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The Middle Mind By Curtis White (Ignorance as a Way of Life)

The Middle Mind By Curtis White (Ignorance as a Way of Life). Presentation by Tracie Davis Schwertley. Have you seen the middle mind”?. It appears on the radio show FRESH AIR It thinks that Seinfeld is one of the smarter shows on TV It is on Public TV frequently (like Charlie Rose)

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The Middle Mind By Curtis White (Ignorance as a Way of Life)

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  1. The Middle MindBy Curtis White(Ignorance as a Way of Life) Presentation by Tracie Davis Schwertley

  2. Have you seen the middle mind”? • It appears on the radio show FRESH AIR • It thinks that Seinfeld is one of the smarter shows on TV • It is on Public TV frequently (like Charlie Rose) • It has a take on culture that is well-intended, but deeply deluded • It is charming but banal • It worries about global warming, yet drives an SUV

  3. If you can relate to any of these statements, then You may be of THE MIDDLE MIND

  4. The Middle Mind Is politically correct Is liberal Likes Clinton (but wishes the kids didn’t have to hear about his personal life) Doesn’t think for itself Is “winning”

  5. Is a true representation of the public’s opinion Conspires against itself Only asks that art be entertaining, fun or interesting

  6. The author of The Middle Mind, Curtis White…… • Hates Saving Private Ryan • Thinks Seinfeld may be a cut above most sitcoms, but it’s still “pornographic fare” • Pounces upon Cultural Studies classes • Dissects the radio show Fresh Air • Thinks PBS’ Antiques Road Show has “turned arts and antiquities into crude commodity fetishism”

  7. Asks questions such as • What habits of mind are required to live in accord with my car, my TV and my computer? • Do you get the experience of PURPLE HAZE without drugs? • Why are “liking something” or “not liking something” our only choices? • Of what does the greatness of the great works consist? • What would have happened in the world, if the world were lit by the imagination?

  8. Tells us • There are still people capable of thought • We need to have a moral and peaceful relationship with the rest of the world • The poverty of imagination is first a poverty of reading • We need to fashion tools to facilitate the revival of the social imagination • Technology is the God that worships itself • The Teletubbies are a public menace

  9. Curtis sneers at….. Strip malls Suburbs Automobiles Madonna Oprah Walt Disney

  10. But yet does NOT think American’s lack of imagination is caused by the following

  11. Instead, it is caused by…….

  12. US

  13. What can we do? .

  14. Don’t be Stupid Smart According to White, right now, we’re required to be smart enough to be capable of creativity, but have to be stupid enough to think that the present economic disposition allows for this creativity

  15. Choose Better Role Models White says that we should despair that Tiger Woods is a role model. If we DON’T despair, we should despair over the absence of despair.

  16. Read Better Books White suggests: • Theodor Ardono • Jacques Derrida • Steven Wallace • George Trow

  17. Understand that technology Is the one area where Americans are NOT impoverished, but makes us feverish Is our nature Makes the technophobic isolated Could go too far (global positioning, robots taking over our bodies, being too plugged in)

  18. You also must • Self-reflect • Challenge ideas • Don’t accept the status quo • Understand that imagination is not limited to art. It is also found in science and math • Read media critically • Make something beautiful • Critique our culture • Misbehave

  19. My thoughts • The premise is solid • Americans should question what Hollywood is handing us • Curtis challenges us • White is witty, sharp, but sometimes a bit cranky • At first, comes across as pretentious (What’s wrong with The Simpsons, after all?) 

  20. White has many critics who say that he’s… Pretentious Snooty Hypocritical

  21. I think White is just saying… • What if television only had Jerry Springer? • What if music only had Britney Spears? • What if our only choice of books were chick lit?

  22. Compare the following….. • Boone’s Farm white zinfandel to a spicy Australian Shiraz • Processed canned apples to organic apples from the Farmer’s Market • McDonald’s Big Mac to a free range filet • A virtual vacation to a real one • A work out at Curves Fitness to an intense Spinning class

  23. We have the tools… Creativity Debate Originality Imagination Freedom

  24. It’s up to use these tools

  25. Citations • White, Curtis, The Middle Mind, Harper Collins, New York, New York, 2003. • Paula, Gordon. "Imaginations”. December 2003. Feb. 4, 2009. <http://www.paulagordon.com/shows/white/>. Paul

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