Communication as a Social Force Summary
Week 1
Topic: Mediatization
Concepts:
Mediatization
Media logic
Field theory (Bourdieu)
Structuration theory (Giddens)
Article: Hjarvard
Mediatization: The process whereby the society to an increased degree is submitted to or
becomes dependent on the media and their logic.
Dialectic structure of media (dual process of mediatization): Media have become an
integrated part of social institutions and media have grown into an (independent) social
institution themselves.
Historical development of mediatization
Media used by institutions
Media as an institution
Media intertwined with other institutions
Four types of mediatization processes (Winfried Shulz):
1. Media can extend human communication
2. Media can substitute activities (face to face becomes mediated)
3. Media can merge activities (Mediated + face to face)
4. Media can force activities to adapt to media’s format
Media Logic:
The rules and codes of media
Frame of reference in the production of media culture
Visions, conventions, styles & affordances of media
Field theory (Bourdieu):
, Fields are composed of autonomous and heteronomous poles
Autonomous poles (doxa): field act according to its own logic
Heteronomous poles: fields act under the influence of other fields
Other institutions have lost part of their autonomy due to the rise of the media’s
independence in current society
Structuration theory (Giddens): just as an individual's autonomy is influenced by structure,
structures are maintained and adapted through the exercise of agency. The interface at which an
actor meets a structure is termed “structuration.”
Week 2
Topic: Politics
Concepts:
Political logic
polity
Policy
Politics
Connectivity
Celebrity politics
Personality politics
Mediatized leaders
Organizational adaptation
Communication adaptation
Click economy
Image-first logic
Porous politics
Infinite politics
Bounded politics
Media interventionism
Everything politics
Mediagenicity
Articles:
1. Ekman & Widholm
2. Strombacks & Dimitrova
Strombacks Model of Mediatization of politics:
Week 1
Topic: Mediatization
Concepts:
Mediatization
Media logic
Field theory (Bourdieu)
Structuration theory (Giddens)
Article: Hjarvard
Mediatization: The process whereby the society to an increased degree is submitted to or
becomes dependent on the media and their logic.
Dialectic structure of media (dual process of mediatization): Media have become an
integrated part of social institutions and media have grown into an (independent) social
institution themselves.
Historical development of mediatization
Media used by institutions
Media as an institution
Media intertwined with other institutions
Four types of mediatization processes (Winfried Shulz):
1. Media can extend human communication
2. Media can substitute activities (face to face becomes mediated)
3. Media can merge activities (Mediated + face to face)
4. Media can force activities to adapt to media’s format
Media Logic:
The rules and codes of media
Frame of reference in the production of media culture
Visions, conventions, styles & affordances of media
Field theory (Bourdieu):
, Fields are composed of autonomous and heteronomous poles
Autonomous poles (doxa): field act according to its own logic
Heteronomous poles: fields act under the influence of other fields
Other institutions have lost part of their autonomy due to the rise of the media’s
independence in current society
Structuration theory (Giddens): just as an individual's autonomy is influenced by structure,
structures are maintained and adapted through the exercise of agency. The interface at which an
actor meets a structure is termed “structuration.”
Week 2
Topic: Politics
Concepts:
Political logic
polity
Policy
Politics
Connectivity
Celebrity politics
Personality politics
Mediatized leaders
Organizational adaptation
Communication adaptation
Click economy
Image-first logic
Porous politics
Infinite politics
Bounded politics
Media interventionism
Everything politics
Mediagenicity
Articles:
1. Ekman & Widholm
2. Strombacks & Dimitrova
Strombacks Model of Mediatization of politics:
