Our Culture and Media as addressed in Tuesdays with Morrie
Mitch Albom tells us about his relationship with his sociology professor, Morrie Schwartz, from his time at Brandeis University and later towards the end of Morrie’s life. Despite having been his favorite professor and promising him to stay in touch after his graduation, Mitch fell out of touch with Morrie. Only after finding out through an interview on “Nightline” that Morrie was ill with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, does Mitch contact Morrie. In Tuesdays with Morrrie we see the change Mitch goes through as he reconnects with his old professor and himself. “…many topics were covered, including love, work, community, family, aging, forgiveness, and finally, death.” (Albom 1) Mitch begins to question his priorities, his values and his way of life.
When Mitch finds Morrie years after his graduation he is at a point in his life where he is feeling discontented. Even though he is successful, has everything he thought he wanted cars, a big house, and money he is not happy. He has a job he is not satisfied with, works long hours, has left behind his passion for music and has no dreams. He is married but has no children even though he has promised his wife they would. After talking to Morrie, Mitch realizes that he has changed so much since his college years. Throughout his meetings with Morrie he remembers the person who he was and his values. Morrie helps him see that our culture by way of the media has a mindset that money brings happiness when in fact happiness can be found through love.
Through Mitch we become aware that the O.J. Simpson murder trial is taking place at this time, and that Princes Diana and Andre Agassi have had yet another encounter with the paparazzi. After reading such articles in the newspaper it becomes clear to Mitch what Morrie has been telling him all along. The media feeds our culture rubbish and that our culture is wasting their time reading and following this gossip....