“Cognitive labor” and “mental development” are not the words you would normally associate with TV entertainment. You certainly wouldn’t expect to find an author talking about the merits of West Wing or Fear Factor, which is exactly why Steven Johnson and his new book “Everything Bad is Good For You,” are getting that second look.
Johnson is squarely confronting the “Kill Your Television” crowd, claiming that there is value in today’s TV shows. Unlike the simplistic sitcoms of the 70s like “The Love Boat” and “Three’s Company,” today’s shows, he says, are far more sophisticated and complex, demanding some real mental gymnastics just to follow the plot line, and the characters. And despite what many believe, the blue light does not automatically make us stupid.
Guests:
Steven Johnson, contributing editor to Wired, columnist for Discover magazine, and author of numerous articles and books including “Everything Bad is Good For You: How Today’s Popular Culture is Actually Making Us Smarter.”