I found the style of the writing humorous and the story easy to read. Also, the point I felt like was really clear and easy to understand.
What I have to say about it is that I think the point is still extremely relevant today. The media all over the nation have become like what Twain labels the fervent spirit of the South. Journalism today is almost entirely about sensationalism; it's about the extremes and it's usually focused around the negative. Instead of presenting the information and allowing each reader to consider for themselves and form their own opinion about it, the media intentionally (though often subtly) influences how we perceive the presented information. This is dangerous because it discourages critical thinking from the general public.
I think this piece could be classified as satire as it uses humor to point out and hopefully correct negative behavior. Was this intentional satire on his part? Was satire a common genre at this point?
Satire was definitely a common genre during Twain's time. One of the most famous satires, A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift, was written in the 1700s. So, I think he meant for this piece to be a critical commentary on journalism as well as a humorous story.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you that journalism is fueled by sensationalism. Just think of all the "non-news" stories that make their way into news headlines (like maybe celebrity "news").
I too found this style of writing to be humorous and easy to read. I agree with your thoughts of journalism today only focusing on the extremes. Journalism today is all about the shock factor and the headlines that grab the reader's attention even if the story isn;t exactly what the headline says it is. The media definitely has an influence on the reader/viewer's opinion on certain matters. The subtle brainwashing is allowed and often welcomed in journalism, especially when it comes to the above said "no-news" stories involving celebrities and people of power.I agree that critical thinking has been discouraged by such journalism.
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