Postman and Powers claim several differences between stationary pictures, moving pictures, and language. First, language is meant with the following three purposes: to describe, to evaluate, and to infer. (Gray-Rosendale) “This means that there is a level of language whose purpose is to describe an event. There is also a level of language whose purpose is to evaluate an event. Even more, there is a level of language whose purpose is to infer what is unknown on the basis of what is known.” (Page 483) Unfortunately, when a journalist is presenting a news story, it is almost impossible for one to avoid expressing an attitude through one’s words. This is where it is the consumers responsibility to read between the distinctions of these emotions. Second, stationary pictures have a completely different language that is presented to the consumer. (Gray-Rosendale) “Unlike words and sentences, a picture does not present to us an idea or concept about the world, except as we use language itself to convert the image to idea. By itself, a picture cannot deal with the unseen, the remote, the internal, the abstract.” (Page 485) Stationary pictures are presenting the world in as an idea and language makes them more comprehensible. Third, moving pictures are a completely different language. (Gray-Rosendale) “Of course, moving pictures, video with sound, may bridge the gap by juxtaposing images, symbols, sound, and music. Such images can present emotions and rudimentary ideas.” (Page 485) Moving pictures enable the consumer to suggest the happiness and sadness of humankind. However, it is only through language where one is able to answer specific questions or concerns that a stationary or moving picture might encounter.
All of this information is crucial to the larger point in the essay, “The Bias of Language, The Bias of Pictures,” because it is important for the reader to establish the differences in language, stationary pictures, and moving pictures in order for the author to explain today’s newscast. (Gray-Rosendale) “With these principles in mind, let us examine more closely the structure of a typical newscast, and here we will include in the discussion not only the pictures but all the non linguistic symbols that make up a television news show.” (Page 487)
The writer’s main claim regarding today’s newscasts is simple. (Gray-Rosendale) While the form of a news broadcast emphasizes tidiness and control, its content can best be described as fragmented. Because time is so precious on television, because the nature of the medium favors dynamic visual images, and because the pressures of a commercial structure require the news to hold its audience above all else, there is rarely any attempt to explain issues in dept or place events in their proper context.” (Page 487-488) One can conclude that the author is presenting this information to the reader to provide them with the knowledge that a newscast does not have the luxury of presenting a story in its entirety to the viewer; so, it is very important that the viewer understands this and reads the language of the newscast in order to take a better meaning of the story.
In conclusion, I do agree with the writer. Many times, I have personally viewed the news and asked several questions to the television set about a particular story; however, it appears that the newscast it so time constrained that they are never able to finish a story in its entirety. So, I would have to say that the writer makes an excellent point in stating that it is very important for the viewer to pay attention to all of the language presented in a story. Whether it is through stationary pictures, moving pictures, or language.
Reference:
Neil Postman and Steve Powers; “The Bias of language, The Bias of Pictures,”; Pop Perspectives Readings to Critique Contemporary Culture, by: Laura Gray-Rosendale; Pages 481-489.
