Topic 1

1. Neal Postman calls American television a “medium” that creates a“social and intellectual environment” that “attacks” “literate culture”because it “requires minimal skills to comprehend it, and is largelyaimed at emotional gratification” (84, 86).What do you think?

1. Postman claims that by presenting “all subject matter” as“entertaining,” American television “has made entertainment itself thenatural format for the representation of all experience” (87).What doyou think?

1. Please make a list of popular concerns often expressedabout technologies like the internet, comic books and video games andidentify points of overlap and distinction.

1. Can you come up with an example of how television has served as a rule-breaking tool for you?

Topic 2

1. What do you think about Hirsch & Newcomb's ’s claimthat television serves as a "cultural forum"? How does “Betty, GirlEngineer” raise questions that encourage civic discussion? How does itclose them down?

1. How will different viewers walk away from “Betty, Girl Engineer” with different interpretations?

1. Has the explosion of channels and platforms, along withthe ability to time shift content altered television’s possible role as acultural forum?