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Explorations in Media Ecology - Current Issue
Spotlight on Student Scholarship, Sept 2024
- Editorial
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Bridging generations of media ecologists
More LessThis editorial introduces a Special Issue of Explorations in Media Ecology that is devoted to student scholarship.
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- Articles
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On being a student of media ecology
By Lance StrateA revised version of a keynote address presented at the First Media Ecology Association Student Symposium held online on 3 February 2024, this article represents a reflection on the role of education within the media ecology intellectual tradition. Whether we are teaching others or teaching ourselves, we are media, mediating between past and future, ignorance and knowledge and ourselves and the world that we inhabit. Within the field of media ecology, the question of how is paramount, how we relate to and influence our environment and others and how we study and learn and teach.
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Media ecology and the modern invention of race
More LessIn Achieving Our Humanity, Emmanuel Chukwudi Eze describes the philosophical thinking underlying the modern invention of race but pays little attention to the media environment of the modern world. Media Ecologists assume people think in patterns that reflect the way they communicate among themselves; thus, an understanding of the modern invention of race cannot be separated from the communication technologies of modernity. In this article, I seek to build on Eze’s argument by discussing the role of the media environment in shaping the modern invention of race. By putting postcolonial scholarship in conversation with media ecology scholarship, I discuss the process of racial othering through the lens of several crucial communication media – including technologies of travel, printed books, maps and education systems – to conclude that the media environment of the modern age played an active role in shaping the process of racial othering that led to the modern invention of race.
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Media ecology, genetics and society: A possible contribution from Neil Postman’s Technopoly to the ethical debate surrounding ancient human DNA studies
Authors: Gabriel Frassetto and Mercedes OkumuraAncient DNA (aDNA) research has been intertwined with technology since its very beginning. Recognized for its potential to unveil insights into history and evolution, the field has been regarded as ‘revolutionary’ – and even capable of solving a myriad of questions still left open. Yet, critics range from ethical implications of the destruction of human remains – a non-renewable source of biological, cultural and spiritual significance – to the perceived overvaluation of genetics as a more reliable source of knowledge than other disciplines. Additionally, native communities (often sought for these studies) voiced concerns about biocolonialism, emphasizing the potential harm to their identity and both territorial and repatriation claims. Given this context, this article explores possible contributions from Postman’s Technopoly to the field’s ongoing discussions. What transformations has such technology brought about? Have inequalities been perpetuated (or even exacerbated)? How might understanding media ecology contribute to navigating these complexities, after all?
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Towards a science of projectification: The application of the project society to Nystrom’s paradigms for the study of human communication systems
More LessThis article proposes an interface between media ecology and project studies. Christine Nystrom’s paradigm for studying human communication systems serves as a bridge, allowing project studies’ concept of the ‘project society’ to be applied to media ecology. The project society, which proposes activity as the driving force behind space, time and relationships, opens the possibility of inverting the hierarchy of the paradigm, placing the elements of the medium (previously tertiary) in the primary position. Through this lens, the article demonstrates how the medium’s activity creates the conditions for communication to occur. It concludes by proposing benefits for both media ecology and project studies. Media ecology gains a novel perspective on the medium’s role, prompting new research questions. Project studies extends its research by successfully applying its concept to another established framework.
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Marshall McLuhan and Paulo Freire: Marxism, Catholicism and education
More LessThe aim of this article is to compare and contrast Marshall McLuhan and Paulo Freire’s ideas on Marxism and Catholicism – one famous educator from North America and the other famous educator from South America. Although, as far as our research is concerned, they had never met, they had some similar insights on the subject of education and both were Catholics, a significant detail as Catholicism and Marxism have distinct principles. However, unlike McLuhan, Freire was very fond of Marxist ideas. Therefore, the aim of this article is to discuss possible influences that both Catholicism and Marxism had on McLuhan and Freire’s thoughts, especially on the subject of education. Thus, it is like a window constructed with the juxtaposition of their ideas in order to bring together two relevant intellectuals to education that were (or still are) misunderstood by many.
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Content creation ecology: The challenges of small- and medium-scale content production in the digital era
More LessNew content distribution technologies in the twenty-first century were well received by independent producers, as they embraced the idea that new technologies could reverse media concentration. However, participatory and democratizing utopias were limited to user-generated content platforms, while professional content aggregators maintained traditional industrial practices. Considering media ecology theory and the economic ecosystems framework, I describe four creative ecosystems in the audio-visual industry and analyse the impact of different collaboration models between content aggregators and production companies. I conclude that collaboration models proposed by professional OTT content aggregators pose challenges for production companies that derive their profits from creativity, intellectual property development and content production services, especially those operating independently on a small and medium scale.
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Unveiling dystopian realities: Exploring parallels between Orwell, Huxley and McLuhan
More LessAs we stand on the precipice of the future, it becomes increasingly evident that the dystopian landscapes depicted in George Orwell’s 1984 and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World are not mere works of fiction but cautionary tales reflecting our reality. In this reflective abstract, we dive into the parallels between these literary classics and our present reality, shedding light on how we are unwittingly slipping into the brave new world envisioned by Huxley. Building upon Marshall McLuhan’s profound analysis of media and technology in Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man, this article delves into the subtle yet impactful ways society is transitioning towards a dystopian future. It explores four key themes from McLuhan’s work – extensions of man, Narcissus theory, phases of humanity and global village – and examines their relevance to our evolving world and emerging technologies.
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- Pedagogy
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Teaching and learning with Indigenous-centred comic books in the media ecology classroom
More LessIn Understanding Media, Marshall McLuhan wrote about comic books and called for further exploration of the medium’s expression of cultural change. This article takes up McLuhan’s call in the context of teaching and learning with Indigenous-centred comic books. Linking theories from media ecology, communication studies and cultural studies with Indigenous and decolonizing pedagogies, the article provides teaching and learning strategies, suggested readings, and assignments and activities for centring Indigenous perspectives and diversifying representation in the media ecology classroom. Readings and activities are on the topic of repatriating Indigenous remains and cultural objects, but the structure of the assignments can accommodate any number of topics.
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- Poetry
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The Tale of Job: A Seussian Tech Fable
More Less‘The Tale of Job: A Seussian Tech Fable’ reimagines the biblical story of Job through the lens of futuristic technology, blending the whimsical style of Dr Seuss with the dark, dystopian themes of Harlan Ellison’s ‘I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream’. This poetic narrative explores the profound impact of technology on human existence and identity, highlighting the tension between its enchanting allure and terrifying potential. Job, under the screen name ‘U/JobOnTheGrid42’, faces trials against omnipotent digital forces, reflecting contemporary anxieties about autonomy loss. Through his journey, simplifying the 42 chapters in the Book of Job, the poem critiques our dependence on technology, urging a balance between embracing innovation and preserving humanity.
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- Book Review
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The Disappearance of Rituals: A Topology of the Present, Byung-Chul Han (2020)
More LessReview of: The Disappearance of Rituals: A Topology of the Present, Byung-Chul Han (2020)
Medford, MA: Polity Press, 104 pp.,
ISBN-13 978-1-50954-275-8, h/bk, $64.95
ISBN-13 978-1-50954-276-5, p/bk, $16.95
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Volumes & issues
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Volume 23 (2024)
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Volume 22 (2023)
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Volume 21 (2022)
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Volume 20 (2021)
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Volume 19 (2020)
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Volume 18 (2019)
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Volume 17 (2018)
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Volume 16 (2017)
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Volume 15 (2016)
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Volume 14 (2015)
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Volume 13 (2014)
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Volume 12 (2013)
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Volume 11 (2012)
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Volume 10 (2011)
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Volume 9 (2010)
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Volume 8 (2009)
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Volume 7 (2008)
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Volume 6 (2007)
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Volume 5 (2006)
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Volume 4 (2005)
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Volume 3 (2004)
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Volume 2 (2003)
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Volume 1 (2002)
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