In the end of Amusing Ourselves to Death, Postman concludes that there are only two answers for us to be more media-consciousness. The first answer was to create television programs that teach people how T.V. should be perceived. But he concludes that is nonsensical since the programs would only help what they are criticizing. His second solution is to look to schools to educate people on media.
Let's examine the second solution of Postman. Has our society tried the solution ever since this book has been published? I don't believe so. I don't ever remember getting a lecture in class on what television is for. Just look at our society today. It seems that we haven't been any more media-consciousness since the release of this book. We still turn to T.V. as one of our main mediums of discourse. And with internet as the new main medium of information, we still look at things visually and not actually interpreting them. It seems it is inevitable that we will become the culture Huxley wrote about in Brave New World.
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I think it would take a miracle to change the medium of public discourse - impossible to turn away from the television, computers, cell phones, etc. I mean where forever developing newer, bigger, smaller technology to ease our lives that there'd be not time to think about what's wrong - which is just like what Postman said. It's always about entertainment and comfort. Always. Television's role in our epistemolgy maybe discussed in a classroom but it is doubtful that it would actually enter the curriculum. Remember what Postman said? The television might as well be controlling the curriculum.
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