This is an interesting proposition,
Yes, since the classical periods of Roman and Greek civilizations at least, people have used written and spoken thoughts to communicate and persuade others regarding their intents in life. But it is my belief that all of this began to go out the window for the masses of the population in the 60's when the projected image began to take precedence in persuading and communicating messages among us. Remember how the images of death from Vietnam really gave the imeptus to stop the killing ? Recall how the currrent administration forbade the networks from showing such footage regarding the goings on in Iraq ?
There are still pockets of importance where speaking and writing skills developed through rigorous educational practices take precedence, such as the legal, academic, religious, and political environments. And that will continue as is for some time to come, IMO. However, even televised debates from the House and Senate prominently feature robust visual aids these days. But it is simply more efficient and cost effective to use images projected through the mass media to convince the public at large that whatever is being communicated to them is "true and worthwhile" information.
Now with the widespread ability to digitally manipulate such imagery, then belief in what is seen may be significantly skewed. It just could be that the majority of the public is entering a "maya" visual system of communication and belief, while those who are somehow aware of such things will restrict and limit their belief to sources that are more trustworthy in their nature such as NPR, PBS and Indy media. But then I also have my suspicions regarding the federally mandated directive that all television broadcast signals be converted to a digital format in the not too distant future. Call me paranoid if you will, but I've seen to much manipulation of reality to believe in much of what I see anymore.
I myself listen to shortwave news broadcasts from other nations to gain objective views concerning world events free from the prejudices naturally communicated through American media. Ask yourself if you are more likely to believe what goes on when Bill Moyers interviews an author on "Faith and Reason" or more likely to believe anything that is broadcast on Fox News ?
flow....
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