Bad Is Bad, Period. Essay

Submitted By tcardle
Words: 1623
Pages: 7
Open Document
Bad is Bad, Period.

Steven Johnson’s book, Everything Bad is Good For You, attempts to convince the reader that although the current state of the world is that of media bombardment, we are becoming smarter and deeper thinkers due to the hectic nature of our society. Johnson argues that United States has seen a steady increase in IQ over the past 75 years and that this steady rise is thanks to popular culture. Whether it is though dedicated attention to television or movies, prolonged concentration playing video games, or our social connectedness via the Internet, Johnson believes that the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to our media engagement. Although it is true that the overall IQ level in the United States has increased steadily over the past 75 years, I believe that the subsequent rise in popular culture is simply a coincidence, if not a hindrance on our nations IQ levels. Johnson, although creative in his thesis, bypasses some key facts that contradict the claims he makes in his book. When researching Everything Bad is Good For You, I stumbled upon an article that Johnson released shortly before his book. The article, published by The New York Times, is clearly an attention getter and a rightful ploy to get people to read his book. It points out how our culture’s actions and attitudes are defying what would be expected had they been analyzed 20 years ago. Johnson uses the example of the TV show “24” and how its edgy content, rapid flowing plots, and massive cast would be unheard of 20 years ago and yet for today’s standards, it is gripping and interesting. For decades, we've worked under the assumption that mass culture follows a path declining steadily toward lowest-common-denominator standards, presumably because the ''masses'' want dumb, simple pleasures and big media companies try to give the masses what they want. In his article, Johnson commented, “As “24” episodes suggest, the exact opposite is happening: our culture is getting more cognitively demanding, not less.” To make sense of an episode of “24,” you have to integrate far more information than you would have a few decades ago watching a comparable show. Johnson wrote, “Beneath the violence and the ethnic stereotypes, another trend appears: to keep up with entertainment like “24,” you have to pay attention, make inferences, track shifting social relationships.” This is a major point in his book, that we are indeed becoming smarter rather than dumber thanks to the complexity of our popular culture. He refers to this phenomenon as the Sleeper Curve, which he regards to be the most important new force altering the mental development of young people today. Johnson argues that the quality and make up of our television programs today require us to interact intellectually with the programs as opposed to those of the past which were all spelled out in front of the viewer and only required a passive viewer. Media via the screen has changed and requires more of our attention then it ever has before. The amount of information from a single episode of a modern TV drama is far more than that of past TV shows like “Dragnet” and “Starsky and Hutch.” This makes modern shows more enjoyable to the viewer as they are constantly engaged in the show. Johnson is clear to say that he is not arguing that TV has gotten better to the point that there are no longer bad shows, because we all know there are plenty of bad shows on TV, but that the overall quality of programs have improved from what is considered the prime of TV in the 70’s. The classics, like Mary Tyler Moore, Murphy Brown, and Frasier, are not to be considered bad programs, but they are simply not as engaging as modern shows. In regards to older programs Johnson stated, “You no more challenge you mind by watching this intelligent shows than you challenge your body watching Monday Night Football.” (p.64) He claims that the cognitive benefits brought out from reading: attention, patience, retention, and the
Show More

Related Documents: Bad Is Bad, Period. Essay

Essay on Accounting bad debet

Due: Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 8:59 pm 1. During the year to 31 December 20X6,the following debts are found to be bad and are written off on the dates shown: 9 March T Wright, £86 30 May S O’Connor, £111 25 June C Smith, £75 10 October S Proctor, £39 Show the bad debts account and the effect on the profit and loss account for the year ended 31 December 20X6. 1. The following are the total figures for debtors at the end of each financial year. The provision for doubtful debts is to be maintained…

Words 358 - Pages 2

Essay on Ch 9 Notes

Chapter 9 Big Picture 1) Difference Between A/R (Accounts Receivable) and N/R (Not Receivable) 2) Factoring 3) Bad Debt Expense 4) 2 Methods of A/c for Bad Debt 5) Debit and credit for each method 6) 2 ways of calculating A.D.A. 7) Calc. interest on N/R CH. 9 Receivables = All money claims against other entities, including people, business firms, and other organizations. (Usually a significant portion of total current assets) Accounts Receivable-Current asset paid before a year=(is the child…

Words 1038 - Pages 5

Reflection: Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Professor Cassandra Ryder Essay

writing off bad debt from their AR once it is identified, but this is considered a violation because it is not cohesive with the GAAP. When companies use this method, the invoice is expensed in the accounting period in which the debt was identified as uncollectible. As a result, companies use this method with inconsequential accounts they know they cannot collect. For example, a subprime auto lender may record $25,000 in credit sales in January and not expense the account as a bad debt until July…

Words 571 - Pages 3

Dbq Documents B Analysis

in 1493 . This source reflects the time period because during this time he was exploring and he wanted the king and queen to sponsor him . Document C was written by the Spanish Dominicans friar Bartolome . It was written in 1542 but published in 1552 . This document was mainly about to teach us about the mistreatment and dishonesty and the spaniards. How they fought to leave torture . This source was created in 1542 . The source reflects the time period because he was exploring and they was killing…

Words 228 - Pages 1

Zombie Apocalypse Research Paper

Should we kill zombies without feeling bad. These villains can kill a person in a matter of time. Should we feel bad for killing zombies in games. No One should feel bad for killing zombies, because they are the villains, and they would never come to be real. We shouldn’t feel bad for killing zombies because they are the bad villains in the games. The zombie in the game is the villain. They will eat you in the game. The next step is cardiac arrest occurs within two to three hours as blood…

Words 456 - Pages 2

Argumentative Essay: Why People Should Study The Holocaust

it and not know how horrible it was. The holocaust was in WWII and it's when Hitler said it was the jews fault for everything. The holocaust was from 1933-1945 and approximately 6 million jews were killed in that time period. First of all The Holocaust was a 12 year time period in WWII and the Nazis killed over 6 million jews. Hitler blamed all of the germans problems on jewish people or scapegoated them. After world war 1 after the germans defeat, germany fell into a depression and had lots…

Words 476 - Pages 2

Christopher Columbus Good Or Bad Essay

Although Columbus has done the unimaginable throughout history, he has maintained good intentions, but produced bad effects because of them. I believe that Columbus should be both celebrated and mourned. Columbus had done a lot of good things within his period of life that caused good outcomes. Without Columbus, the Columbian exchange would have never occurred, the promotion of exploration would have never been endured, nor could the increase in conversion of religion have happened. But on the other…

Words 556 - Pages 3

DBQ Essay: The Dark Ages

learn about the “Dark” Ages. This period in time is a period that was bad, but also good at the same time. The “Dark” Ages were a period in time when Europe was getting conquered by Barbarians when they invaded, a time when there was a deficit in learning, and a time where many technological advances were made. The barbarian invasions were defended by large…

Words 635 - Pages 3

Essay about APUSH DBQ

this time period industrialization was a huge part of people’s life and changed many by creating more jobs for people which meant more supplies and goods. 4) The question is significant in understanding this historical time period because this is the time period when many things were invented and/or became very popular. The US, at this time, changed dramatically, for the good and the bad, and it is important to know not only the good, but also the bad. Document A…

Words 788 - Pages 4

Peer Pressure In Kindred

and the Scholastic article Peer Pressure: Its Influence on Teens and Decision Making, they both have some sort of driving force or peer pressure that causes characters to make bad decisions or take bad actions. Anyone can be peer pressured weather it is by other people or the setting you are in. While peer pressure can be a bad thing, there can be good that comes out of it. Overall, peer pressure is portrayed in the book Kindred and the article Peer Pressure: Its Influence on Teens and Decision Making…

Words 878 - Pages 4