The future of childhood

Question 1

The disappearance of childhood

Postman

Answer 1

Neil Postman 1994
Disappearing at a dazzling speed.
Children given same rights.
Disappearance of unsupervised play.
Similar clothes.
Children committing adult crimes.
Lies in print culture and now television culture.
In Middle Ages, only skill needed was speech, not a divide.

Question 2

The information hierarchy

Postman

Answer 2

Childhood emerged with mass literacy.
Printed world creates an information hierarchy.
Adults can withhold information from children who cannot read.
Children associated with innocence/ignorance.
TV culture blurs this.
No skills required, easily accessible.
Childhood destroyed, replaced values of knowledge and cynicism.
Disappearance of adulthood, tastes indistinguishable.

Question 3

Evaluation of Postman

Opie and Opie

Answer 3

Evidence of continued childhood.
Valued because recognises influence of communication tech on construction of childhood.
Criticised because overemphasises impact of tv.
Findings of unsupervised games contradict.
Children can and do create separate cultures away from adults.