Liberty University Engl 102 Discussion Board #1

In lesson two the focus began on the differences between television viewing and reading literature. Several points were laid out which led to the ultimate conclusion that media must be balanced between analog and cognitive involvement. An unnamed source of information claims that the average time of electronic media usage exceeds 27 hours in the lives of children between the ages of five and eighteen.

Television viewing requires little brain activity as the visual aspects do not require as much thought and interpretation as reading literature does. Another point made was that media tends to be biased, feeding people a message. In order to see outside that bias, one must read what is outside that media feed. Separation from society’s formation provides a vital counterpart to television. Christopher Lash states that detached television viewing creates cultural narcissism. This insinuates that we must strive for balance between individuality and society. Education through literature is the way to keep that balance.

This argument is not to say that television is wrong altogether. This argument is for the opposite. The argument is to point out the importance of balance in the brain for educational purposes. In order to remain a sentient thinker, one must keep the balance strong and exercised. This is done in order to avoid a world of passivism; our minds must be active and thinking at all times. We must transcend the cultural norm to act upon the change needed in society and the world. Do not feed upon the passive narcissism that cultivates a self-centered society, but become a sentient reader and transcend the cultural norm.