Understanding Media Cultures: Social Theory and Mass Communication

Understanding Media Cultures: Social Theory and Mass Communication

by Nicholas Stevenson (Author)

Synopsis

Praise for the First Edition: 'I can't think of a book in media studies that handles so well the diversity of perspectives and issues that Stevenson addresses. Whether reconstructing Marxism or deconstructing postmodernism, tackling the pleasures of soap opera or the repetitive structures of daily news presentation, Stevenson is always clear and insightful' - Sociology The Second Edition of this book provides a comprehensive overview of the ways in which social theory has attempted to theorize the importance of the media in contemporary society. Now fully revised to take account of the recent theoretical developments associated with 'new media' and 'information society', as well as the audience and the public sphere, Understanding Media Cultures: - Critically examines the key social theories of mass communication - Highlights the work of individual theorists including Fiske, Williams, Hall, Habermas, Jameson, McLuhan and Baudrillard. - Covers the important traditions of media analysis from feminism, cultural studies and audience research. - Now includes a discussion of recent perspectives developed by Castells, Haraway, Virilio and Schiller. - Provides a glossary of key terms in media and social theory. Retaining all the strengths of the previous edition, Understanding Media Cultures offers a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the field. It will be essential reading for students of social theory, media and cultural studies.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 256
Edition: 1
Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd
Published: 22 May 1995

ISBN 10: 0803989318
ISBN 13: 9780803989313

Media Reviews
`Nick Stevenson presents a comprehensive overview of major critical approaches to understanding media cultures. Those interested in understanding contemporary debates over the media should find this book to be extremely valuable' - Douglas Kellner, University of Texas

`Explores the relation between general social theory and mass communication in a number of important and critical ways.... The book is a salutary opening of the whole complex terrain of the critical analysis and interpretation of information technologies in the contemporary epoch.... Perhaps most significantly, Understanding Media Cultures offers a radical critique of contemporary social theory in relation to mass communication.... All in all, I can't think of a book in media studies that handles so well the diversity of perspectives and issues that Stevenson addresses. Whether reconstructing Marxism or deconstructing postmodernism, tackling the pleasures of soap opera or the repetitive structures of daily news presentation, Stevenson is always clear and insightful. The book is an important social-theoretical contribution to media studies' - Sociology

Author Bio
Nick Stevenson is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Nottingham.