Who said, "Popular culture is trash. And it's only going to get
trashier, until the vast majority of people in the United States
become mere receptacles for the profit-generating products of Ted
Turner, Rupert Murdoch, Beavis n' Butthead and South Park."

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Request for Question Clarification by justaskscott-ga on 03 Aug 2002 06:54 PDT

Where did you see or hear this quote?  If we know the source, one of
us might be able to find the author or speaker.

This is a suggestion, but I place the comment more for my fellow
researchers who may be able to follow up my research or eliminate it.

I cannot find a web page containing this quotation. However, by using
variations on ‘popular culture’ trash ‘united states’ and media, it
points towards one outspoken critic of modern American media culture:
William J. Bennett, a former US Secretary of Education.

He has written a number of books and these can be viewed at
amazon.com, under his name. It is possible that the quote originates
in one of these books.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=books&field-author=Bennett%2C%20William%20J./104-5700155-4270316

answerfinder-ga

It may in fact turn out to be Bennett, as he does occasionally
criticize the left and the right.  However, the inclusion of Rupert
Murdoch in the list makes me suspect that the comment does not come
from Bennett.

Also, the rhetorical tactic of playing up the profit-motive in the
statement might make it more likely that this comment comes from a
critic from the left side of the political spectrum.

This did get me thinking, perhaps it was Senator Lieberman or Senator
McCain, who ocassionally team up to complain about corporate profit
motives in the media industry.  However, a scan of the Congressional
Record seems to indicate that if one of them uttered it, it was not on
the floor of the Senate.  Also, the particular phrasing of the quote
makes me doubt it was from one of the Senators.

It is probably safe to say that this quote is not attributable to an
MTV executive.

moosely,

Now you have it driving ME crazy!  I remember exactly reading it, but
for the life of me cannot find it online.  I tried Time, USA Today,
the O'Reilly web site, Fortune and the Jesse Ventura web site.  You
bet I'll be checking back here to figure out who it was.

Regards,

historybuff

I remember reading this aloud to my husband when it came out in...the
newspaper?  a magazine?  The name of the source is on the tip of my
tongue, but not quite!  I hope it will come to me while I'm weeding
the garden this afternoon, as I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep until
I get it :)

AH:  I must've been channeling your comment.  my money's on William F.
Buckley {random tongue dart}.

I have my teeth deep into this one, but can't find just what I'm
looking for, so will free it up for anyone else who might like to join
in the fun!  Based purely on a personal hunch, I'm ready to say this
quote came from Ralph Nader, but have been on quite the merry chase
trying to confirm it.

I find lots of material online that supports my hunch, like this quote
from Commercial Alert, an organization which Nader helped found in
Portland, Oregon.

"That powerful corporations focus on our children to seduce them into
such destructive experiences is the height of callous profiteering,"
Nader said. "It's time we put a spotlight on this strategically
organized corporate assault on our children and families."

http://www.commercialalert.org/index.php?category_id=1&subcategory_id=14&article_id=87

Unfortunately, this is the best I can do for now, but I'll be
following this question with great interest!  I hope someone can come
up with your answer soon.

authorshelper

Certainly Bennett....see the following URL.....

    http://www.salon.com/12nov1995/feature/paglia.html

This article in Salon from November 1995 speaks to a news conference
held by Bennett, Lieberman, and Sam Nunn.  Now to find the full text
of the news conference....

seedy

Seedy, I agree that the media is often a target for Bennett.  However,
it would be surprising for Bennett to name Rupert Murdoch while waging
a diatribe.