Marxist humanism and communication theory

Intro -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- Figures -- Tables -- Acknowledgements -- Chapter One. Introduction -- 1.1. What is Marxist humanism? -- Hegel and dialectical philosophy -- Practices -- Praxis -- Human essence -- Alienation -- Democratic socialism, socialist democracy -- Open Marxism -- Truth -- Ideology critique -- Critical ethics -- Marx' works -- 1.2. Why do we need Marxist humanism today? -- 1.3. The structure of this book -- 1.4. Alienation -- Literature -- Chapter Two. Erich Fromm and the critical theory of communication -- 2.1. Introduction -- 2.2. Communication -- 2.2.1. Erich Fromm on communication -- 2.2.2. An update of Erich Fromm's concept of communication -- 2.3. Ideology -- 2.3.1. Erich Fromm on ideology -- 2.3.2. An update of Erich Fromm's concept of ideology -- 2.4. Technology -- 2.4.1. Erich Fromm on technology -- 2.4.2. An update of Erich Fromm's concept of technology -- 2.5. Conclusion -- Literature -- Chapter Three. Revisiting the Althusser/E. P. Thompson-controversy: Towards a Marxist theory of communication -- 3.1. Introduction -- 3.2. Background -- 3.3. Louis Althusser -- 3.4. Edward P. Thompson -- 3.5. Towards a critical theory of communication -- 3.5.1. Communication in society: communication as the process of (re)producing social relations within societal relations -- 3.5.2. Class and domination -- 3.5.3. Communication as societal commoning -- 3.6. Conclusion -- Literature -- Chapter Four. Raymond Williams's communicative materialism -- 4.1. Introduction -- 4.2. The materialist theory of communication -- 4.3. Communicative materialism and the "base"/ "superstructure"-problem -- 4.4. Ideology -- 4.5. Conclusion -- Literature -- Chapter Five. Henri Lefebvre's theory of the production of space and the critical theory of communication -- 5.1. Introduction.

"This book outlines and contributes to the foundations of Marxist-humanist communication theory, asking what is the role of communication in capitalist society? Engaging with the works of critical thinkers such as Erich Fromm, E.P. Thompson, Raymond Williams, Henri Lefebvre, Georg Lukács, Lucien Goldmann, Günther Anders, M. N. Roy, Angela Davis, C. L. R. James, Rosa Luxemburg, Eve Mitchell, and Cedric J. Robinson, the book provides readings of works that inform our understanding of how to critically theorise communication in society. The topics covered include the relationship of capitalism, racism, and patriarchy; communication and alienation; the base/superstructure-problem; the question of how one should best define communication; the political economy of communication; ideology critique; the connection of communication and struggles for alternatives. Written for a broad audience of students and scholars interested in contemporary critical theory, this book will be useful for courses in media and communication studies, cultural studies, Internet research, sociology, philosophy, political science, and economics. This is the first of five Communication and Society volumes, each one outlining the foundations of a critical theory of communication in society"--