Ray Bradbury, Pop Culture, and its Effect on American Life


Blog Post Assignment

While most people consider Fahrenheit 451 to be a book on the dangers of censorship and the destruction of knowledge, Bradbury himself identifies the ability of technology to replace reading and critical thinking as the dominant theme of the novel. Over fifty years after his book was published, do you think Bradbury was right? Has television and the Internet destroyed Americans' ability to read and think critically about ideas? Could we be heading toward a time when the authorities burn books for our own good, and the population allows it to happen?


After reading Farenheit 451, I was unsure of some of the meaning in the book. But, after researching Ray Bradbury, watching video clips on the meaning of the book and his different opinions, I think I am able to see where he is coming from and understand.http://www.raybradbury.com/images/video/wilshire_blvd.html

In Bradbury’s time, television and the internet were not even close to as popular as today, but he saw it coming. People today are so engulfed and immersed with information that, if you think about it, is useless. My favorite part of the clip is when he says that people watch television and movies so much that they “think they are full, but they are not” It discourages them to read literature. http://www.raybradbury.com/images/video/about_freeDOM.html

Also, in the article given in the initial question, http://www.laweekly.com/2007-05-31/news/ray-bradbury-fahrenheit-451-misinterpreted/ it says that “Television gives you the dates of Napoleon, but not who he was.” Bradbury believes that we “should never memorize dates” because we “focus on the factoids” instead of understanding and critically thinking out a situation for ourselves. I can definitely agree with many of Bradbury’s points.

In this video, Bradbury talks about how we “waste time” on the internet. He says he is warning us that we can be doing better things.
,http://www.raybradbury.com/at_home_clips.html#


In my opinion, television and the internet has partially destroyed Americans’ ability to read and think critically about ideas. People today are so addicted to different TV shows that it makes quitting smoking look easy. We need our “Facebook” fix or our “soap opera” time every single day to get through it. Instead of picking up a good book or trying to do good in the world, we sit on the couch and eat junk food. Growing up and attending high school, I noticed how I read less and less as I got older. I think this is a bad thing. Being well-read is very underrated in todays world, and it should be encouraged in schools to read and not forced.

Because of how strongly the majority of Americans believe in the constitution, I think that there is no way we are headed towards a time where our government will burn books. We are adamant(as am I) to keep our freedom the way it is, and I think no event could cause Americans in the majority to approve the burning of any literature. As a people I think we need to understand that the internet and TV are luxuries that we have due to people WORKING to make the world a better place, and that's what all of our main focus needs to be.

Blog Post Assignment 2

Should reasoning skills be taught in primary school? Why or why not?

We as humans are unlike any species on the planet. We are able to reason. We are able to solve riddles, cure diseases, invent, among many other things. The human mind is something so unique, that it would be a shame if we were limit it's learning. Reasoning should absolutley be taught in primary school. Among the children of today sit future leaders, teachers, and many influential people of this worlds future. It is our responsibility to teach the youth of today so that for generations upon generations this world never ceases to rapidly progress.

America, since it's very beginning, has grown so quickly and become such a power in the world due to the great minds that live within her borders. In my opinion, a huge reason behind this, is our ability to reason with the best of them. We use a little thing called common sense. It is a simple, yet profound trait to possess. I believe we are made into level-headed, strong, yet understanding leaders because of the way we as Amercans were raised.

I can definitely say that there is not alot we need to change about the school system for youth in America. It has produced some of the greatest and most successful people to ever walk the earth. I believe if we changed everything about the school system, for example, force every kid everywhere to wear the same uniform to school every day, that would cause a problem. Talking and teaching to children about their potential and their ability to reason would definitely be a positive thing.

We should teach kids how to be good people. A part of this is reasoning. Knowing the difference between what is good for us and bad for us is a huge thing to understand at a young age. How to treat people, how to act in public, all of this things go back to the ability to reason. In my mind it is an absolute must to teach this at a young age so that the children of today can become as great as their potential.

First Blog Post

I'm at Yavapai College! I just started here yesterday, and although I'm supposed to do this blog for a class, I think it is a good way for me to log my adventures down here. My family lives in Alpine, Utah, and just the other day I took the ten hour drive down here to attend school and play on the baseball team.