TOW #12 - Everything Bad is Good for You by Steven Johnston (Part 1)

Steven Johnston, the author of Everything Bad is Good for You, is an iconoclastic and captivating writer who is also an American popular science author and a media theorist. Having graduated from Brown University with a degree in semiotics and Columbia University with a degree in English literature, Johnston incorporates his knowledge of media, pop culture, and technology in order to argue that the pop culture we are exposed to everyday is actually beneficial. In part 1 on of his book, Johnston goes into the description of how video games, television, internet, and films are aspects of current culture that stimulate cognition, contrary to popular belief. For example, Johnston talks about how current kid's movies are a lot more complex today than they were in the past. For example, the intricate plot structure, the clever dialogue, and the fascinating special effects are all different qualities of a movie that make up mental exercises for children. Regarding the internet, Johnston brings up that it forces us to problem solve. We have to navigate through various websites, find necessary information, install new software, fix computer issue, etc, and these account for the various cognitive challenges that we go through on a daily basis. Addressing his message most likely to parents and adults, Johnston wants to change their views of pop culture so that a positive view is created. Johnston achieves his purpose by adding visuals and using reliable people to bolster his assertions. By using pictures, Johnston is able to covey his information in an efficient manner, allowing the readers to easily understand the points he is making. Furthermore, pulling quotes from reliable people, such as game scholar James Paul Gee for instance, establishes Johnston's credibility as an author who is arguing in favor of pop culture's benefits. His credibility thus makes him qualified to express his arguments. Through his use of visuals and reliable sources, Johnston was indeed able to achieve his purpose early on in his book.