Steven's argument is that redundancy contributes to entropy(stasis) and information contributes negentropy(change). Essentially, Art explains through the exploration and critique of the human condition while ntertainment exploits its audience through mass producing a redundant and mundane product.
In Steven's article he attacks Commerical Entertainment as a hackneyed, formulaic machine that elicits conditioned responses from its audience. Stevens believes commercial media creates like minded individuals who lack self awareness and are content to receive and not give feedback.
Art, on the other hand, in explaining the human condition, begs the question, "why?". Art elicits a response and creates a dialogue with its' audience from intrinsic feedback.
I believe Steven's work does have some valid connections to today's mass entertained world. Stevens mentions that commercial entertainment produces redundant stimuli that does not require any critical thinking from its audience. We can see his key points illustrated by the use of Facebook. Facebook is a cyber community that connects different networks of people from all over the world. When I go on Facebook I see pictures and updates mostly from people I do not value as true friends. I don't really need to know about their thanksgiving, or their throat hurts, or that its' raining and they don't want to go to class. When I'm being realistic with myself mostof the information I receive from Facebook is truly irrelevant and redundant. According to Stevens, "Ignorance always increases when a system's messages are redundant. Ignorance is not a state of limbo in which no information exists, but rather a state of increasing chaos due to misinformation about the structure of the system".
Judging by this quote, Stevens would view Facebook as an irrelevant and skewed view of reality. Stevens would probably call Facebook "Irrelevant information and picture sharing, where you occasionally hear info from people you actually care about book".
Stevens would see Facebook as nothing more than a distraction from the true aesthetic beauty of the world and the people in it. Next time on Facebook examine the feedback you are receiving from it. Stevens would want you to ask yourself, "Did I truly learn anything relevant and pertinent about myself from Facebook today?"
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