The Infotainment of "Nuzak"

[IrateCitizen]

Last night, after coming home from evening class after work, I sat in the livingroom with my wife, reading my most recent issue of The Nation magazine. My wife's attention was glued to the television for the latest episode of "American Idol". Personally, I consider such programming to be empty kitsch, but my wife enjoys it, so I'm not going to disparage it here.

However, after the program, my wife kept the channel on our NYC Fox affiliate to watch the 10 o'clock news. Fox's local late-night news is a full hour, as opposed to the half-hour that the majority of other network affiliates. One might possibly think that they carried a longer news program so that they could devote more attention to the important issues of the day, fulfilling the vital role of a free press toward maintaining a democracy.

Yeah, OK. Whatever.

I recently finished a book called The Twilight of American Culture by University scholar and cultural critic Morris Berman, in which the author introduces the term "Nuzak" to describe the state of the American media -- rendering it the journalistic equivalent of the Muzak that plays as we stroll through department stores or travel in elevators. I listened to the nightly newscast with this term in mind.

Given the events of the day, the situation in Iraq, I would surmise that a newscast interested in fulfilling a true journalistic role would concentrate on serious issues. I would think that it would not only run down the "facts and events" of the day, but actually probe below the surface of those recent events, in an effort to try and help people to understand what is going on over there.

Throughout the hour, however, I found the major stories to be something quite different. They did talk about the events in Iraq, but only in a way of listing the latest events. There was no broader context, no discussion. But there were a few topics throughout the newscast on which they did devote extra time and effort:
- The weather, which was presented twice throughout the hour-long broadcast, for at least five minutes each time
- An "expose" of a chain of NYC "health food" restaurants that were advertising their food as having a much lower fat and calorie level than it actually had
- A piece called "Analyzing Idol" in which they interviewed the runner-up from the first edition of the competition and profiled his obscurity as compared to several other contestents from the second edition.

They also devoted a decent amount of time -- five minutes, perhaps -- discussing the results of the latest episode of American Idol, which had concluded immediately before the broadcast. Another "top story" was a tractor trailer that had plunged off an overpass but whose driver had walked away from the accident.

I have to say, after this anaylsis, the term "Nuzak" fit. I actually felt a little bit less intelligent and informed for having actively listened to the broadcast. Then, I imagined, that for the vast majority of people out there, that this was the primary source of their news and opinion.

Our founding fathers cited the maintenance of a free press as paramount to the maintenance of our democracy. They even thought so much of the idea that they enshrined it as the very first amendment to the Constitution. But when you review their quotes from that time, it is apparent that they did not believe that a press had to simply be "free" in order for democracy to prosper. A press had to be willing to hold the government up to scrutiny and criticism, it had to be willing to engage the populace in the major issues of the day, for the very survival of that budding democracy relied on a well-informed and active constituency.

As Benjamin Franklin emerged from the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, it is said that a woman approached him and asked what kind of government they had decided upon. Franklin's response was, "A Republic... if you can keep it." I think that if Franklin, Madison and Jefferson were alive today, they would have been appalled at the "Nuzak" that substitutes for real journalism today. I also think they would not be surprised, after seeing that "newscast", at the disintegration of the ideals they set in motion some 217 years ago.

[DenverDem]

1. The stupidification of America.

Ignorant proles are much easier to control with demagoguery.

[IrateCitizen]

2. I'd say it's more of a two-step process...

First, you supply them with bread and circuses to instill a culture of ignorance in which independent thought and critical analysis are derided as "elitist intellectualism". Then, after they've been "softened up" by the bread and circuses, you move in with the demagoguery, which they are then much more susceptible to.

[DenverDem]

3. You are correct.

This has been a long term, well planned process of mass mind control.

[HFishbine]

4. It's even worse

when there is an American Idle contestant from your town, then the local Fox news becomes really bizarre.

[LittleApple81]

5. We just had one in Knasas... front page news on our local paper. n/t

[redqueen]

6. Pfft

Didn't have to read the book to notice that a loooooooong time ago. Nuzak is intended to keep people feeling happy about the status quo so they won't disturb the plans of TPTB, nothing more.

It started under Bush the first, I believe, during the first Gulf War. This was when we were first presented with clear, convincing evidence that we were being lied into war (troops on the border, babies thrown out of incubators), and we collectively shrugged our shoulders and said, "Whatever". (Please note I don't mean ALL of us, but admittedly the VAST majority of people - I mean the collective 'we'. Even on this board, many seem to be unaware of the PR origins of that war.)

The news being scripted to fit the interests of the powers that be rather than the public at large is something we sat and yawned about. We should not be surprised or shocked about it now.

[IrateCitizen]

7. I'm not sure you're getting my point

It's not even "news" anymore -- it's noise. It's not meant to inform, even with false information -- it's meant almost solely to distract.

It's the bread and circuses that precipitates the gradual dumbing-down of the public at large.

[redqueen]

8. I agree re: news being primarily for distraction

Distraction is the focus, not the side effect. It's intentional.

I do disagree that the bread and circuses precipitates a gradual dumbing-down. IMO it's more for maintenance of a condition that already exists. Think of it -- how is it possible that *anti-war, leftist, and democratic* people are STILL saying things like 'oh yeah I agreed with the first gulf war, but not this one'.

p.s. Read "Into the Buzzsaw" yet?

[IrateCitizen]

9. You're still looking at it from the short-term

You're looking at this phenomenon over perhaps a decade. I think you need to go back over at least two decades -- if not three -- in order to become fully aware of how dumbed-down the public has become.

Nuzak is just a part of it. A reduction in overall societal literacy, the triumphing of the simple over the intellectual, and the rise of TV nation (the concept, not the Michael Moore TV show) have all been contributing factors. So has the increasing commodification and commercialization of our culture over time.

The average American has an attention span of seconds nowadays. That wasn't the case 30-40 years ago. The shortening of attention span is another direct result of this phenomenon.

More and more, our culture is beginning to resemble the creation of Ray Bradbury in Fahrenheit 451 -- a vapid, mindless, ignorant mass without capacity for critical analysis, individual thought, or intellectual pursuit.

[Karenina]

10. Add the "quick-cut programming"

of the Sesame Street generation and PRESTO CHANGO!

[redqueen]

12. I don't see the connect 30 years ago to the reduction of overall literacy

or any of the other things you mention. Our nation has been a TV nation since the 50's, so... ?

I am curious as to how the author tied in short attention spans, the hostility to intellectualism, the rise of consumerism, and a reduction in illiteracy. To me these are all a result of a culture that values might over right. Jocks are praised, nerds are outcasts.

[IrateCitizen]

14. The 1970's is where we first started seeing a generation...

... whose entire life experience had been within the confines of "TV Nation". That's when the kids of the 1950's came of age as adults.

THAT is the connection. The expansion of "choices" with a decline in creativity soon followed with the advent of cable. Then, once the populace was softened up by the mass-market consumerist groundwork supplied by TV Nation, the RW ideologues began to move in to inculcate a fully unsuscepting public.

Such a culture as TV nation is naturally opposed to intellectualism, because the two are polar opposites. The glorification of sport supplies a steady stream of "heroes" while not adversely affecting the dumbing-down process. In fact, it encourages it, as Chomsky has noted many times with his critique of obsession over spectator sports.

[redqueen]

16. Ahhhh, now it makes sense

*sigh*

I hate that TV is demonized in all this, though. TV is a tool. It's how it's used that's the problem. If only it weren't overwhelmingly used to promote groupthink and mindlessness. :(

As for me, I liked Sesame Street, love TV, and think I came out just fine. :)

[IrateCitizen]

18. An aside on Sesame Street

My wife and I don't have any kids, but her sisters do. The young ones are all entertained by "videos" all the time now -- Barney, Dora the Explorer, Wiggles, etc. My mom and I were discussing the adverse effects that are surely to result from raising kids on videos like this. I said that when I was a little kid (the 1970's), all I had was Mister Rogers and Sesame Street.

My mom said (and this is coming from a retired teacher) that she liked Mr. Rogers a lot more than Sesame Street. Why? Because Mr. Rogers was INTERACTIVE -- it was a two-way conversation between Fred Rogers and the kids. Sesame Street was more PASSIVE -- the kids sat back and watched.

TV, like any other toy, can easily be exploited. In a culture that values pursuit of profit over all other activities, it is not surprising that it would be exploited in such a manner.

[redqueen]

20. Agree - it's not surprising at all

what is surprising is how many parents will so quickly say 'not my fault' and point to the TV. That absolutely sickens me.

As for Mr Rogers/Sesame Street, I disagree. I remember singalongs and the like from back in the day, and when I watch now it's the same - sing alongs, question and answer, 'which of these things doesn't belong' kind of games, etc.

To each their own, I guess.

[hatrack]

11. Berman is brilliant

What he says in his book (without saying it in so many words) is that civilization can survive just about anything except the voluntary embrace of stupidity, ignorance and mediocrity.

We're lobotomizing ourselves just as fast as our little hands can wield the scalpel/remote and giggling as we do so. History will not judge us kindly for choosing this course, no matter what the "inescapable logic of the media market" may dictate.

[redqueen]

13. You summed it up so nicely

Now THIS is something I can sink my teeth into!

Allowing our children to be indoctrinated into the culture of worshipping at the cult of personality has to stop if we're ever to escape the lobotomization you speak of. We need to teach kids to respect intellectuals, not hate them. IMO that requires that sports be eliminated from schools. Teach aerobics and weight training or something... the jock mentality has to end.

[IrateCitizen]

15. Eliminate sports from schools? That's ridiculous!

What you're proposing isn't placing intellectual achievement at a similar level as athletic achievement -- rather, you're proposing an authoritarian solution to shape the world the way you want it. It's the classic "swinging the pendulum back too far in the other direction."

How about we just strive to elevate intellectual achievement to the same level as athletic achievement, and allow people to decide for themselves what is more important? That would seem the more democratic approach.

[redqueen]

17. I understand your argument, however

look at it this way -- what other subjects are taught which have nothing to do with education? The rationale behind PE is that we're promoting physical fitness. If that's the case teach exercise and nutrition, not 'how to pick on the skinny/fat kid' (as most coaches do).

If there were clases for dance, flower arranging, dog training, etc., I could see a reason to keep basketball and baseball in the curricula. As it is, I don't see that balance, so out it goes.

[IrateCitizen]

19. So you're not discounting my assertion that your argument is authoritarian

I just want to be clear on that point.

[redqueen]

21. Nope. Somebody has to make the tough choices.

Apparently the parents ain't up to the job.

To me it's no different than forcing people to put their kids in carseats.