrumental music that was compatible with a variety of different music scorings, styles and character. It wasn t until about 1780 that modern titles/terms such as the quartet and quintet become common for serious chamber music in the now standard scoring. (Eisen, Grove, â€Å"String Quartet†) This change of terminology that happens during Haydn s career does not imply that there was nothing serious being performed on strings prior to terminology change. In fact, examples of serious works can be found during Haydn s op.9 (1769-70) early divertimentos, with a cello playing the bass line. This serious work of Haydn als o incorporated a new idea within the world of string quartets, a four movement scheme. Throughout the four movements the textures were varied, having moments of a possible elaborated homophonic trio sonata style , paired with a more contrapuntal polyphonic style. Another characteristic that encouraged stylistic growth were the various fugal moments being introduced throughout string quartet music during this time. The Viennese set k168-73 (1773) by Mozart illustrates an irregular phrase construction,Show MoreRelatedThe Father Of The String Quartet1261 Words   |  6 Pages Joseph Haydn was one of the most acclaimed composers of the Classical Era. Known as the father of the string quartet, he has created music that is withstanding the test of time and only becoming more eminent in today’s choice of literature. Hayden’s String Quartet in C Major, Op. 74, No. 1, Movement III, is one of so many that deserve a closer look and a keen eye to decipher. The use of elements such as balance, harmonic closure, form and modulations are easy to look over at first glance. HoweverRead MoreThe Father Of Symphony, And The Brother Of The String Quartet1556 Words   |  7 PagesFranz Joseph Haydn is known today as the â€Å"Father of Symphon y† and the â€Å"Father of the String Quartet.† He was not given these titles arbitrarily as his compositions influenced many later prominent artists. Haydn’s life consistently evolved around music. He did not have a primary focus being that he was a singer, instrumentalist, and a composer for periods in his lifetime. Haydn’s musical style saw many new changes and developments, and adapted to his needs, desires, and emotions and outside forcesRead MoreClassical Composers : Luigi Boccherini And Ludwig Van Beethoven1115 Words   |  5 Pagescomposer and pianist. 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His father s increasingly serious alcohol problem and the earlier death of hisRead MoreThe Golden Age Of Chamber Music1300 Words   |  6 PagesMarch 31st. His parents were of a poor background but loved music and hard work, maybe it is to say Haydn got his working ethics from the teachings of his parents. Haydn had always been exposed to music as his father sang whilst he was alive with the accompaniment of a harp. Haydn learned to sing at a young age, he also played a make belief violin made of two sticks as a child because he couldn’t afford a real violin. HisRead MoreJoseph Franz Haydn Essays818 Words   |  4 Pages He is considered by some people to be one of the most famous composers of the classical period. His career grew with the development of classical style and forms, with the symphony, sonata, string quartet, and other instrumental forms, in the moulding of which he played an important part. Joseph Haydn was born in Rohrau in 1732, the son of a wheelwright, he trained as a chorister at St. Stephens Cathedral in Vienna, where he made an early living. He worked as a freelance musician, playing theRead More The Viennese School Essay824 Words   |  4 Pagescomplex, and melodies and harmonies became more complicated with more separate parts happening all at once. The instrumentation that was popular also changed. Solos, trios, quar tets, and quintets became popular, beside large orchestras.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The three composers that made the music, which are called the founding fathers of the Viennese School, are Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven. These composers studied together sometimes with one taking lessons from another. Mozart took lessons from Haydn whenRead More Ludwig Van Beethoven Essay769 Words   |  4 Pagesmusic seemed to come easily, Beethoven always struggled to perfect his work. 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