The Sleeper Curve

Do you accept Johnson's Sleeper Curve argument that certain TV programs--along with challenging interactive video and computer games--are intellectually demanding and are actually making us smarter? Why or Why not?

I do actually agree with Johnson, that the interactive video and computer gamer are making us smarter because then you are not only learning what is on the computer, but also you are learning how to navigate computers. At young ages children are given games to play on either the computer or television. Even at early stages of understanding the computer, increase the knowledge into higher level games. As children reach college and even later in life their knowledge of computers, televisions and electronics are higher. These games are intellectually demanding, and they are in a different way making us smarter. Yes, someone may have a problem, with reading or mathematics and computer or video games do not help, but if there is someone who loves to play video and computer games, then this would be the ideal way to increase their reading or mathematic abilities. Often children, or younger age people are interested in something that is easier to do, then sit in a classroom and listen to a teacher talk and then write. If computers are incorporated into a classroom, those children would be more interested in learning.

Are you more persuaded by Postman's1958 account that the world has been displaced by an image-centered culture and consequently, that popular culture has been dumped down by its oversimplified and visual triviality? As you consider Postman, think about the Internet: Is it word based of image based? What kinds of opportunities for learning does it offer?

Yes the culture has been dumped down by its oversimplified and visual triviality. As i think about it, the world is word based. Everywhere you go there are words that need to be read and understood in order to continue what you are doing. On the internet, it is a must to be able to understand reading, most of the time there are not pictures explaining what a paragraph or article is about. You can find images, but not ones that are going to explain in an official way. Calendars, appointments, directions, and etc. are given in word form and can not be made clear through pictures. It gives a learning opportunity for all those that can not understand words, and for those that can to teach others. It is important for all to realize that you can teach others, and you will also learn from yourself while you are teaching.

Do you enjoy television shows and video games that your parents or grandparents don't understand? What types of stores and games do they enjoy? What did earlier generations value in storytelling and what is similar and dissimilar about storytellings today?

There are a few of television shows that I enjoy that my grandparents do not understand, but then there was a point in my life, that I started to enjoy television shows that they enjoy as well. My Mum, enjoys telling stories of when she was growing up and hearing about sweet love stories. She enjoys playing games like scrabble, or intense games like sequence with her grandchildren. She enjoys to know what her grandchildren are interested in, but also to make it clear to us what she enjoyed growing up. Earlier generations valued the carrying on of the story through tellings it. They are similar to stories today, but a lot of the times, stories like what they would have told turn into to rumors and get passed on in that way.

Interview someone who is close to you but from an earlier generation about media and story preferences. Then discuss or write about both the common ground and the cultural differences that you discovered.

I discovered that the media from an earlier generation was a learning method. It taught about things that you would not learn on a daily basis but also was and is able to warn you about things that might harm you that you should learn. Television was not as open and did not show as much stuff when my mother was growing up. It was very personally to talk about your bodies. There were soap operas like we now watch, but there were not the reality shows that had all the drama.The television and media was a true learning place for a lot of information and helped bring what scientists learned to the common house hold. My mother was saying that it is interesting to see how much violence is shown and how much the television companies have to go and make it more of a "wow" for people to enjoy the shows. It used to be so simple to entertain someone, but now there is so much more. For example, you never saw someone get stabbed, but you may hear stabbing music. I learned a lot from this interview, and I am glad I asked my mother about it.