There is an insistent tendency among serious social scientists to think of any institution which features rhymed and singing commercials, intense and lachrymose voices urging highly improbable enjoyment, caricatures of the human esophagus in normal and impaired operation, and which hints implausibly at opportunities for antiseptic seduction as inherently trivial. This is a great mistake. The industrial system is profoundly dependent on commercial television and could not exist in its present form without it.

Summary

This quote suggests that many social scientists tend to dismiss commercial television as trivial due to its use of catchy jingles, exaggerated voices, and unrealistic promises. However, the quote argues that this perception is a mistake, as the industrial system heavily relies on commercial television and could not function as it does without it. It implies that commercial television plays a crucial role in promoting products and seducing consumers, making it an essential component of the modern economic system.

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