The Degradation of The Degradation of Our Societies Our Societies

Media and Media and Entertainment Entertainment

Culture Culture By Chase WomackBy Chase Womack

Reason To ListenReason To Listen

The problem is worseningThe problem is worsening It affects our futureIt affects our future

CredibilityCredibility

View many forms of mediaView many forms of media I have experience distinguishing I have experience distinguishing

quality mediaquality media Extensive researchExtensive research

PreviewPreview

I will begin by…I will begin by… Explaining what is wrong with todays Explaining what is wrong with todays

entertainment mediaentertainment media1. The Arts1. The Arts2. Games2. Games3. Film3. Film

What can fix this?What can fix this? What if it never gets fixed?What if it never gets fixed? How you can helpHow you can help

Is This Really A Problem?Is This Really A Problem?

Participation in the arts and other Participation in the arts and other “smart” media is declining“smart” media is declining

Traditional art forms are being Traditional art forms are being replacedreplaced

Inferior alternativesInferior alternatives

While theatre attendance dropsWhile theatre attendance drops

Honey Boo Boo gets Honey Boo Boo gets ridiculous ratingsridiculous ratings

http://www.thestranger.com/binary/e173/theater-magnum-500.jpg

http://cdn.motinetwork.net/demotivationalposters.net/image/demotivational-poster/1207/the-learning-channel-learning-honeybooboo-rednecks-demotivational-posters-1343614275.jpg

No one has time to go to a No one has time to go to a museummuseum

Too Busy playing Flappy BirdToo Busy playing Flappy Bird

http://blogs-images.forbes.com/insertcoin/files/2014/02/flappy-bird.jpg

RamificationsRamifications

Important for teaching basic skills to Important for teaching basic skills to kidskids

General lack of decent mediaGeneral lack of decent media Lack of intellectual contentLack of intellectual content

The ArtsThe Arts

Teach kids life Teach kids life skills/life lessonsskills/life lessons

Intelligent Intelligent entertainmententertainment

Encourage Encourage creativitycreativity

http://www.anderson5.net/cms/lib02/SC01001931/Centricity/Domain/3887/CoArtsLogo.png

Replaced By Reality TVReplaced By Reality TV

No intellectual contentNo intellectual content Glorify idiocyGlorify idiocy 15/20 of the top shows in 2010 were 15/20 of the top shows in 2010 were

reality tvreality tv

As Tom Green wrote in his article about As Tom Green wrote in his article about reality TV “People like watching train reality TV “People like watching train wrecks.”wrecks.”

http://hollyonthehill.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/train-wreck.jpghttp://mralphafreak.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/jersey-shore-203-1.jpg

Video GamesVideo Games

According to Drew According to Drew Guarini at the Guarini at the Huffington PostHuffington Post

Challenging Video Challenging Video gamesgames

Stimulate brain Stimulate brain functionfunction

Improve critical Improve critical thinking skillsthinking skills

Fun Fun http://metaversemodsquad.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/starcraft2_scr113.jpg

Replaced By Casual Replaced By Casual GamesGames

By definition no critical By definition no critical thinkingthinking

Dumbed down contentDumbed down content

http://indiestatik.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/co.jpg

Classic FilmsClassic Films

Smart/complex Smart/complex storylinesstorylines

Had morals to themHad morals to them Interesting charactersInteresting characters

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTc1MjczNTgxM15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwOTYwNDg3OA@@._V1_SY317_CR12,0,214,317_AL_.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d4/Mr._Smith_Goes_to_Washington-_1939-_Poster.png

Replaced By Action Replaced By Action FlicksFlicks

All action, no substance/storyAll action, no substance/story Michael Bay Michael Bay Ruins classicsRuins classics

Michael Bay’s FilmsMichael Bay’s Films

http://www.neatorama.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Michael-Bay-Explosion-graphic-500x496.jpg

PointingPointing

If these trends continue you and your If these trends continue you and your children could end up withchildren could end up with

Shallow, stupid contentShallow, stupid content No intellectual value in our mediaNo intellectual value in our media Less tools for teachingLess tools for teaching More Michael Bay remakes/movies in More Michael Bay remakes/movies in

generalgeneral

Solution Solution

Support intellectual forms of mediaSupport intellectual forms of media Consume less non-intellectual mediaConsume less non-intellectual media Convince others to do the sameConvince others to do the same

ExplanationExplanation The Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins The Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins

With a Single StepWith a Single Step Changing society by literally changing Changing society by literally changing

peoplepeople

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8EZqzmarI9U/TbyFvCXP4hI/AAAAAAAAAQc/eiMTsKGh3J8/s1600/Man_In_The_Mirror_Michael_Jackson_Song_Lyric_Quote_in_Text_Image_1280x800_Pixels.png

Theoretical DemoTheoretical Demo

Convince people to stop consuming Convince people to stop consuming the puerile mediathe puerile media

Encourage them to change to Encourage them to change to intellectual mediaintellectual media

They do the sameThey do the same Some stuff happensSome stuff happens ProfitProfit

Practical ExperiencePractical Experience Changing trends is commonChanging trends is common The problem was created this wayThe problem was created this way

http://ldssmile.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Leader-and-Followers.jpg

ObjectionsObjections People don’t want intelligent contentPeople don’t want intelligent content Casual games are goodCasual games are good Every film needs more explosionsEvery film needs more explosions

Should still provide quality content/ Should still provide quality content/ good for societygood for society

By virtue of being casual are inferiorBy virtue of being casual are inferior Go home Michael Bay, you’re drunkGo home Michael Bay, you’re drunk Modern films lack the depth that they Modern films lack the depth that they

shouldshould

RebuttalRebuttal

VisualizationVisualization The reality tv and action films have The reality tv and action films have

taken their tolltaken their toll Humans have become quite simpleHumans have become quite simple No critical thinking, a love of stupid No critical thinking, a love of stupid

movies, and other terrible thingsmovies, and other terrible things But, sadly less Terry CrewsBut, sadly less Terry Crews

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51fGAjNf-6L._SY300_.jpg

ActionAction

You can help by…You can help by… Donating to the National Donating to the National

Endowment for the ArtsEndowment for the Arts Going to/supporting performing arts Going to/supporting performing arts

eventsevents Watching less reality tvWatching less reality tv

I personally love the arts and other I personally love the arts and other intellectual mediaintellectual media

I hope that they can surviveI hope that they can survive The state of our culture makes that The state of our culture makes that

fairly difficultfairly difficult

RememberRemember

If this media disappears…If this media disappears… No more shows like Game of No more shows like Game of

ThronesThrones Or Breaking BadOr Breaking Bad Or HouseOr House Or any good show everOr any good show ever

Works CitedWorks CitedCarter, Bill. "Tired of Reality TV, but Still Tuning In." Carter, Bill. "Tired of Reality TV, but Still Tuning In." The New York TimesThe New York Times. The New York Times, 12 Sept. . The New York Times, 12 Sept.

2010. Web. 27 Apr. 2014.2010. Web. 27 Apr. 2014.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/13/business/media/13reality.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/13/business/media/13reality.html

Green, Tom. "Reality TV -- Rewarding Bad Behavior." Green, Tom. "Reality TV -- Rewarding Bad Behavior." The Huffington PostThe Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 16 . TheHuffingtonPost.com, 16 July 2013. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.July 2013. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-green/reality-tv-rewarding-bad-_b_3606641.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-green/reality-tv-rewarding-bad-_b_3606641.html

Guarini, Drew. "9 Ways Video Games Can Actually Be Good For You." Guarini, Drew. "9 Ways Video Games Can Actually Be Good For You." The Huffington PostThe Huffington Post. . TheHuffingtonPost.com, 07 Nov. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.TheHuffingtonPost.com, 07 Nov. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/07/video-games-good-for-us_n_4164723.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/07/video-games-good-for-us_n_4164723.html

Nelson, Noah. "Hard-Core And Casual Gamers Play In Different Worlds." Nelson, Noah. "Hard-Core And Casual Gamers Play In Different Worlds." NPRNPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. . NPR, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.2014.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/11/29/246747168/hard-core-and-casual-gamers-playhttp://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/11/29/246747168/hard-core-and-casual-gamers-play-in-different-worlds-in-different-worlds

Ng, David. “NEA Report Shows Declining Attendance in Arts Events Nationwide." Ng, David. “NEA Report Shows Declining Attendance in Arts Events Nationwide." - Latimes.com- Latimes.com. 10 Dec, . 10 Dec, 2009. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.2009. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/12/nea-report-shows-declining-attendance-in-arthttp://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/12/nea-report-shows-declining-attendance-in-arts-events-nationwide.htmls-events-nationwide.html

Strauss, Valerie. "Top 10 Skills Children Learn from the Arts." Strauss, Valerie. "Top 10 Skills Children Learn from the Arts." Washington PostWashington Post. The Washington Post, 21 . The Washington Post, 21 Jan. 2013. Web. 27 Apr. 2014.Jan. 2013. Web. 27 Apr. 2014.http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/01/22/top-10-skills-children-learn-from-http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/01/22/top-10-skills-children-learn-from-the-arts/the-arts/