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 | | Internationalizing Media Theory: Transition, Power, Culture (Media Culture & Society series) by John D H Downing ISBN-10: 0803987102 ISBN-10: 0-8039-8710-2 ISBN-13: 9780803987104 ISBN-13: 978-0-8039-8710-4 Hardcover 1996-12-23 Sage Publications Ltd Find Lowest Price |
Editorials | ||
Product Description Synthesizing approaches from political science, political economy, cultural studies, and communication studies, Internationalizing Media Theory redefines media theory with a broad and comparative framework. Author John Downing first explores the inadequacy of existing media theory, including their tendencies to focus on dominant Western cultures and their avoidance of analyses that explore communication processes in light of the study of power in political science. He then builds a triangular analysis that assesses the linked politico-economic and cultural changes brought about via the media (which includes alternative forms of expression during the past 15 years of turbulence in Russia, Poland, and Hungary). This engaging volume illustrates the key issues underlying such changes--power, the state, endemic conflicts, societal change, the economy, institutionalized racism, ethnic insurgency, secrecy, and surveillance--and thereby expands our understanding of society. This timely book addresses recent transitions in communication and their affects on theory and research. It will be well received by researchers, professionals, and students in media studies, communication, and politics and sociology with an eastern European focus. | ||
Reviews | ||
A Grad students perspective In this book, Downing uses examples of nations in the world to explain the ways that media communication has dealt with issues of politics in these nations at troubling times in history. By exposing media action taken during such events, Downing has offered an explanation of why we react to the world as it currently is today. Downing studies society in these countries and examines the media's focus on certain aspects of culture and the lack of focus on other issues that would be seen as important to any functioning nation. An example that Downing himself raises in the conclusion of his book states that economic policy seems to brush to the wayside and is not properly explained when dealing with media theory issues. It is easy to offer up simple explanations, but because of these simple conclusions, we are left without an accurate portrayal of how this effects the issues at hand and essentially left with only half of the picture. Using conceptual ideas in the abstract in place of concrete examples could be very difficult to follow. The book is easy to follow and Downing makes his concepts easy to grasp by giving several examples that are imbedded in world history. However, because his examples pertained directly with world history, a significant amount of the book focused on just that. This leaves the student trudging through what feels like a world history book and searching for the meaning of all of the information. Downing assumes that all parts of the media and information derive from issues that happen in the world. All types of media and communication theory will be subject to change as cultures change and redefine themselves. These cultural changes have no boundaries. As one theory emerges due to issues in one country, so will the theory cross lines in other countries to handle issues emerging there. | ||