Reason.com
Neil Postman, RIP
Media theorist Neil Postman is dead at age 72, from lung cancer. Postman, probably best-known for the horrible Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business, exemplified a perspective about cultural production and consumption that's is virtually the opposite of the one taken in Reason.
He consistently fretted about the media's vast power over audiences and, in books such as Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology, railed against any number of technological innovations that have made people's lives much better off and, more important, freer. His point of view, widely shared by many conservatives and liberals, especially when it comes to fears of a "debased" popular culture, will live on for a very long time.
Read his NY Times obit here.
Reason RUPE: Public Opinion Survey
- Reason-Rupe: Wisconsinites Favor Increasing Public Union Retirement Contributions to Address Budget Deficit (5.25)
- Reason-Rupe Poll Finds Support for Public Union Reforms (5.25)
- New Poll: Obama Leads Romney In Wisconsin, But Gary Johnson Could Impact the Race (5.24)
- Wisconsin Recall: Walker Leads Barrett 50-42 Among Likely Voters (5.24)
- Reason-Rupe Poll: Walker Leads Barrett 50-42, Obama Leads Romney 46-36 (5.24)
Reason on Facebook
Reason on Twitter
Reason on YouTube
Reason RSS
Site comments/questions:
Media Inquiries and Reprint Permissions:
(310) 367-6109
Editorial & Production Offices:
3415 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 391-2245