Foundations of Critical Media and Information Studies Routledge Advances in Sociology Series

Foundations of Critical Media and Information Studies lays down foundations for the analysis of media, information, and information technology in 21st century information society, as well as introducing the theoretical and empirical tools necessary for the critical study of media and information. Christian Fuchs shows the role classical critical theory can play for analyzing the information society and the information economy, as well as analyzing the role of the media and the information economy in economic development, the new imperialism, and the new economic crisis. The book critically discusses transformations of the Internet (?web 2.0?), introduces the notion of alternative media as critical media, and shows the critical role media and information technology can play in contemporary society.

This book provides an excellent introduction to the study of media, information technology, and information society, making it a valuable reference tool for both undergraduate and postgraduate students of subjects such as Media Studies, Sociology of Media, Social Theory, and New Media.

1. Introduction Part 1: Theory 2. Critical Theory Today 3. Critical Media and Information Studies 4. Karl Marx and Critical Media and Information Studies Part 2: Case Studies 5. The Media and Information Economy & the New Imperialism 6. The New Crisis of Capitalism and the Role of the Media and Information Economy 7. Participatory Web 2.0 as Ideology Part 3: Alternatives 8. Alternative Media as Critical Media 9. Conclusion

Christian Fuchs is Professor and Chair for Media and Communication Studies at Uppsala University's Department of Informatics and Media Studies. He is also board member of the Unified Theory of Information Research Group (Austria) and editor of tripleC (cognition, communication, co-operation): Journal for a Global Sustainable Information Society. He is author of many publications in the fields ICTs and society, media and society, information society studies, and critical theory.