Mass Over Mass Media By Steven Pinker

The power of media has evolved so much over the last century and the technologies are getting more and more advanced. Long time ago, there were paper-based media such as books, magazines, newspapers, flyers and pamphlets. Then radios, TVs and motion pictures came to reality bringing media messages in real time to the people. Nowadays, it advances to a higher level, with the help of the internet, the media has expanded itself through the social media. And undoubtedly it has controlled the society indirectly and it is not stopping any time soon. Thus, it has made an impact in the mass society in a way that many people depends on the media for their daily activities, such as checking the phone for missed calls or new e-mails, checking

The mass media play a significant role in a modern world, by broadcasting information in fast pace and giving entertainment to vast audiences. They consist of press, television, radio, books and the Internet. The latter is now the most developing medium, however, TV also has a wide field of influence. By creating a certain type of message, media can manipulate people’s attitude and opinions.

The media has the ability to influence the way people think, and the way they behave. The connection between technology, and mass media would be how they both change the views of many different people in the world we live in today. Society’s thoughts and actions regarding gender discrimination, and sexism have been molded through the use of technology whether society knows it or not. For example, women feel forced to stay at home instead of working, because this image had been portrayed in many movies and

The article "Mind Over Mass Media" by Steven Pinker uses logos, ethos, pathos, and other rhetorical elements to effectively communicate that mass media is a positive development and is not a reason for panic. The first noticeable rhetorical element in Pinker’s essay is the presence of a rhetorical triangle. A rhetorical triangle is made up of a rhetor, the audience, and the rhetor’s purpose. In this essay Steven Pinker is the rhetor because is the one trying to make a point to the audience. The audience is the reader of the article who is listening to the rhetor. Finally, the text or point the rhetor is trying to make is that e effects of mass media are not a cause for panic. In fact mass media is an effective way for humans to keep up with the modern age. The clearly defined rhetorical triangle in Steven Pinker’s essay is a surface level example of rhetorical elements in the text.

The media today is something that is used more than anything else by teens to obtain information about the world. “Social media in this day and age cannot be ignored; it is now a critical part of presidential politics, it has been part of the revolutions in the Middle East and its going to be an unavoidable part of high-profile legal cases; just as traditional media continue to be” (Hochberg 1). The media have reached the peak of influence since the beginning;

In the article“Mind Over Mass Media” by Steven Pinker he covers the controversial topics of the effect that the new forms of media have on our mental capabilities and moral opinions. He refutes that media has not taken a toll on our intelligence, but, in fact, it has increased it, even to the extent of raising our IQs. Although there are likely negative impacts like addiction or distraction, he indicates that these impacts can be controlled, so hence the title “Mind Over Mass Media.” Pinker’s central claim is that new media technologies increase our intelligence and through their use, more discoveries are being made. Through the powers of his persuasion, Pinker draws us in, by appealing to his audience using historical and scientific evidence,

Steven Pinker, author of “Mind over Mass Media”, claims that electronic technologies cause moral panics but that they are nothing to be worried about. Pinker explains in “Mind over Mass Media” that technology is nothing but an advancement to society. He makes points about having access to quick information sky rocketing scientific discoveries and electronic media improving how information reaches the brain. He supports these claims with some studies and examples but not many. Pinkers arguments are underdeveloped in some sports and not well supported.

In Steven Pinker’s article, “Mind Over Mass Media”, the author illustrates the intellectual benefits obtained from mass media and argues that the media doesn’t have a negative effect on our brain. His examples are the great American crime decline not because of new technologies, the predictions that the new technologies would be harmful were wrong. Not only just the crime rate decline but also the I.Q. level rose continuously. With any new media that has emerged some people continually believe that our brain power and skills will plummet. The article points that people need to use new technology with self-control. As the author concludes, that “the Internet and information technologies are helping us manage, search and retrieve our collective

The new era of technology led to major developments in the evolution of mass media, worldwide. In our society, we originally communicated orally before the Internet and wireless devices existed. Individuals relied on traditional forms of mass media, such as the television, radio, newspapers, and magazines, to attain knowledge of the outside world. Thereafter, the development of new forms mass media evolved, and we were introduced to the Internet and other wireless communication devices such as IPads and tablets, smart phones and social media sites. Regardless of the rise and fall in popularity of certain forms of mass media, the evolution of mass media influenced the American culture greatly.

Although some might argue the internet helps us better understand the world around us, Charles Seife and Danah Boyd and , I think that the internet has narrowed people’s opinions and has divided/polarized us. In their works “The Loneliness of the interconnected” and “inequality” Seife and Boyd explain the problem with the media and how it has changed people drastically.

Throughout the years, popular culture has grown into an intellectually battle. Steven Johnson affirms that “the popuIar media steadily, but almost imperceptibly”, made “our minds sharper”. Johnson can be looked as an ideal example of the good impact the media has on its people. He doesn’t judge the negative advertisement, the numerous crimes presented on a daily basis or the violent television dramas but he explains how these are just a shell, a mantle and underneath it reveals a machinery meant to challenge and develop people’s mind.

Pinker refutes the negative effects of new technology, such as changing the users’ brain, distraction, and thinking lightly. He declares that experiences just influence the brain in specific parts, rather than change the basic information-processing capacities of the brain. Then, Pinker believes that distraction and thinking lightly are not media's problem. He explains that the solution is that people limit themselves when using technology. Pinker wants to encourage people to use the new technology to improve their lives and to use their brainpower to overcome the negative effects of

Pinker, in his article "Mind Over Mass Media", states that technology will keep people smart. Pinker refutes some negative effects of new technology, such as moral panics, changing user’s brain, distraction and thinking lightly, because these problem are a result of people and not the media. Moreover, he encourages people to use the new technology to improve people’s lives and to use the power of mind to overcome the negative effects of media. He gives some suggestions with personal experience to encourage people to use the power of mind to overcome the negative effects of

Society should depend on technology, because it is essential to gaining more knowledge. With the use of technology, students are able to expand their knowledge and develop more efficient skills. In “Mind Over Mass Media,” Pinker explains that people are worrying too much about the negative effects of technology that they disregard its benefits. He claims that it is depended upon by most people and uses a scientist as an example in his essay to prove that they depend on technology as they are, “never far from their email, [...] cannot lecture without PowerPoint. If electronic media were hazardous to intelligence, the quality of science would be plummeting. Yet discoveries are multiplying like fruit flies, and progress is dizzying” (Pinker 4). By using a scientist as an example, Pinker conveys that even the most important occupation uses technology to do their job. He explains that “electronic media” has no significant effect on one’s “intelligence” because rather than it causing one to lack

Since the beginnings of American society, America has used news media as its primary tool to distribute information. Media is involved in nearly every aspect of everyday life. From morning until night, citizens are constantly bombarded by media images on television, radio, magazines, and the internet. However, since the mid-2000’s, one form of media has dominated the social landscape. This type of media has entirely changed the way other media connects with its viewers. It has shifted the power of information from the select few to the masses, from the broadcaster to the audience. It has given the individual voice a pedestal. It has made information faster, busier, more streamlined, more hectic, more interactive, all at the