Artist Quote by Sherman Alexie
“They've been screaming about the death of literacy for years, but I think TV is the Gutenberg [printing] press. I think TV is the only thing that keeps us vaguely in democracy even if it's in the hands of the corporate culture. If you're an artist you write in your time. Moaning about the fact that maybe people read more books a hundred years ago - that's not true. I think the same percentage has always read.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: NPR Fresh Air, 2010
TV acts as a modern mass medium that sustains public discourse despite corporate control, similar to how the printing press spread ideas.
In simple terms: TV keeps democracy alive like the printing press.
Recognize TV’s role in civic engagement.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political commentary
- media analysis
- civic education
- media literacy
- public discourse
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does TV shape your political views?
- Can TV truly sustain democracy without critical media literacy?
TV cannot replace critical thinking or diverse sources.