A Media Studies Reader

Collected in this volume are some of the most important, provocative, and groundbreaking studies of mediation, communication, and culture. A Media Studies Reader traces the breadth and depth of media studies. Some papers collected here define the field. Others are less-known, but no less important. All mark out ways for understanding a territory--a technological lifeworld in which the dominant forms of capital include information, communication, and mediation. Think of this collection as a guide book, a collection of maps, a rough guide. This guide, like any, does not reproduce a territory, but rather creates a way of seeing a field--a world in which media is not only entertainment, but education and enculturation--symbolically and iconically. This particular guide emphasizes media literacy, the impact of new technologies on everyday life, and philosophies of communication--most with a political, feminist, and radical humanist twist. It can be used in a variety of contexts. It can suit the needs of the undergraduate and graduate alike who share a thirst for observations that bring the field of media studies inquiry to light. Kevin Williams holds a PhD in the philosophy of communication and media studies from Ohio University. He teaches media criticism and production at Shepherd University in WV. He is also a musician--a drummer turned electric violinist. He lives with his partner TC and a rather large assortment of cats who showed up one day and never left. He can be reached for further discussion at kwilliam@shepherd.edu and http: //webpages.shepherd.edu/kwilliam.