Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology by Neil Postman Essa

As time progresses technology increases and improves. However, this progression could pose as a serious problem for generations to come, and New York University department chair of communication arts Neil Postman expresses this concern in his 1992 book, Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. In the opening of Postman’s book he expresses that technology is indeed our friend because technology provides our society with fast and easy convenience and accessibility. As with most other things, there are always two sides to everything and Postman notes, that â€Å"of course, there is a dark side to this friend† referring to technology (Postman, 1992). Many people do not address the negative sides to technology and just turn a blind eye to them so it is refreshing to have someone point them out and discuss the issues technology possess on our society. In Postman’s book that our society is redefining what family, religion, education, privacy, and history mean as a result of technology, known as technopoly. He proposes several theories about how our society got to where we currently are;including social, and symbolic traditions, and totalitarian technocracy. Postman compares technology to Thamus’ concern that writing would have an impact on an individual’s wisdom and memory. However, not all technology has been viewed negatively in Postman’s eyes. He has viewed some technologies as blessing to society; including technologies that once were provided as a helpful tool to society; including technologies such as, the printing press and clock. According to Postman, current technology is now considered a totalitarian order on society (Postman, 1992). These technologies brought beneficial aspects to society but did not control s... ... is an important issue is the impact technology has on the environment currently and for the future generations. As an educator, I would think Postman would be more incline to include this evaluation in his book. Nevertheless, Neil Postman wrote a very thought-provoking novel that should make all Americans rethink their lives, even if it is just a little bit. Postman was very critical in his novel, but he provides a wakeup call for everyone that has not come into contact with the nasty reality technology can have on society. References Mits Cash, M. C. (2000). Technopoly (Book Review). Educational Studies, 31(1), 75. Postman, Neil. (1992). Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. New York: Vintage Books. Wiener, J., & Mohr, L. A. (1994). Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. Journal Of Public Policy & Marketing, 13(2), 326-327.