The Postman has delivered the mail-

First, I would like to say that Neil Postman is one very intelligent human being. The arguments in his essay are compelling and definitely well researched. I am quite certain that Neil Postman has probably read this essay many times over the course of his career. It is quite revealing to the truths of modern day technology. His essay on “The Humanism of Media Ecology,” possesses all of the necessary tools to what a great essay should have. I enjoyed his use of examples that came from the words of some of the greatest literary writers, poets, and thinkers of human existence. He mentions Aristotle, Socrates, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, just to name a few.

Honestly, I was freaked out with his concept regarding the replacement of the word “substance” with the word “technology” and how it would still stand as a fundamental principle of media ecology. When I think of the word “substance,” it means everything put together that creates something. Sure, we can think of chemistry or physics classes and think of substances, but I am talking about the ingredients used for the creation of something whatever it may be. It was freaky to compare that word with today’s technology. All I can think of is man versus machine like in Terminator. One day, machines will take over. They are beginning too right this very minute, today. I am interning at ABC for a show, and there is one human being running with the studio camera. The remaining three cameras’ are robotic and move on their own. When I walk around campus, everyone is always on a computer, phone, iPod, etc. We resemble machines in the sense that I expect to see someone pull out their phone almost on cue.

Media has the absolute power over many things that exist within our everyday lives. It shapes the way we feel about ourselves, the way we think, the way we talk, the way we walk, and the way we comb our hair. Today’s technological advancement, breakthroughs, gadgets, whatever you want to call them is truly out of this world. The special effects in movies sometimes make me have to change my underwear. Sorry, joke!

In Postman’s essay, there is a brief glance at the most beautiful aspects in life to enjoy. He mentions the natural environment and includes things like air, trees, rivers, and caterpillars. After reading all of the horrifying truths and being tangled in its web of confusion, for a split second, I was memorized by the very thought of these images. I thought of the real trees, the real caterpillar on a tree stem, the real rivers and the sounds they make when flowing. Then, my mind fluttered with those images transforming into a different type of image, the one’s on a computer or television screen. The reality is that we can simply use a machine to record these aspects in their natural environment and place them onto a screen. It is sad but true that many people rely on the screen and not for the real experience. As a human, I feel that it is mandatory to discover, experience, and just live your lives. If you are so amazed with seeing the Great Sphinx on the Discovery Channel, then why don’t you try your very best to save up the money and travel to Egypt to see it in person. Words cannot express how much that little concept means to me.