Coarseness in U.S. Public Communication [Paperback]

Public expression in the United States has become increasingly coarse. Whether its stupid, rude, base, or anti-intellectual talk, it surrounds us. Popular television, film, music, art, and even some elements of religion have become as coarse, we argue, as our often-disparaged political dialogue. This books contention is that the U.S. semantic environment is governed by tactics, not tact. We craft messages that workthat perform their desired function. We are instrumental, strategic communicators. As such, entertainment and journalism that draw an audience, for instance, are good. This follows the logic that the marketplace, an aggregate of hedonically motivated individuals, decides whats good. Market logic, when unencumbered by what some characterize as quaint human sentimentalities, liberates us to cynically communicate whatever and however we want. Whatever improves ratings, web traffic, ticket sales, concession sales, repeat purchases, and earnings is good. Embracing this communicative paradigm more fully necessitates the cultures abandonment of collective notions of both taste and veracity, thus weakening the forces that keep individual desires in check. Our present communication environment is one that invites the hypertrophic expression of the ego, enabling elites to erode public communication standards and repeal laws and regulations resulting in immeasurable individual fortunes. Meanwhile, perpetual plutocratic rule is made even more certain by the cacophonous public noise the rest of us are busy making, leaving us incapable, disinterested, and unwilling to listen to one another.

Philip Dalton isassistant professor and chair of speech communication, rhetoric and performance studies at Hofstra University. He teaches courses in political communication, argumentation and debate, qualitative research methods and intercultural communication.

Eric Mark Kramer is professor of communication at the University of Oklahoma. He is also affiliate faculty il��