Watching TV Makes You Smarter [NYT blogerated link]: Steven Johnson thoughtfully dissects the increasing use of layered, limited-perspective narrative in television and argues that the increasing use of this strategy “makes you smarter,” a pretty shaky thesis. His analysis is pretty interesting, though. I found the bogus cheerleading for the dubious notion that this kind of narrative is necessarily a good-for-your-noggin brain excercise pretty weak.

The depth of analysis applied to the plot structures of the shows he looks at is pretty cool, though. I guess my issue is this: if the writer is capable of such careful work, why not conduct emprical studies that validate or invalidate the thesis? The basic argument is that the use of complex plot structures and narrative methodologies must require more brain work from the viewer. If this is so, and it seems reasonable, does this necessarily translate to “smarter”?

I’d have to guess that it’s demonstrably not so. Mastering complexity is a routine feature of traditional responses to comic books, science fiction, baseball and other sports (statistics!) and music. Managing the reams of data beloved by the respective fan-cultures may well be an activity that folks with a certain intellectual bent engage in. But I’m not so sure it makes them smarter. I’d guess that the activity follows the prediliction.

Still, an interesting read.