SUMMARY & RESPONSE-The Decline of Neatness

Summary:

In The Decline of Neatness, Norman Cousins claims that a sloppiness virus has spread to all sectors of society. He mentions four sorts of trouble in the unkempt generation, including bad dress, bad manners, bad speech, and bad human relationship. An example is about blue jeans, people discarded crisply clean and new blue jeans. Instead, they like blue jeans in good condition but jeans that are frayed, torn, discolored. They regard an appearance of alienation as the triumphant goal, and pursued something fashionable what they like. Norman Cousins claims that sloppy speech is so common today. People communicate in chopped-up phrases and rarely use complete sentences. In people’s communication, it’s impossible without four-letter words. “The effect is to foster attitudes of casualness toward violence and brutality not just in entertainment but in everyday life” Cousins claims those violence and brutality in movies and television would affect our children. We lack the ability to react and this “desensitizing” to our children won’t be outgrown. Norman Cousins thinks that our clothing, speech, and emotions affect our human relationship, as the casual attitude toward sex in films. The problem with the casual sex in films would cause some danger. “The danger is not the sexual exploitation will create sex fiends but that it may spawn eunuchs.” Norman Cousins said. In he finally opinion, Norman Cousins does not want to return to Victorian decorum, but he suggests that those people who design fashion and produce television may discover that the forms they showed would affect audience. He hopes schools will encourage students pursue “genuine creativity” and put the best in themselves and work.

Response:

After reading the article, Norman Cousins tells us “disheveled is in fashion; neatness is obsolete.” I don’t know why there are many young people like to dress up themselves like uncombed or unshaved. They think this type is in fashion. But I think it looks just like a vagrant. For me, I don’t like to dress up myself as a vagrant, I like something neatness because it will let me feel more comfortable. So I don’t think oversize sweaters and muddy sneakers are attractive. Most young people like to follow their idols’ styles, but are they suitable for everyone? I don’t think so. Comfortable and suitable clothes maybe is the best choice. You can dress them with your own style, not always pursue other people’s type of clothes. It will let you look more beautiful and confident.

I find that there are many young people having some four-letter words in their communication. Maybe they are affected from television or films. Many films and television programs in our society having violence and sex, if children accepted those bad message, it would result them having deviation behavior. Deviation behavior is connected to human relationship, people have those bad behaviors would effect their mind. It’s the most important issue to those television producers, isn’t it? In my opinion, solving the problem and let children free from bad image is the most necessary.