When Ants Move Mountains: Uncovering a Media Theory of Human Agency
Just as Smythe argued communication was the “blindspot of western Marxism,” western communication and media theorizing itself suffers a blind spot, when it places media power in the hands of dictators and captains of industry as if no others might put pen to paper and change history. Meanwhile, t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Ludovika University Press
2016-05-01
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| Series: | KOME: An International Journal of Pure Communication Inquiry |
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| Online Access: | http://komejournal.com/files/KOME_PWElliott.pdf |
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| _version_ | 1839599982610481152 |
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| author | Patricia W. Elliott |
| author_facet | Patricia W. Elliott |
| author_sort | Patricia W. Elliott |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Just as Smythe argued communication was the “blindspot of western
Marxism,” western communication and media theorizing itself suffers a blind spot,
when it places media power in the hands of dictators and captains of industry as if no
others might put pen to paper and change history. Meanwhile, theoretical explorations
of how media praxis might be understood and employed for emancipation – not
subjugation – emerged through the experiences of people in the Global South and
Indigenous communities. This article examines and contrasts the theoretical silos,
seeking moments of cross-over and synergy between static, top-down conceptualizations
of Western mass media theory, and the more people-powered media praxis of colonized
people seeking liberation. Building on the literature of differing experiences, the author
draws a framework to encompass the full spectrum of media power. Here scholars,
policy planners, and media practitioners alike may find common ground from which to
recognize and support grassroots media producers as agents of meaningful social
change. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-92456c83c81c4907a4e3574b26e278d6 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2063-7330 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-05-01 |
| publisher | Ludovika University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | KOME: An International Journal of Pure Communication Inquiry |
| spelling | doaj-art-92456c83c81c4907a4e3574b26e278d62025-08-02T14:00:32ZengLudovika University PressKOME: An International Journal of Pure Communication Inquiry2063-73302016-05-0141506810.17646/KOME.2016.14When Ants Move Mountains: Uncovering a Media Theory of Human AgencyPatricia W. Elliott0University of ReginaJust as Smythe argued communication was the “blindspot of western Marxism,” western communication and media theorizing itself suffers a blind spot, when it places media power in the hands of dictators and captains of industry as if no others might put pen to paper and change history. Meanwhile, theoretical explorations of how media praxis might be understood and employed for emancipation – not subjugation – emerged through the experiences of people in the Global South and Indigenous communities. This article examines and contrasts the theoretical silos, seeking moments of cross-over and synergy between static, top-down conceptualizations of Western mass media theory, and the more people-powered media praxis of colonized people seeking liberation. Building on the literature of differing experiences, the author draws a framework to encompass the full spectrum of media power. Here scholars, policy planners, and media practitioners alike may find common ground from which to recognize and support grassroots media producers as agents of meaningful social change.http://komejournal.com/files/KOME_PWElliott.pdfcommunication theorymedia theorymedia studiescultural studiesGlobal South |
| spellingShingle | Patricia W. Elliott When Ants Move Mountains: Uncovering a Media Theory of Human Agency KOME: An International Journal of Pure Communication Inquiry communication theory media theory media studies cultural studies Global South |
| title | When Ants Move Mountains: Uncovering a Media Theory of Human Agency |
| title_full | When Ants Move Mountains: Uncovering a Media Theory of Human Agency |
| title_fullStr | When Ants Move Mountains: Uncovering a Media Theory of Human Agency |
| title_full_unstemmed | When Ants Move Mountains: Uncovering a Media Theory of Human Agency |
| title_short | When Ants Move Mountains: Uncovering a Media Theory of Human Agency |
| title_sort | when ants move mountains uncovering a media theory of human agency |
| topic | communication theory media theory media studies cultural studies Global South |
| url | http://komejournal.com/files/KOME_PWElliott.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT patriciawelliott whenantsmovemountainsuncoveringamediatheoryofhumanagency |