Communication Studies

Towards a Typology of Internet Governance Socio-Technical Arrangements

by Francesca Musiani

Co-authored with Romain Badouard, Cécile Méadel and Laurence Monnoyer-Smith
Published in "Normative Experience in Internet Politics", Paris, Presses de l'Ecole des Mines, 2012.

Communication systems and the social history of technology (essay in Bengali language)

by Abhijit Roy

Madhyam O Sanjog, September-November, 1997

A critique of the de-politicizing tropes in the discourses of "communication revolution".

I was... more A critique of the de-politicizing tropes in the discourses of "communication revolution".

I was extremely unhappy about the way this piece was printed without showing me a single proof of the text. Contains a number of printing errors. Also, some lines are abruptly missing on 3 occasions (marked). Horrible production!

Still uploading this 15-year old essay, since some might find a few paragraphs interesting (despite it being a somewhat hackneyed 'ideology critique'). These were the first years of the career of computer in India. I, like many in Indian universities at that time, didn't have a 'personal' computer. Shared with many colleagues an MS-DOS system in the UG Arts building at JU. Looking historically at the narrator's gaze (also possibly at the unprofessional approach of the the Bengali Little Magazine then!) would help the reader.

Television: The Indian Experience

by Abhijit Roy

An overview of the television scenario in India exclusively for the participants of ‘Eurinfilm Screenwriting Workshop’, 1999, conducted by the European Union-India Cross-Cultural Programme. http://www.euindia.org/eifscrwri2/html (the page is not available now). Indranil Chakravarty, a graduate in Film Direction from the International Film School (EICTV) in Havana, who was then a Script Consultant for this Programme, commissioned me to write the paper.

Gives you an idea of the TV scene in India at the end of the last century. A descriptive basic introduction containing... more Gives you an idea of the TV scene in India at the end of the last century. A descriptive basic introduction containing historical, structural and thematic overviews. Section [D], 'Perception of TV Scripwriters' should be an interesting read.

Communication (A short essay in Bengali language)

by Abhijit Roy

Dhrubapad, annual number 4, 2000

This is an entry in a collection of short essays on various keywords in the field of Culture Studies, Social Science... more This is an entry in a collection of short essays on various keywords in the field of Culture Studies, Social Science and Humanities. This piece is a very basic introduction to the concerns of Communication Studies. The editor of Dhrubapad annual collections is Sudhir Chakraborty, eminent Bengali writer.

Kierkegaard and Dialogue: The Communication of Capability

by Andrew Herrmann

Despite his claim that his work was rooted in Socratic dialogue, little attention has been given to the implications... more Despite his claim that his work was rooted in Socratic dialogue, little attention has been given to the implications of Kierkegaard’s ideas for communication. This article examines two aspects of Kierkegaard’s philosophy of communication. First, it considers Kierkegaardian critiques of chatter, everyday talk, and the press and considers how these activities are involved in a process of objectification he called leveling. Second, this essay investigates Kierkegaard’s distinction between the communication of knowledge (Videns Meddelelse) and the communication of capability (Kunnis Meddelelse). Finally, it situates Kierkegaard within the dialogic tradition and presents a variety of possibilities for exploring Kierkegaardian thought further within the communication discipline.

Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin and the makeover of Indian soaps

by Abhijit Roy

Published in Locating Cultural Change: Theory, Method, Process ed. Partha Pratim Basu and Ipshita Chanda, Sage India, June 2011, pp.19-53

In this essay, I have investigated how perceptions
of originality and uniqueness are constructed in culture... more In this essay, I have investigated how perceptions
of originality and uniqueness are constructed in culture industries, and
in what ways the existing ideological frameworks of a range of popular
tastes are negotiated to create the ‘new’. With respect to the particular
serial under examination, the key aspects of concern are the generic
trope, the market, consuming patterns and the narrative. 'Jassi Jaissi Koi
Nahin' (henceforth JJKN), the Indian version of 'Yo soy Betty la fea', ran between 2003 and 2006 on Sony Entertainmemnt Television, India. It is particularly important in understanding
what is projected as a novel tendency in popular culture, because the
serial itself is thematically premised upon the idea of the ‘makeover’,
one key form of ‘change’ that has found major currency in consumerist
perceptions. I refer to the much hyped ‘makeover’ of Jassi the lead character, but not only
that. A close examination reveals that with JJKN, at least two aspects of
Indian television got a makeover: marketing strategies and the genre of
soap. If one includes the context of adaptation from the Latin American
telenovela, itself possibly a process of makeover, and the transformation
of image that ‘SET India’ as a channel accomplished through the serial,
one possibly has a chance of examining ‘makeover’ as a much wider
category in studies of global consumerist cultures. It was indeed interesting
to note how the serial triggered a context of reception in which
the central thematic of the bodily makeover resonated with a broader
thematic of societal and representational changes. The opportunity here
for Television Studies is to examine how the public domain is suffused
with a certain image of TV itself as a change-agent and how interfaces
between global television formats conjure the ‘local’ narratives of transition.
The location of issues in gender at the centre of this theatre makes
the whole investigation a major imperative of our times.

The apparatus and its constituencies: On India’s encounters with television

by Abhijit Roy

Published in Journal of the Moving Image, Number 4, November, 2005.

In my attempt at exploring possible connections between nation and the television ‘form’, I have in this essay tried... more In my attempt at exploring possible connections between nation and the television ‘form’, I have in this essay tried to track a major trajectory in television studies, that of the theoretical investments in the formal aspects of the televisual experience. The essay heavily draws upon the recent debates around the notion of ‘flow’ in the work of Raymond Williams and relates them to another movement which is also, not surprisingly, called ‘flow’ i.e. the flow of programs and programming from one country to the other, the most familiar route being from the North America to the rest of the world. The object is to investigate whether television inclines towards offering a specific kind of experience, whether, to put it more precisely, television comes closer to being an ‘ideological apparatus’. We try to locate the Indian context—with its particular histories of performance—vis-à-vis this apparatus and show that, to a large extent, the so called ‘pre-capitalist’ traits in the Indian popular performative traditions are homologous with what western theorists try to specify (though in contradicting terms) as a somewhat ‘central’ televisual experience. One of the main aims is to account for this correspondence of televisual form to the heteronomous popular of the territories that consistently refuse to harbour fully bourgeoised state-form and that continue to be highly heterogeneous in production relations. The paper tries to investigate into the specific imports of this relation in the post-liberalization cultural lives of television in India with special reference to a somewhat novel way television has started imagining the nation. I shall draw upon various instances from the history of television in India to demonstrate the currency of this dialogue between the pre-television modes of addresses and the televisual flow in the constitution of televisual subjects in India. The significance of the Indian popular film form in lending a major legacy to televisual reception would be a key area of concern. The series of works in Indian Film Studies over the last twenty years, in their insistent emphasis on the political economy of popular audio-visual cultures, gives the paper a major point of entry into the study of location of the televisual apparatus in a post-colonial context.

Bringing up TV: Popular culture and the developmental modern in India

by Abhijit Roy

South Asian Popular Culture Vol. 6, No. 1, April 2008, 29–43

The essay suggests that the ideologies of the privatized satellite television in India
remain largely... more The essay suggests that the ideologies of the privatized satellite television in India
remain largely inconceivable unless one takes into account the complex
relationship between the Indian state and realms of ‘popular’ down from the
1960s. It takes a close look at the way India’s state-controlled television tried to
frame a certain aesthetics of ‘development communication’ involving issues of
pedagogy, nationhood, citizenship, sexuality, morality, autonomy and publicness.
One of the key arguments is that the State’s moralizing effort to conceive a
modern televisual public as antagonistic to what it thought to be a ‘vulgar’
cinematic public, along with a concurrent obligation to make television popular
and profitable, created a host of contradictions within the hegemonic projects of
the state. This, however, also led to possibilities of negotiation between the statist
forms and the emergent consumerist forms of citizenship post-1982. In this sense,
we are looking at the conditions of possibility of the way post-Liberalization
satellite television most aptly demonstrates the inter-constitutive relationship
between the State and the Market, the historical liaison between democracy and
capitalism.

„Dziedzictwo Schramma” jako źródło specyfiki polskiej nauki o komunikacji

by Emanuel Kulczycki

Lingua ac Communitas. 2011; 21:79-88.

Niniejszy tekst jest próbą wskazania źródłowych uwarunkowań, które przyczyniły się do praso- i medioznawczego... more Niniejszy tekst jest próbą wskazania źródłowych uwarunkowań, które przyczyniły się do praso- i medioznawczego charakteru refleksji uprawianej w ramach polskiej nauki o komunikacji. Ukazanych zostanie sześć takowych źródeł, które widoczne są z perspektywy filozofii prowadzącej rozważania nad refleksją uprawianą w ramach nauki o komunikacji. Za główne źródło specyfiki polskiej nauki o komunikacji uznam wpływ rozwiązań instytucjonalnych poczynionych przez Wilbura Schramma w celu instytucjonalnego ugruntowania refleksji nad komunikacją w ośrodkach akademickich w Stanach Zjednoczonych oraz wykorzystanie (a dokładniej: analogiczne zastosowanie) wyników tychże rozwiązań na gruncie polskim

Status komunikologii — przyczynek do dyskusji

by Emanuel Kulczycki

Homo Communicativus. 2008; 3(1):27-37.

Aby przed­sta­wić pod­sta­wowe pro­blemy, które wiążą się ze sta­tu­sem komu­ni­ko­lo­gii, arty­kuł będzie się... more Aby przed­sta­wić pod­sta­wowe pro­blemy, które wiążą się ze sta­tu­sem komu­ni­ko­lo­gii, arty­kuł będzie się skła­dał z dwóch czę­ści, które pozwolą usys­te­ma­ty­zo­wać wywód oraz dopro­wa­dzą do zary­so­wa­nia jasnego sta­no­wi­ska autora. Pierw­szym pod­ję­tym tema­tem będzie pro­blem zde­fi­nio­wa­nia ter­mi­nów „komu­ni­ka­cja”, „komu­ni­ko­wa­nie” oraz „komu­ni­ko­wa­nie spo­łeczne”. Pozwoli to zadać pyta­nie o nie­ści­sło­ści, jakie poja­wiają się w sta­no­wi­skach bada­czy komu­ni­ka­cji /​komu­ni­ko­lo­gów: nie­ostra defi­ni­cja „komu­ni­ka­cji /​komu­ni­ko­wa­nia” prze­kłada się na roz­myte okre­śle­nie obszaru badań (postu­lo­wa­nej) komunikologii. Dru­gim kro­kiem będzie przed­sta­wie­nie komu­ni­ko­lo­gii, jako dzie­dziny sta­no­wią­cej nie­za­leżny obszar badań już w pierw­szej poło­wie XX wieku. Zosta­nie posta­wione pyta­nie: „czy bada­nia nad komu­ni­ka­cją można okre­ślać już mia­nem dys­cy­pliny, czy też jest to może wciąż »pole wie­dzy«?”. Zosta­nie pod­nie­siona rów­nież kwe­stia inter­dy­scy­pli­nar­no­ści nauki o komunikacji.

Problem obszaru badań nauki o komunikowaniu

by Emanuel Kulczycki

Media światem człowieka
edited by Michał Drożdż, Ignacy S. Fiut, 2009: pages 15-24; Wydawnictwo "Jedność". ISBN: 978-83-7660-117-5

Samodzielna dyscyplina naukowa winna cechować się własnymi metodami oraz wyraźnie zaznaczonym obszarem, badawczym.... more Samodzielna dyscyplina naukowa winna cechować się własnymi metodami oraz wyraźnie zaznaczonym obszarem, badawczym. Pytanie O status metodologiczny nauki o komunikowaniu musi implikować pytanie o przedmiot jej refleksji.
Analiza podstawowych prób teoretycznego ujęcia komunikowania pozwala wysnuć wniosek, iż istnieje stanowcza potrzeba  podjęcia rozważań teoretycznych dotyczących studiów nad komunikowaniem. Punktem wyjścia będzie charakterystyka chaosu terminologicznego wewnątrz nauki o komunikowaniu oraz zostanie postawione pytanie o zasadność utożsamia nia
jej z komunikologią. Pozwoli to zapytać o problem do określenia obszaru badań i przedstawić podstawowe problemy wynikające ze specyfiki podejścia polskich badaczy. Zagadnienie statusu nauki o komunikowaniu zostan ie przedstawione w odniesieniu do rozważań m.in. Roberta T. Craiga, Richarda L. Lanigana oraz
Wolfganga Donsbacha. Niniejszy tekst jest próbą odpowiedzi na pytanie: czym zajmuje się / powinna się zajmować nauka o komunikowaniu?

Kulturowo-​obiektywne istnienie procesu komunikacji jako warunek projektowania autonomicznej dyscypliny komunikacji

by Emanuel Kulczycki

published in 'Kultura i Historia'. 2/20

The purpose of the present paper is to suggest a philosophical basis  for reflection about communication and... more The purpose of the present paper is to suggest a philosophical basis  for reflection about communication and considerations about  disciplinary status of this reflection. The article is an attempt at  showing conditions which have to be fulfilled to achieve  non-institutional autonomization of communication research. The most  important conclusion that is drawn here is that the process of  communication must be seen (by researchers) as existing in a culturally objective way (intersubjective).

Engaging with the Bailey Review: blogging, academia and authenticity

by Jamie Heckert

Co-authored with Feona Attwood, Meg Barker, Sara Bragg, Danielle Egan, Adrienne Evans, Laura Harvey, Gail Hawkes, Naomi Holford, Jan Macvarish, Amber Martin, Alan McKee, Sharif Mowlabocus, Susanna Paasonen, Emma Renold, Jessica Ringrose, Ludi Valentine, Anne Frances Watson and Liesbet van Zoonen. Published in Psychology & Sexuality, 2011.

This article reproduces and discusses a series of blog posts posted by academics in anticipation of the report on... more This article reproduces and discusses a series of blog posts posted by academics in anticipation of the report on commercialisation, sexualisation and childhood, ‘Letting Children Be Children’ by Reg Bailey for the UK Department of Education in June 2011. The article discusses the difficulty of ‘translating’ scholarly work for the public in a context where ‘impact’ is increasingly important and the challenges that academics face in finding new ways of speaking about sex in public.

The Beauty (and Darkness- No Need for Bias Here) of Language

by Poppy Valentine

This thought paper walks through some positive and negative aspects of language- verbal, written & symbolic-... more This thought paper walks through some positive and negative aspects of language- verbal, written & symbolic- depending on their employment & interpretation. This paper also provides advise on how one can become a more effective practitioner of language.

The Rhetorical Structure of Disability: Bridging the Gap between What is ‘Spoken’ and What is ‘Said’ with Song—Over-Signifying with Personhood Against the Backdrop of Disease-Centric Discourse

by Jeff Roberts

Masters Thesis

This paper investigates the rhetoric surrounding disability, specifically focusing on how such rhetoric is deployed in... more This paper investigates the rhetoric surrounding disability, specifically focusing on how such rhetoric is deployed in legislative texts which attempt to promote the equality of people with disabilities throughout society. In criticizing “disease-centric discourse” within legislative texts the paper argues that there is a gap between what is “spoken” and what is “said” in current state-based actions which attempt to pragmatically secure equality. In order to bridge this gap, the paper focuses on the “rhetorical structure” of language within a vacuum, utilizing the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche in explanation of reason in grammatical structure. Ultimately, utilizing Jean Baudrillard’s concept of “over-signification” the paper concludes with the advocacy of traversing the grammatical reasoned structure of the predicate/subject dichotomy which disease-centric discourse is founded upon, and employing a method of performative engagement in the “singing” of people first language when advancing pragmatic actions
toward equality.

What veterinarians need to know about communication to optimise their role as advisors on udder health in dairy herds

by Jolanda Jansen

The veterinary practitioner is one of the most important advisors for farmers in the field of udder health. He or she... more The veterinary practitioner is one of the most important advisors for farmers in the field of udder health. He or she has the tools to improve udder health if farmers are motivated to do so. Many farmers think that udder health is important, but this does not always mean that management of mastitis is up to standard. Many veterinarians are of the opinion that they are unable to convince their clients of the possible profits to be gained from investing in management of mastitis. Something is required to bridge this gap. This article, based on data and experiences from The Netherlands, describes the communication issues that can be considered in order to improve the role of the veterinarian as advisor, to achieve better udder health. The outcome is beneficial for both farmers and veterinarians, the former for reasons of economics, welfare and ease of work; the latter because it creates extra, challenging work. It is concluded that the veterinary practitioner is in an ideal situation to advise and motivate farmers to improve udder health but, to do this, the means of communication need to take account of the different learning styles of farmers. The most important aspects of such communication are found to be a pro-active approach, personalisation of messages, providing a realistic frame of reference for the farmer, and use of the farmer's social environment. Importantly, all persons and organisations in a farmer's social environment should articulate the same message.

Political Communication and International Relations - Book Excerpt

by Derek B. Miller

This is a section of Chapter 7 in the book Media Pressure on Foreign Policy: The Evolving Theoretical Framework published by Palgrave, 2007.  Endnotes are also provided.

This chapter, completed in 2004, and published by Palgrave in the book Media Pressure on Foreign Policy (Derek B.... more This chapter, completed in 2004, and published by Palgrave in the book Media Pressure on Foreign Policy (Derek B. Miller) articulates a theoretical bridge between communication studies and international relations by challenging the Constuctivist-Realist distinction, and demonstrating how even the progenitor of modern Realism (Hans Morganthau) was convinced that Realism was reposed on a cultural system. The chapter is — to the author's best understanding — the first to orient the ethnography of communication to the study of international relations properly.

Take Me Out of the Ballgame: the Decline in Participation and Identification of African-Americans in Baseball

by Holly Prior

Written in partial-completion for requirements in the Barrett Honors College. My thesis committee is listed under "advisers" on my page.

Locating Memory: Photographic Acts (Book Review)

by Matthew Tegelberg

Tegelberg, Matthew. 2008. Review of Locating Memory: Photographic Acts. Edited by Annette Kuhn and Kirsten Emiko McAllister, in Canadian Journal of Communication 33(2): pp.341-342.

Canada: The dirty old man of climate politics?

by Matthew Tegelberg

Book chapter in Eide, Elisabeth., Risto Kunelius and Ville Kumpu eds. Global Climate – local journalisms: A transnational study of how media make sense of climate summits

Elisabeth Eide, Risto Kunelius, Ville Kumpu (eds):
Global Climate – local journalisms
A TRANSNATIONAL STUDY... more Elisabeth Eide, Risto Kunelius, Ville Kumpu (eds):
Global Climate – local journalisms
A TRANSNATIONAL STUDY OF HOW MEDIA MAKE SENSE OF CLIMATE SUMMITS
Global Journalism Research Series, vol. 3
©2010; 354 S./pp; Language: ENG
ISSN 1865-1615
ISBN 978-3-89733-226-3

Mitigation and adaption policies called for by climate change challenge transnational politics and media in hitherto unforeseen ways. The UN climate summits represent a unique form of global media events where enormous amounts of knowledge production, economic lobbying, civic activism and political bargaining for a moment come together. In this anthology, researchers from the MediaClimate network look at how journalism in different corners of the world interprets, domesticates and analyses such events, particularly the Copenhagen summit in December 2009. The book provides an empirically based, diverse and critical view of the limits and possibilities of journalism in the era of increasingly global problems. MediaClimate network consists of media scholars from 19 countries and all continents: Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, El Salvador, Germany, Israel, Indonesia, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Sweden and USA.

"... this publication represents groundbreaking research into the dynamics of media reporting of one of the most important challenges of our time – climate change." Wijayananda Jayaweera and Fackson Banda, UNESCO Paris