Media in Society and Culture
What is the role and influence of the media in modern society? How does it contribute to, create, direct or represent that society's 'culture'? Consideration of the role, influence and development of the Media in Society and Culture involves addressing fundamental questions about Culture and Society themselves. The insight of various thinkers into the social and cultural role of the media has been underwritten by presuppositions which are, in turn, informed by points of view on what constitutes society and culture.
How do we conceive of a society? Is it an organic whole, more than the sum of its individual members? Do we see society in terms of a number of social groups, organized in terms of "class", economic activity, access to and control of forms of power, knowledge and beliefs? How also do we conceive of the concept of "Culture"? As a set of rituals, practices, beliefs and values which are shared by a whole society? As the expression of the interests and values of particular social groups? Or as a combination of all the individual practices, beliefs and forms of behaviour? Amongst twentieth century sociologists, anthropologists and cultural critics the discussion of the Media has been underwritten by the attempt to answer these questions, principally because of the nature and scope of the "mass media" itself, its influence as a powerful force for maintaining social cohesion, for constructing or reproducing social consciousness, as a mediator of values and beliefs, and as the major sources of information and means of information control within modern societies.
Approaches to the role of the media within twentieth century society have been dominated by one principal approach, the "Mass Society" approach.
Drawing from the 19th century tradition of social and cultural criticism, which includes such figures as J.S. Mill, de Tocqueville, Matthew Arnold and Nietzsche, this tradition views modern society in terms of an abstract, often unspecified definition
How do we conceive of a society? Is it an organic whole, more than the sum of its individual members? Do we see society in terms of a number of social groups, organized in terms of "class", economic activity, access to and control of forms of power, knowledge and beliefs? How also do we conceive of the concept of "Culture"? As a set of rituals, practices, beliefs and values which are shared by a whole society? As the expression of the interests and values of particular social groups? Or as a combination of all the individual practices, beliefs and forms of behaviour? Amongst twentieth century sociologists, anthropologists and cultural critics the discussion of the Media has been underwritten by the attempt to answer these questions, principally because of the nature and scope of the "mass media" itself, its influence as a powerful force for maintaining social cohesion, for constructing or reproducing social consciousness, as a mediator of values and beliefs, and as the major sources of information and means of information control within modern societies.
Approaches to the role of the media within twentieth century society have been dominated by one principal approach, the "Mass Society" approach.
Drawing from the 19th century tradition of social and cultural criticism, which includes such figures as J.S. Mill, de Tocqueville, Matthew Arnold and Nietzsche, this tradition views modern society in terms of an abstract, often unspecified definition