mapping the territory of communication theory

MAPPING THE TERRITORY

Seven Traditions (or Eight) in the Field of Communication Territory

THE ESSENTIALS OF COMMUNICATIONTHEORY

According to Karl Popper “theories are nets cast to catch what we call

the ‘world’


Indeed, we use theories to guide us towards the understanding and

exploration of all natural, physical and social realities that surround us.

Communication is an inseparable and considerably substantial part of that

world.


Communication is multidisciplinary. The elements of Communication theory are present in literature, psychology, sociology and even mathematics and engineering.


The conceptual foundations that unite communication theories

1. Communication is a process, continuous and complex.

2. Communication is symbolic.3. Communication is transactional


“Communication is the problem to the answer” because scholars hold widely divergent views as to what communication is.

There are several perspectives as to what communication is. These are referred to as traditions in the field.

WHAT IS A PERSPECTIVE OR TRADITION OF COMMUNICATION?

1. A perspective is a way of looking through, an angle of vision, a way of seeing.

2. All perspectives are therefore partial and, in that sense, distorted or biased.

3. All perspectives look at this rather than that; each has its particular emphasis.

4. This is more so in a multi-field such as communication.

FOUR MAJOR APPROACHES OF COMMUNICATION

Robert Craig(1989)

Alvarado & Boyd-Barrett(1992)

British Film InstituteBFI (1992)

Boyd-Barrett & Newbold(1995)

FOUR MAJOR APPROACHES OF COMMUNICATION

7 Traditions

Robert Craig

(1989)

3 Traditions

Alvarado & Boyd-Barrett

(1992)

British Film Institute

(BFI) (1992)

Boyd-Barrett & Newbold (1995)

1. Socio-Psychological

2. Cybernetic3. Rhetorical4. Semiotic5. Socio-Cultural6. Critical7. Phenomenologic

al

8. Ethics

1. Interpretive

2. Social Science

3. Practice

1. Media Agencies2. Media

Categories3. Media

Technologies4. Media

Languages5. Media

Audiences

6. Media Representations

1. Mass Society, Functionalism, Pluralism

2. Media Effects3. Political

Economy4. The Public

Sphere5. Media

Occupations & Professionals

6. Cultural Hegemony

7. Feminism8. Moving Image

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO PROFESSOR, ROBERT CRAIG ESTABLISHES SEVEN TRADITIONS (EIGHT) OF COMMUNICATION

TRADITIONS IN THE FIELD OFCOMMUNICATION THEORY

Socio-psycholo

gicalcybernetic semiotic Rhetoric

al Critical Socio-cultural

phenomenological

TRADITIONS IN THE FIELD OFCOMMUNICATION THEORY

ObjectiveTerritory Interpretive

Territory

THE SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICALTRADITIONCOMMUNICATION AS INTERPERSONAL INFLUENCE

THE CYBERNETIC TRADITIONCOMMUNICATION AS INFORMATION PROCESSING

THE RHETORICAL TRADITIONCOMMUNICATION AS ARTFUL PUBLIC ADDRESS

THE SEMIOTIC TRADITIONCOMMUNICATION AS THE PROCESS OF SHARING MEANING THROUGH SIGNS

THE SOCIO-CULTURAL TRADITIONCOMMUNICATION AS THE CREATION AND ENACTMENT OF SOCIAL REALITY

THE CRITICAL TRADITIONCOMMUNICATION AS A REFLECTIVE CHALLENGE OF UNJUST DISCOURSE

THEPHENOMENOLOGICALTRADITIONCOMMUNICATION AS THE EXPERIENCE OF SELF AND OTHERS THROUGH DIALOGUE

THE ETHICAL TRADITIONCOMMUNICATION AS PEOPLE OF CHARACTER INTERACTING IN JUST AND BENEFICIAL WAYS

JIMI KAYODEADEBOLA ADEGUNWA SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION, LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, LAGOS, NIGERIA.

mapping the territory of communication theory

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