Jacques Ellul’s influence on Neil Postman

This article discusses the intellectual relationship between Jacques Ellul and Neil Postman and addresses the question: How did the French philosopher influence the writings and ideas of the leading media ecologist Neil Postman? The author traces the historical development of Postman's books and examines his writings for reference to Jacques Ellul. Through this analysis it becomes apparent that Ellul had a major influence on Postman's ideas, his books, and the direction of his scholarship. Thus, one can more fully understand the contribution that Ellul has had to media ecology.