NEWS FLASH: KATIE COURIC IS DUMB

I really need to get an internet connection so I can post these things in a timely manner ...

I happened to catch a few minutes of NBC's coverage of the opening ceremonies at Athens and wondered if anyone else laughed along with me as a float clearly representing the geometric period in Greek vase painting was described by Katie Couric as celebrating Greek achievements in mathematics by men such as Pythagoras, whose theorem you remember from geometry class!

I imagine they were given an outline describing the procession, and when Katie read "Geometric" she came to what seemed the obvious conclusion, but to anyone with a bit of sense and education it was obviously wrong.

Before you judge my judgment harsh, I'll concede that your average viewer wouldn't know the first thing about the Geometric period, but a professional broadcast should be a bit more professional than that.

Bob Costas, whether equally ignorant or slyly covering, rattled off the names of several other famous Greek mathematicians, like Archimedes.

posted by Dennis on 08.15.04 at 02:04 PM





TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://classicalvalues.com/cgi-bin/pings.cgi/1294






Comments

I've long wondered if ignorance of history isn't a professional requirement in journalism and the media. It sure seems so.

Costas was featured on a PBS special about the Greek-American experience, and admitted some years of 'Greek School' education. Such schooling does not give much focus on the arts, even sacred art, so it is not surprising that he did not know recognize geometric ware.

Unfortunately, you need to go pretty far out of your way to get exposed to classical culture.

Tulkinghorn   ·  August 15, 2004 10:53 PM


March 2007
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
        1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31

ANCIENT (AND MODERN)
WORLD-WIDE CALENDAR


Search the Site


E-mail




Classics To Go

Classical Values PDA Link



Archives




Recent Entries



Links



Site Credits