Popular Culture makes us Smarter
Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 7:06 am
Internet games, video Games and even TV reality game fans, must stop feeling guilty. Pop culture is good for you, according to a new book.
''Everything Bad is Good For You, And actually makes Us Smarter''.
Television and movies help children develop problem-solving and reasoning skills as well as emotional intelligence.
Author of the book Steven Johnson says the reaction has been intense. ''I've had a few people who were filled with rage'' he said in a recent interview.
The premise of the book is that in the past 30 to 40 years,television and movies have become more complex, with programs like '' The Sopranos'' juggling dozens of characters and plot lines.
In comparison, older simple, linear shows like 'Dragnet' and 'Starsky and Hutch' made few demands on viewers.
At the some time, Video games have developed from simple repetitive games like 'Zelda', which depict complicated and challenging interactive worlds.
Steven Johnson emphasises that he is not arguing that children should watch more tv or play video games six hours a day, just that moderate exposure to them is not bad in itself.
''Everything Bad is Good For You, And actually makes Us Smarter''.
Television and movies help children develop problem-solving and reasoning skills as well as emotional intelligence.
Author of the book Steven Johnson says the reaction has been intense. ''I've had a few people who were filled with rage'' he said in a recent interview.
The premise of the book is that in the past 30 to 40 years,television and movies have become more complex, with programs like '' The Sopranos'' juggling dozens of characters and plot lines.
In comparison, older simple, linear shows like 'Dragnet' and 'Starsky and Hutch' made few demands on viewers.
At the some time, Video games have developed from simple repetitive games like 'Zelda', which depict complicated and challenging interactive worlds.
Steven Johnson emphasises that he is not arguing that children should watch more tv or play video games six hours a day, just that moderate exposure to them is not bad in itself.
minks wrote: But of course...I have gained so much "smarts" from watching things like "the nick and jessica show" ahahahahahahahaha hohohohoh maybe we ought to open up books a wee bit more and get away from the other junk out there me thinks.