Image courtesy of flickr user benoitvinceaux

This article is inspired by an article I read in Wired by Edward Tufte quite awhile back, and since then PowerPoint has reached a new iteration and has become even more pervasive.

I’m writing this article because after finishing another semester, I look back on the last few weeks fondly and yet there is a large black mark upon those memories. That black mark sits directly upon final presentations in my International Trade Finance class. And if I see another black on navy, cerulean on white monstrosity I might cry.

PowerPoint, an Education in Saying Nothing

It is my opinion that PowerPoint and the complicity of our education system are killing the fine art of rhetoric, that’s speaking for those of you that are proficient in said program. There was once a time when a presenter had to stand on his own, with only a podium to hide his shame and fear.

Now it seems like anyone willing to stand up can put together a PowerPoint and call what they’re doing a presentation or a speech. generic images far too often take the place of useful content, placing aesthetic above content and cohesion. This is what I refer to a the clip art mentality.

I can remember in 7th grade when I first discovered powerpoint and clip art, and I’m told powerpoints are now used in many grade schools. At the time I questioned the need for such venal window dressing, but my teacher assured me that people wouldn’t pay attention to a presentation without graphics. No doubt, that what the teachers’ book for the class said as well.

This is a problem for me because it enforces inattentiveness, and a near contempt for content and detail.In short this approach teaches mediocrity

Further more I take issue with the emphasis on the bullet point format.

• Its condecending, “bullet points” imply some sort of forceful authority of the speaker by means other than actual knowledge of the subject.
• They lack detail and solid information
• Like talking points in politics, they are the most simple one sided view of any issue
• Most information does not lend itself to lists
• and would be more meaningful as a paragraph
• They smack of a cheesy sales pitch, think time share

Why are you trying to sell me something?

Because of their lack of detail and focus on gloss most PowerPoint presentations come across as a sales pitch. It is sad to think that the art of oration is being ground into a routine of selling a flimsy idea. Don’t get me wrong, I’m always in support of selling something but the content needs to be there. I especially have a problem with general education focusing on this ell yourself mentality. It isn’t intellectually or academically honest or meaningful.

Roundup

Our schools with help from Microsoft are using PowerPoint to make us all mindless machines for buying and selling. Ditch PowerPoint for awhile and learn to present without it, you’ll find that you don’t need clip art or bullet points to get your point across.