In this fully updated edition of his bestselling textbook, Paul Hodkinson shows us how the media industries shape every aspect of our lives in society. Turning to media for entertainment, communication, information and opportunities to forge identities for ourselves, we live in what he calls a 'media society'. But how might we understand the content-consumption which is so ingrained within our lives? This book, complete with current and compelling case studies throughout, will equip you to navigate the fast-moving field of media and communication studies. Providing an overview for students studying introductory media modules as well as depth for those further into their media degree, this has been a key title in the field since 2010 and remains a crucial introduction for undergraduate students. Topics updated for the new edition include: * Datafication and data capitalism * Surveillance * Algorithmic power * Platforms and platform capitalism * Digital advertising * Social media fame/celebrity
Paul Hodkinson is a sociologist whose work is focused upon youth cultures, online communications and on the relationships between media and cultural identities. He has conducted extensive research on goth subculture and is author of Goth. Identity, Style and Subculture (2002, Oxford: Berg). He is also co-editor of Youth Cultures: Scenes, Subcultures and Tribes (2007, London: Routledge). He is currently researching young people's use of online communications - notably through social networking sites. He is based in the Department of Sociology at the University of Surrey. He joined the department of sociology in August 2003. He was previously Senior Lecturer in Media Studies at University College Northampton and prior to that, he studied at the University of Birmingham at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Chapter 1: Introduction: From Representation to Mediatisation PART ONE: ELEMENTS OF MEDIA Chapter 2: Media Technologies Chapter 3: Media Industries Chapter 4: Media Content Chapter 5: Media Users PART TWO: MEDIA, POWER AND CONTROL Chapter 6: Media as Manipulation? Marxism, Ideology and Exploitation Chapter 7: The Construction of News Chapter 8: Media Purpose and Control Chapter 9: Advertising Chapter 10: Media, Democracy and the Public Sphere PART THREE: MEDIA, IDENTITY AND CULTURE Chapter 11: Media, Community and Individualisation Chapter 12: Media, Race and Ethnicity Chapter 13: Mediated Gender Chapter 14: The Mediation of Everything
This excellent book achieves the impressive task of reviewing a century of scholarship while remaining finely attuned to the latest developments - from TikTok to ChatGPT and beyond. A magnificent introduction to media and communication studies that should be a required textbook for anyone engaging with our field. -- Axel Bruns In his beautifully balanced and broad-ranging account of a fast-changing field, Paul Hodkinson has successfully brought together myriad perspectives with which to critically analyse today's media culture and media society, skilfully integrating theory from earlier times with the latest insights and problems. -- Sonia Livingstone
