Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Matt Rolph
Slides prepared for
Prof. Carlos Godoy
Rensselaer
Polytechnic
Institute
Why study Communication?
• Are optional
– The best, most valuable, and most primary
sources are provided whenever possible for
your reference – this is a chance for you to
learn from and work with important
resources. It is up to you to make the most
of it.
– Material will also be covered in class in
lecture format
What does it mean …
• … to be a communication theorist?
• To some extent, you are one already. You
don’t need to be a professional in a
communication-related field to begin.
• Theorists explain what is happening, has
happened, and will happen.
• Can we explain the changes new forms of
communication have made to our lives? How
will life be different today than yesterday or
tomorrow?
What is a theory?
Em Griffin
• Theory
– “A set of systematic, informed hunches
about the way things work”
– Theory is not law, nor set in stone; neither is
it solely abstract speculation.
What is communication?
Message
1 Message created
2 transmitted
Via medium 3 Message received
and interpreted
• Not everything
economically based
• Three types of ‘legitimate
domination’:
– Legal
– Traditional
– Charismatic
Max Weber
1864-1920
Weber
Meso
(middle)
Macro
Theories Video
Social psychological
Interpersonal Cybernetic/systems
Media ecology
Socio-cultural
linguistic
structure of a
society
Communication
Phenomenological
Critical Tradition: Virtual reality
Frankfurt School
Rhetorical
Semiotic Tradition
Shared meaning
Communication as a Discipline
Where are you?
Social psychological
Interpersonal Cybernetic/systems
Media ecology
Socio-cultural
linguistic
structure of a
society
Communication
Phenomenological
Critical Tradition: Virtual reality
Frankfurt School
Rhetorical
Semiotic Tradition
Shared meaning
Syllabus Overview