TOW #16 - Everything Bad is Good for You by Steven Johnston (Part 2)

In Everything Bad is Good for You, Steven Johnston, the author who is a graduate of both Brown University and Columbia University and currently an American popular science author and a media theorist, takes the position that regular exposure to pop culture is beneficial to us. In part 1 of the book, Johnston argues in favor of video games, television, films, and the internet, describing all of the positive cognitive effects it has. Starting off part 2 of his book, Johnston transitions into the Flynn Effect and IQ scores. Through various studies, it has been concluded that the population's IQ has been increasing across all races, and the factor resulting in this increase has been the environment, particularly the great exposure to pop culture. Nowadays, with the advancement of technology, people face so many problems and challenges that it is reasonable to see why people are getting smarter. Additionally, Johnston goes into the economic, technologic, and neurological drive of the Sleeper Curve. The economic forces include and film industry's constant production of movies and TV shows. The technological forces entail the media-related technology, such as DVD, VCR, cable, etc. Lastly, the neurological forces explains how people enjoy challenges and focusing on this that interest them, like different informative TV shows for instance. To support his argument, Johnston incorporates diagrams, statistics, and quotes. Diagrams, especially when trying to explain a complex point, simplified the content and information Johnston was channeling to the readers,  making it easier for them to understand his viewpoint. Furthermore, using statistics from various studies and experiments bolstered his argument since he quantified everything, giving a perspective for the reader. Lastly, by incorporating quotes from reliable sources, such as scientists, Johnston's argument becomes something to consider. He doesn't voice an arbitrary claim, but a claim that can be supported and argued against. With evidence, diagrams, and reliable sources, it can be justified that Johnston successfully proves that pop culture, contrary to traditional belief, has a beneficial effect on the public.