Warning before 20 minutes
It’s striking. There’s only one response to the dumbing down of the public—as exemplified by that commuter paper—and that is the founding of a media-ecological movement—by journalists.
Column There is only one reaction to the dumbing down of the people, as exemplified by the commuter paper: the founding of a media-ecological movement - by journalists. If he were standing at platform 6 of Lucerne railroad station today, waiting for the Interregio to Zurich, he would see that training has long been internalized and that postmodern man takes care of it himself. Joystick in his left hand, whip of self-discipline in his right, he hurries through the glittering wasteland; jumped on at every turn by shoppers, plump bottoms and war-is-peace slogans, he hurries to platform 6 and fights for his 20 minutes - driven by a cold fire of accomplishment.
Interesting phenomenon, this free paper. Its stories break off where the stories actually begin. It's full of news that isn't news. Four lines about a helicopter crash in Mexico, stuck in the corner, signalize: You won't find out anything here, but that's what you wanted.
If one look still openly dallies with seduction and the baser side of us, 20 minutes needs neither nudity nor the hot affect. Here, the sheer simulation of reality prevails. Replacement. Arousal through nothing. Icy affect.
Just minutes behind Lucerne, the product is stuffed into garbage cans, thrown on the floor and disposed of as seat protectors. Some do it with a certain vigor. Fascinated, but left alone with the world, they will greedily reach for the new issue of the paper again the next morning.
A clear case of environmental pollution, both externally and internally. There should be a warning on 20 Minuten and its ilk: "Kills your intelligence." TV programs should be preceded by the insert: "Endangers your emotional and mental health." Internet programs should be accompanied by the announcement: "Corrupts your libido."
We media makers don't like to talk about the impact of our work. Many find the very question inadmissible. It's not the media that promotes violence, stupidity and isolation, they say; social reality does that.
Such products also seem to be anointed by the market. What is successful must be right. Millions can't be wrong. You will be helped. You will be thought of.
It won't. The reality argument would be more convincing if we were to fulfill our age-old task. The media should make the world and the prevailing conditions in it legible. To enable people to organize their public affairs, to elect and control politicians. Media should produce discernment on a massive scale. Empower the reader. Entertain them, following Kant: "Stupidity is lack of judgment without wit."
It is now apparent that the media are increasingly destroying the public sphere instead of creating it. Chopping up the world, where it should be exploratory, into ever smaller pieces. Producing illiteracy on a massive scale and using it as a "fond de commerce" for new products. It's hard to admit to ourselves: In our permanent party we are killing sense, emotion, meaning and language, the tools of our consciousness. We have become the driving force behind a dumbing-down industry.
One reader writes: "I can't hold it together anymore, I can't hold myself together anymore. Everything shreds, I disintegrate, it's all over then. Burnout, the epidemic of our time." No wonder we are becoming increasingly hostile. Somewhere, we hear, these days
a media ecology movement has been founded. It wants to enforce the careful use of emotions and intellect. Sustainability of information and more. Their action plans include blockades, boycotts and raids, including on Lucerne's Gleis 6.
It would be strategically wise for us media makers to take the lead.
> Oliver Fahrni is a freelance journalist. Until 2001 he was deputy editor-in-chief of Weltwoche and most recently foreign editor of Hamburger Woche.
Interesting phenomenon, this free paper. Its stories break off where the stories actually begin. It's full of news that isn't news. Four lines about a helicopter crash in Mexico, stuck in the corner, signalize: You won't find out anything here, but that's what you wanted.
If one look still openly dallies with seduction and the baser side of us, 20 minutes needs neither nudity nor the hot affect. Here, the sheer simulation of reality prevails. Replacement. Arousal through nothing. Icy affect.
Just minutes behind Lucerne, the product is stuffed into garbage cans, thrown on the floor and disposed of as seat protectors. Some do it with a certain vigor. Fascinated, but left alone with the world, they will greedily reach for the new issue of the paper again the next morning.
A clear case of environmental pollution, both externally and internally. There should be a warning on 20 Minuten and its ilk: "Kills your intelligence." TV programs should be preceded by the insert: "Endangers your emotional and mental health." Internet programs should be accompanied by the announcement: "Corrupts your libido."
We media makers don't like to talk about the impact of our work. Many find the very question inadmissible. It's not the media that promotes violence, stupidity and isolation, they say; social reality does that.
Such products also seem to be anointed by the market. What is successful must be right. Millions can't be wrong. You will be helped. You will be thought of.
It won't. The reality argument would be more convincing if we were to fulfill our age-old task. The media should make the world and the prevailing conditions in it legible. To enable people to organize their public affairs, to elect and control politicians. Media should produce discernment on a massive scale. Empower the reader. Entertain them, following Kant: "Stupidity is lack of judgment without wit."
It is now apparent that the media are increasingly destroying the public sphere instead of creating it. Chopping up the world, where it should be exploratory, into ever smaller pieces. Producing illiteracy on a massive scale and using it as a "fond de commerce" for new products. It's hard to admit to ourselves: In our permanent party we are killing sense, emotion, meaning and language, the tools of our consciousness. We have become the driving force behind a dumbing-down industry.
One reader writes: "I can't hold it together anymore, I can't hold myself together anymore. Everything shreds, I disintegrate, it's all over then. Burnout, the epidemic of our time." No wonder we are becoming increasingly hostile. Somewhere, we hear, these days
a media ecology movement has been founded. It wants to enforce the careful use of emotions and intellect. Sustainability of information and more. Their action plans include blockades, boycotts and raids, including on Lucerne's Gleis 6.
It would be strategically wise for us media makers to take the lead.
> Oliver Fahrni is a freelance journalist. Until 2001 he was deputy editor-in-chief of Weltwoche and most recently foreign editor of Hamburger Woche.
