The Media Studies Reader

This reader has been designed for students taking first level courses in media studies. It offers a selection of material ranging from short extracts to complete readings which are linked throughout by a student-oriented commentary. Three key dimensions of media studies are addressed. First, the book discusses the historical development of the various media, their relationship with modernity and the critical commentaries they have generated. Secondly, it encompasses the full range of the different media, from the press to advertising, from radio, film and television to newer, emergent and changing media forms. The third section is devoted to essays and extracts which work across the constituent focal points of media production, media texts and media reception. Finally, the authors offer suggestions for further reading and topics for discussion and research projects.