The Future Of Childhood

Question 1

What is meant by the disappearance of childhood ?

Answer 1

Postman argues that childhood is disappearing at a ‘dazzling speed’ - he points out that the same rights are given to children similar to the ones given to adults , the disappearance of traditional unsupervised children games , the growing ‘similarity’ of adult’s and children’s clothing and even similar crimes like murder - he believes that it has been caused by the fall in print culture and rise in television culture

Question 2

What is the information hierarchy ?

Answer 2

Postman argues that childhood emerged as a separate Tagus along with mass interact,from the 19th century on.This is because the printed order creates an information hierarchy : a sharp division between adults who can read, and children who cannot

Question 3

What is print culture ?

Answer 3

Children lacked literacy skills so they couldn’t explore adult matters and material such as : sex , money , violence , illness + death

Question 4

What is television culture ?

Answer 4

Adult authority is weakened
Boundaries between adults and children blurred
Information available to adults and children alike

Question 5

What is the evaluation of Postman’s theory ?

Answer 5

Opine states that childhood is not disappearing. Based on a lifetime research into children’s unsupervised songs and games. She argues that there is strong evidence of the continued existence of a separate children’s culture over many years.