打卡7-8

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In Chapter 7 ("Now... This"), the author points out that television's "Now... This" structure fragments information into disconnected entertainment segments, undermining the coherence and seriousness of public discourse. Similarly, Chapter 5 "The Peek-a-Boo World" discusses how television presents news and events as isolated, context-free "peek-a-boo" moments, prioritizing immediacy and visual appeal over depth or continuity. For instance, when scrolling through TikTok, the short videos encountered may be entirely unrelated.

In Chapter 8 (Shuffle Off to Bethlehem), the author argues that television transforms religion into entertainment, stripping away its rituals, theology, and spiritual depth, replacing them with celebrity-driven dramatic spectacles. The recent passing of Pope Francis and the election of a new pope might exemplify this phenomenon. Many people worldwide have subjected these religious events to entertainment-oriented treatment, diminishing their solemnity. For example, on Chinese internet platforms, I observed netizens freely offering casual commentary about these events.