Everything Bad Is Good For You--Part 2

If everything "bad" is indeed good for you, what does this mean for the world of Libraries and/or Educational organizations?

Johnson states that popular culture (games, TV, film) has become more challenging and more complex over the years "enhancing our cognitive faculties, not dumbing them down". He claims that "popular culture has been growing increasingly complex over the past few decades, exercising our minds in powerful new ways." If this is true, which he provides a pretty good argument for, librarians and educators may need to start changing! Many librarians and educators believe that pop culture is not what Johnson believes it to be. They do not see the complexity of it, as I did not, until I read his book. They have to accept change and change with the times.

It amazes me how children can pick up video games or some new concept on the computer so quickly, yet teaching them other things just bores them. Teachers can learn a few things from this. There are many games that can be used for educational purposes, yet the kids don't know they are learning. Movies can also be a good source of information, while still fun to watch. These things that were once considered "bad" can actually be "good" for the learning environment...we just have to teach old dogs new tricks! However, I do believe that there can be too much of a good thing and that there has to be a balance between the old ways and the new ways.

Librarians also have to start to change with the times. Some librarians may need to realize, just like the educators, that pop culture is becoming more complex. This is why libraries are starting to have gaming tournaments. They know what the kids like and what they want to do...and...if that gets them into the library, so be it. They might actually pick up a book while they are there and check it out!

Everything Bad Is Good For You

Steven Johnson, in this book, sets up a good argument for the idea that everything bad CAN BE good for you! In this argument he states that popular culture (games, TV, film) has become more challenging and more complex over the years "enhancing our cognitive faculties, not dumbing them down" (p. 12). He claims that "popular culture has been growing increasingly complex over the past few decades, exercising our minds in powerful new ways" (p. 13). He does not believe that it is just a method to "sophisticatedly deliver stupidity."

He speaks of non-literary pop culture and how it hones "different" mental skills which are just as important as the ones that you get reading from a book. He talks about how it increases manual dexterity and visual memory. Also, he discusses the difficulty of some of these games and just how hard they are. This I know is true because when I play some of these computer games, after I find the walk-throughs and the "cheats" I wonder why people think that these games can be fun. It amazes me how anyone could get through these games without help since most of them have to be completed in a specific order or you cannot advance. They are extremely analytical and very detail oriented.

Another point Johnson makes is regarding television. I found it interesting to hear his thoughts regarding today's "multi-threaded dramas" and how they relate to the television programs of the past. I had never compared the two, but once I did I was amazed to see just how intricate today's shows were. He discussed the multiple threads they contain, the flashing arrows and the social networks. Not only did he show how TV programming had changed, but he discussed how film had undergone an equivalent transformation with its visual and technological complexities.

After reading the first part of his book, Johnson made me realize that today's popular culture can really give us a rigorous mental workout!