Magic in the Screen
In the age of technology which we currently live, it would be unheard of to come across someone who did not own a television, a computer, and a mobile phone. With all kinds of electronics at our disposal, personal interactions have become less essential. A 2008 study conducted by Ball State University and sequent partners, found the average American spend eight and a half hours a day in front of a screen whether it be a TV, a computer or some other gadget. A paper published in “Biologist” stated in 2007 on a average a person would spend under 2.5 per day participating in face to face interactions. This means that the average person would spend a minimum of triple the amount of time staring at a screen then they would in face to face interaction. In the Poem ‘The Screen’ By Terrence Chiusano, the author provides an example of the memorizing affect screens have on people. The poem explain how during flights the passengers generally ignore the stewardess when she explains emergency procedures, except on one flight the author was on where they instead used a prerecorded version. The recorded version immediately captivated everyone’s attention. The author’s message is clearly stated as well as obviously depicted in his example, ‘the screen is magic’. His language is simple and straight forward as he does not to dress up his message to have it understood. Even in a situation where the information could potentially save the viewers life it is ignored when presented in person and must be conveyed on a screen to capture the audience’s attention. In my own experience I have never been shown a prerecorded version on a flight. However I have noticed when the stewardess begins her speech few if any people focus their full attention on her. Although I have not experienced the example discussed in the poem I have witnessed the power the screen has over