[Air-l] Re: Impact of intense technology use on memorization's quality

[J Sternberg]

Christian Sandvig wrote:
>  
> Charles Ess wrote:
> 
>>Of course, the classic reference is Plato's dialogue, 
>>Phaedrus, in which Socrates tells a myth regarding the 
> 
> Neil Postman did a great job with the memory question, Phaedrus, and
> modern communication technology in his very accessible first chapter of
> _Technopoly_.  It still works with the Internet in mind even though it
> was written in 1993.  Even if you don't agree with Postman's argument,
> it is a great chapter.
> 
> Christian

Let me second Christian's recommendation of Postman on this subject, not 
only in the first chapter of _Technopoly_ (1992), but also in Chapter 
II, "The Information Environment," of Postman's _Teaching as a 
Conserving Activity_, Dell, 1979 (pp. 33-48, esp. pp. 35-39 re 
Plto/memory/writing). (BTW, this earlier chapter of Postman's also 
provides one of the best introductions to the media ecology perspective, 
by one of its founding figures.)

Janet Sternberg