What this generation was bred to at television's knees was not wisdom, but cynicism.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that television has instilled a sense of distrust and skepticism rather than genuine wisdom in people.
Pauline Kael's quote critiques the impact of television on society, arguing that instead of fostering wisdom and deep understanding, it has led to a more cynical worldview among the current generation. This reflects concerns about how media influences perceptions and attitudes, often promoting skepticism instead of thoughtful engagement and insight.
In practice
During a discussion about media literacy, one might refer to this quote to emphasize the need for critical thinking.
I see little of more importance to the future of our country and of civilization than full recognition of the place of the artist. If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him.
The romance of movies is not just in those stories and those people on the screen but in the adolescent dream of meeting others who feel as you do about what youβve seen.
We read critics for the perceptions, for what they tell us that we didn't fully grasp when we saw the work. The judgments we can usually make for ourselves.
The worst thing about movie-making is that it's like life: nobody can go back to correct the mistakes.
It seems likely that many of the young who don't wait for others to call them artists, but simply announce that they are, don't have the patience to make art.
Imagining [The Wizard of Oz] without Judy Garland is a bit like dancing on wet cement: you can do it, but why would you want to?
For most gulls it was not flying that matters, but eating. For this gull, though, it was not eating that mattered, but flight.
We have become indifferent to content, and react, not even to form, but to technique, to technical efficiency itself.
It is insane that two men, sitting on opposite sides of the world, should be able to decide to bring an end to civilization.
Little sins carry with them but little temptations to sin, and then a man shews most viciousness and unkindness, when he sins on a little temptation. It is devilish to sin without a temptation; it is little less than devilish to sin on a little occasion. The less the temptation is to sin, the greater is that sin.
Wherever an altar is found, there civilization exists.
So we draw lines around our property, our counties, our cities, our states, our countries. And, boy, do we act as if those lines are important. I mean, we go to war. We will kill and die to protect those boundaries. Nature couldn't give two hoots about our national boundaries.
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