Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television

Author: Jerry Mander
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 006231680X
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 259

Book Description
“Persuasive . . . interesting and unusual.” —Kirkus Reviews A total departure from previous writing about television, this book is the first ever to advocate that the medium is not reformable. Its problems are inherent in the technology itself and are so dangerous—to personal health and sanity, to the environment, and to democratic processes—that TV ought to be eliminated forever. Weaving personal experiences with meticulous research, the author ranges widely over aspects of television that have rarely been examined and never before joined together, allowing an entirely new, frightening image to emerge. The idea that all technologies are neutral, benign instruments that can be used well or badly is thrown open to profound doubt. Speaking of TV reform is, in the words of the author, “as absurd as speaking of the reform of a technology such as guns.” Praise for the work of Jerry Mander “Lively, provocative.” —Publishers Weekly “A skilled writer.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

The Capitalism Papers

Author: Jerry Mander
Publisher: Catapult
ISBN: 1619020882
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 272

Book Description
In the vein of his bestseller, Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television, nationally recognized social critic Jerry Mander researches, discusses, and exposes the momentous and unsolvable environmental and social problem of capitalism. Mander argues that capitalism is no longer a viable system: "What may have worked in 1900 is calamitous in 2010." Capitalism, utterly dependent on never–ending economic growth, is an impossible absurdity on a finite planet with limited resources. Climate change, together with global food, water, and resource shortages, are only the start. Mander draws attention to capitalism's obsessive need to dominate and undermine democracy, as well as to diminish social and economic equity. Designed to operate free of "morality," the system promotes "permanent war" as a key economic strategy. Worst of all, the problems of capitalism are intrinsic to the form. Many organizations are already anticipating the breakdown of the system and are working to define new hierarchies of democratic values that respect the carrying capacities of the planet.

In the Absence of the Sacred

Author: Jerry Mander
Publisher: Random House (NY)
ISBN: 9780871567390
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 468

Book Description
Mander goes beyond television (which he proclaimed as being dangerous to personal health and sanity in Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television) to critique our technological society as a whole, challenge its utopian promises, and track its devastating impact on native cultures worldwide. "Will interest all readers concerned about our environment and quality of life".-- Publishers Weekly.

Remotely Controlled

Author: Aric Sigman
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 0091906903
Category : Television
Languages : en
Pages : 370

Book Description
A startling expos of Britain's growing addiction to television and why and what should be done to stop it, the author looks at the statistics that show television has become an obsession even more influential than parents inside the household. In this insightful and shockingly perceptive assessment of the relationship with the small screen, the author reveals the alarming reality of what television is actually doing physically, emotionally, intellectually, and socially. He provides evidence as to how television contributes to the rising global obesity rate by actually slowing our metabolic rate, stunts children's brain development, and is responsible for over half of all rapes and murders in the industrialized world.

Difficult Men

Author: Brett Martin
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0143125699
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 337

Book Description
The 10th anniversary edition, now with a new preface by the author "A wonderfully smart, lively, and culturally astute survey." - The New York Times Book Review "Grand entertainment...fascinating for anyone curious about the perplexing miracles of how great television comes to be." - The Wall Street Journal "I love this book...It's the kind of thing I wish I'd been able to read in film school, back before such books existed." - Vince Gilligan, creator of Breaking Bad and co-creator of Better Call Saul In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the landscape of television began an unprecedented transformation. While the networks continued to chase the lowest common denominator, a wave of new shows on cable channels dramatically stretched television’s narrative inventiveness, emotional resonance, and creative ambition. Combining deep reportage with critical analysis and historical context, Brett Martin recounts the rise and inner workings of this artistic watershed - a golden age of TV that continues to transform America's cultural landscape. Difficult Men features extensive interviews with all the major players - including David Chase (The Sopranos), David Simon and Ed Burns (The Wire), David Milch (NYPD Blue, Deadwood), Alan Ball (Six Feet Under), and Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) - and reveals how television became a truly significant and influential part of our culture.

Paradigm Wars

Author: Jerry Mander
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 280

Book Description
In this spirited book, best-selling author Jerry Mander partners with one of the world's most celebrated indigenous leaders, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, to gather powerful firsthand reports on a momentous collision of worldviews that pits the forces of economic globalization against the Earth's indigenous peoples. With many of the planet's remaining natural resources on indigenous lands, traditional indigenous practices of biodiversity preservation have, ironically, made these lands targets for global corporations seeking the last forests, genetic and plant materials, oil, and minerals to feed their unsustainable growth. Corporate invaders often employ military force, as well as harsh pressures from the World Bank, IMF, and WTO. But native peoples refuse to be victims. Their stories of resistance and growing success are inspirational. Book jacket.

I Like to Watch

Author: Emily Nussbaum
Publisher:
ISBN: 0525508961
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 386

Book Description
The big picture : how Buffy the vampire slayer turned me into a TV critic -- The long con ("The Sopranos") -- The great divide : Norman Lear, Archie Bunker, and the rise of the bad fan -- Difficult women ("Sex and the city") -- Cool story, bro ("True detective," "Top of the lake" and "The fall") -- Last girl in Larchmont : the legacy of Joan Rivers -- Girls girls girls : "Girls," "Vanderpump rules," "House of cards and Scandal," "The Amy Schumer show," "Transparent" -- Confessions of the human shield -- How jokes won the election -- In praise of sex and violence : "Hannibal," "Law et order : SVU," "Jessica Jones," -- "The jinx," "The Americans" -- The price is right : what advertising does to TV -- In living color : Kenya Barris' -- Breaking the box : "Jane the virgin," "The comeback," "The good wife," "The newsroom," "Adventure time," "The leftovers," "High maintenance." -- Riot girl : Jenji Kohan's hot provocations -- A disappointed fan is still a fan ("Lost") -- Mr. big : how Ryan Murphy became the most powerful man in television.

Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author: Neil Postman
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN:
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 200

Book Description
Examines the effects of television culture on how we conduct our public affairs and how "entertainment values" corrupt the way we think.

Glued to the Tube

Author: Cheryl Pawlowski
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781570714597
Category : Television addiction
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
A media ecologist's view of the US's love affair with television and its effects on social and familial structures, as well as her impassioned arguments for turning the TV off. Pawlowski (speech communication, U. of Northern Colorado) outlines, for the general reader, the problems with television programming for regular viewers and, particularly, their families. She traces the history of TV viewing, including how programs have changed and what societal values this reflects or creates; the many roles the TV now fulfills that were previously occupied by people (family manager, gender mentor, sexual advisor, hero, friend, etc.); and what the future holds and how people may wean themselves from watching. Annotation copyrighted by Book News Inc., Portland, OR

Seeking God

Author: Trevor Hudson
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
ISBN: 0637002814
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 180

Book Description
Jesus promised, “Seek and you will find!” Do you long for a transforming encounter with the living God? Jesus assures us that those willing to become seekers will find what their hearts most deeply desire. The promise is clear. Those who seek God consistently, faithfully, and passionately will not be disappointed. They will find God and all those good things that accompany God’s Kingdom. Profoundly influenced by his long friendship with Dallas Willard, and his experience guiding people through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius for the last thirty years, Trevor Hudson offers you a practical tool kit for your seeking journey. You search for God does not have to take you to a remote mountain top as God wants to meet us right where we are in our everyday lives. Reading the wisdom contained within the pages of Seeking God will help you to move beyond insight and knowledge and encounter the presence of the living God as a reality in your daily life.