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"Evolutionary Communication presents the first comprehensive evolutionary approach to the study of human communication. Presuming no specialized knowledge of evolutionary theory, this reader-friendly textbook explains why and how communication became the determining factor in human development. Drawing from the latest scientific research, Evolutionary Communication represents a truly groundbreaking contribution to Communication Studies as a field of study. Opening up an inspiring new approach for teaching communication, the book can be used as a core volume or supplemental text for courses ranging from Introduction to Communication and Communication Theory to Special Topics and graduate seminars"--

First published in 1990, this title presents a rich account of how television intersects with family life in American and other world cultures. From an analysis of the political and cultural significance of China's most important television series to detailed descriptions of how families in the United States interpret and use television at home, James Lull's ethnographic work marks an important stage in the study of the role of the mass media in contemporary culture. This title will be of interest not only to those in media and communications, but also to those in the broader fields of cultura

The years following the Cultural Revolution saw the arrival of television as part of China's effort to 'modernize' and open up to the West. Endorsed by the Deng Xiaoping regime as a 'bridge' between government and the people, television became at once the official mouthpiece of the Communist Party and the most popular form of entertainment for Chinese people living in the cities. But the authorities failed to realize the unmatched cultural power of television to inspire resistance to official ideologies, expectations, and lifestyles.The presence of television in the homes of the urba

All eyes on the global stage -- Human expression -- Programming our personal supercultures -- The push and pull of culture -- Globalized Islam -- Cultural transparency -- The open spaces of global communication -- Fundamentalism and cosmopolitanism -- Communicating the future.

We communicate to survive. The social history of our species can be characterized by how we continuously expand our ability to connect with others. Television and the Internet function as unique resources people creatively use to fulfill their social needs and build communities. But they do so in very different ways. By placing television and the Internet in evolutionary perspective, this commentary compares the form, content, and contexts of how the two technologies are used as culturally embedded social resources. The methodological challenge of generating empirical data to reveal how the Internet is used socially is addressed. Quantitative and qualitative assessments, especially ethnography, play complementary roles in describing how multi-modal Internet users construct the social contacts and relationships that shape their everyday lives in the Communication Age.

Adaptado a partir del más reciente libro de su autor, «Culture-on-demand: communication in a crisis world», y continuando con la visión que el autor tiene de la participación activa de los espectadores en todas las formas de comunicación humana, este artículo defiende el lugar de la expresión humana y del poder del símbolo en los medios de comunicación contemporáneos y en el mundo de la cultura. Discute cómo la moderna tecnología de la comunicación refuerza y extiende el potencial expresivo de los ciudadanos de a pie en los contextos normativos de la vida cotidiana e introduce el concepto de cultural «open sourcing», concepto fundamental para incrementar la democratización de los procesos de la comunicación y la distribución del poder social a escala global._________________________________Based on Lull's recent book «Culture-on-Demand: Communication in a Crisis World» (2007) and on the author's view of audiences as active participants in all forms of human communication, this article argues for the place of human expression and symbolic power in contemporary media and cultural studies. It also discusses how modern communication technology reinforces and extends the expressive potential of ordinary citizens in the normative contexts of everyday life. This contribution introduces the concept of cultural open sourcing as fundamental to the increasing democratization of communication processes and distribution of social power ona global scale.

In dem Beitrag wird argumentiert, dass die aktuelle Globalisierung von Medienkommunikation es notwendig macht, traditionelle Kategorien von Kultur und Kulturanalyse zu durchbrechen und zu einem neuen Verständnis von Kultur zu gelangen. Dabei steht das als "Superkultur" bezeichnete Konzept im Mittelpunkt der Betrachtungen. Das Konzept der Superkultur, ihre Technologie und kulturelle Programmgestaltung, die kulturelle Kluft, Konnektivität und Gemeinschaft und die symbolische Varietät und kulturelle Diskursivität werden theoretisch erörtert. Des Weiteren werden die kulturellen Sphären wie Superkultur als kulturelle Leistung, die Kraft der Hybriden und superkulturelle Identitäten diskutiert. Fazit: Zentrales Moment der kommerzialisierten Superkultur ist das Hybride und Transkulturelle. Kultur ist demnach als eine Matrix zu fassen, als ein konnektiver Zusammenhang, in dem Medien verschiedene Sphären eröffnen. Überlegungen John Tomlinsons aufgreifend wird die Frage aufgeworfen, ob die mit der Globalisierung von Medienkommunikation entstandene Konnektivität Ausgangspunkt eines neuen Kosmopolitismus ist. (RG)

Music plays a variety of roles as an agent of social utility and source of entertainment. For young people in particular, music helps unify social collectives, introduces new topics, teaches society's norms and rules, and creates new symbols. Because active use of a medium increases its effect as an agent of socialization, music has an impact at physical, emotional, and cognitive levels. The modern rock movement is especially important when considering the activities of adolescents in the U.S. and Europe.

Audience members "use" television in a variety of ways. The social environment in the family home is a major contributor to differential uses of the medium by individuals. Previous research on family communication patterns, for instance, has demonstrated that families which stress harmo nious social relations at home (socio orientation) differ in many attitudes, activities, and media habits from families which stress the independent expression of ideas (concept orientation). This survey research explores the ways in which socio-oriented and concept-oriented audience members differ in their uses of television as a resource for the accomplishment of interpersonal objectives at home. Differences were found for behaviors which range from structuring daily activities and talk patterns to more complex interpersonal goals such as communication facilitation, affilia tionlavoidance, social learning, and demonstration of competence/domi nance.