A Companion to the McGraw-Hill Text

The Consequences of
Mass Communication

Cultural and Critical Perspectives on Mass Media and Society


Cultural Perspectives: Updates | Links | Other Sources
Critical Perspectives: Updates | Links | Other Sources

About the Book | Errata

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About the Book

The Consequences of Mass Communication is a short survey of contemporary ideas about the cultural impact of mass media on society. The use of consequences in the title reflects the fact that most cultural researchers prefer this term (instead of media effects) to describe media's influence on human experience.

During the past 30 years, culture has exploded as a major theoretical framework in which to investigate media. Chapter I examines how media influence culture generally, as suggested by various media scholars and others. Chapter II then focuses on critical-cultural theories about the nature of media power and its potentially negative influence. <

Table of Contents

1. Mass Media and Culture. What is culture? Media, signs and symbols. Media and storytelling. Media technology and culture. Transforming space, time and relationships. Media use as a cultural ritual. Selected Cultural Issues: Cult ural and information overload. Literacy in the electronic era. Commodification of culture. Commercialism in media content. Media and postmodernism.
2. Critical Perspectives on Media and Society Media, social change and stability. The symbolic nature of media power. Critical-cultural theory: ideology and dominance. Media and cultural diversity. Selected Critical Issues: Media c oncentration. Media costs and access. Media and personal privacy. Media and governance (including role in public discussion of issues and in elections).

To order, go to the McGraw-Hill Higher Education web site or call toll-free 1-800-338-3987.

McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-07-289444-X, 1997. $8.50 Net.

Errata



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August 1997