Research Topic Summary
The modern communication landscape is deeply intertwined with cultural expressions, influenced by how we understand and interact with the world. This Research Topic explores the interdisciplinary intersection of communication and culture in today's mediated world, recognizing culture's prominent role in global discourse and development initiatives.
Key themes explored include:
• integrating advanced media technologies like generative AI into cultural and educational practices, examining their practical and theoretical implications, and addressing unintended consequences such as problematic internet use and emotional states experienced by users
• the impact of global multicultural events on national branding and international reputation, analyzing how media coverage in influential countries frames a nation's image through corporate communication strategies
• the complexities and richness of cultural expression in non-Western contexts by exploring how traditional folk songs, such as Chinese Hua'er, use metaphors to convey cultural values and social norms, highlighting their genre-specific linguistic features
• cross-cultural receptions of film content and the cultural distance perceived by audiences, particularly how elements like plots and themes depicting societal darkness are received under the influence of national propaganda and censorship systems, and audience entertainment needs
• the role of popular culture, specifically Disney films, in shaping moral perceptions and reinforcing societal norms, by analyzing how diverse characters serve as relatable role models for children, disseminating moral messages like resilience through narratives of self-efficacy, transparency, and family relations
• the depiction of critical societal issues such as violence, mental health, suicide, self-harm, and HIV in digital media, emphasizing the need for responsible and realistic portrayals to mitigate negative impacts and reduce stigmatization.
• the influence of translation strategies, particularly peritexts, on the cross-cultural transmission and reception of literary works, analyzing their role in conveying translator's aims, disseminating culture, and shaping readers' understanding of socio-cultural contexts.
Collectively, the articles in this Research Topic underscore the critical importance of understanding the complex dynamics between media and culture, advocating for responsible and sensitive portrayals that reflect the diverse realities of our interconnected world.
Research Topic Description
The concept of mediatization of culture, emerged in response to the increasing mediation of culture by institutional mass media, has gained increasing popularity in media and communication research in recent times. While various traditions of mediatization research differ in how they understand media—the institutionalist tradition construing them as independent social institutions with their own set of rules, and the social-constructivist tradition emphasizing the key role that they play in the construction of social and cultural reality—they all share a common understanding of the mediatization of culture as a process of transformation that occurs when media become deeply intertwined with various aspects of social life, including the production, distribution, and consumption of culture.
One of the key aspects of mediatization is the transformation of cultural practices through an increased reliance on media technologies. This transformation has resulted in the blurring of boundaries between media and culture, and has led to the increasing significance of media as a means of cultural expression and exchange. Consequently, there has been a growing interest in understanding the impact of mediatization on cultural production, distribution, and consumption. Scholars have examined how media technologies have transformed cultural practices, creating new forms of cultural expression and redefining traditional ones. They have also explored the role of media technologies in shaping cultural values, norms, and identities.
Rapid advancements in media technologies have transformed the way we communicate, perceive and interact with each other, and understand cultures. As the world becomes more interconnected, communication and culture are inextricably linked, shaping and being shaped by one another. By adopting a cultural mediatization approach, we can view media as integral to the production and circulation of cultural meanings, rather than simply as a means of disseminating information.
Globalization has led to the intensification of media and cultural mediatization, creating a complex interplay between global and local cultural practices. The increasing dominance of global media conglomerates has raised concerns over cultural homogenization and the erasure of local cultural identities. As we continue to grapple with the effects of globalization and mediatization, it is essential that we center the perspectives and experiences of marginalized communities, including those who have historically been excluded from dominant cultural institutions. This requires a critical approach to media and cultural practices that recognizes the multiple and intersecting forms of power at play.
Against this background, the aim of this Research Topic is to explore the complex relationship between communication and culture in our mediated world from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Possible topics for submissions may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• the role of communication in shaping cultural identity
• the impact of media on intercultural communication
• communication and cultural globalization
• the cultural implications of social media use
• the role of language in communication and culture
• communication, culture, and power relations
• the role of communication in cultural diplomacy
• communication and cultural heritage preservation
• communication and cultural hybridity
• the impact of technology on communication and culture
• the intersection of gender, race, and communication in culture
• communication and cultural representation in media.
We welcome contributions from various disciplines, including, but not limited to, communication studies, cultural studies, sociology, anthropology, media studies, and linguistics. We also encourage authors to use diverse theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches to address the complex relationship between communication and culture in our mediated world.
Research Topic Summary
The modern communication landscape is deeply intertwined with cultural expressions, influenced by how we understand and interact with the world. This Research Topic explores the interdisciplinary intersection of communication and culture in today's mediated world, recognizing culture's prominent role in global discourse and development initiatives.
Key themes explored include:
• integrating advanced media technologies like generative AI into cultural and educational practices, examining their practical and theoretical implications, and addressing unintended consequences such as problematic internet use and emotional states experienced by users
• the impact of global multicultural events on national branding and international reputation, analyzing how media coverage in influential countries frames a nation's image through corporate communication strategies
• the complexities and richness of cultural expression in non-Western contexts by exploring how traditional folk songs, such as Chinese Hua'er, use metaphors to convey cultural values and social norms, highlighting their genre-specific linguistic features
• cross-cultural receptions of film content and the cultural distance perceived by audiences, particularly how elements like plots and themes depicting societal darkness are received under the influence of national propaganda and censorship systems, and audience entertainment needs
• the role of popular culture, specifically Disney films, in shaping moral perceptions and reinforcing societal norms, by analyzing how diverse characters serve as relatable role models for children, disseminating moral messages like resilience through narratives of self-efficacy, transparency, and family relations
• the depiction of critical societal issues such as violence, mental health, suicide, self-harm, and HIV in digital media, emphasizing the need for responsible and realistic portrayals to mitigate negative impacts and reduce stigmatization.
• the influence of translation strategies, particularly peritexts, on the cross-cultural transmission and reception of literary works, analyzing their role in conveying translator's aims, disseminating culture, and shaping readers' understanding of socio-cultural contexts.
Collectively, the articles in this Research Topic underscore the critical importance of understanding the complex dynamics between media and culture, advocating for responsible and sensitive portrayals that reflect the diverse realities of our interconnected world.
Research Topic Description
The concept of mediatization of culture, emerged in response to the increasing mediation of culture by institutional mass media, has gained increasing popularity in media and communication research in recent times. While various traditions of mediatization research differ in how they understand media—the institutionalist tradition construing them as independent social institutions with their own set of rules, and the social-constructivist tradition emphasizing the key role that they play in the construction of social and cultural reality—they all share a common understanding of the mediatization of culture as a process of transformation that occurs when media become deeply intertwined with various aspects of social life, including the production, distribution, and consumption of culture.
One of the key aspects of mediatization is the transformation of cultural practices through an increased reliance on media technologies. This transformation has resulted in the blurring of boundaries between media and culture, and has led to the increasing significance of media as a means of cultural expression and exchange. Consequently, there has been a growing interest in understanding the impact of mediatization on cultural production, distribution, and consumption. Scholars have examined how media technologies have transformed cultural practices, creating new forms of cultural expression and redefining traditional ones. They have also explored the role of media technologies in shaping cultural values, norms, and identities.
Rapid advancements in media technologies have transformed the way we communicate, perceive and interact with each other, and understand cultures. As the world becomes more interconnected, communication and culture are inextricably linked, shaping and being shaped by one another. By adopting a cultural mediatization approach, we can view media as integral to the production and circulation of cultural meanings, rather than simply as a means of disseminating information.
Globalization has led to the intensification of media and cultural mediatization, creating a complex interplay between global and local cultural practices. The increasing dominance of global media conglomerates has raised concerns over cultural homogenization and the erasure of local cultural identities. As we continue to grapple with the effects of globalization and mediatization, it is essential that we center the perspectives and experiences of marginalized communities, including those who have historically been excluded from dominant cultural institutions. This requires a critical approach to media and cultural practices that recognizes the multiple and intersecting forms of power at play.
Against this background, the aim of this Research Topic is to explore the complex relationship between communication and culture in our mediated world from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Possible topics for submissions may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• the role of communication in shaping cultural identity
• the impact of media on intercultural communication
• communication and cultural globalization
• the cultural implications of social media use
• the role of language in communication and culture
• communication, culture, and power relations
• the role of communication in cultural diplomacy
• communication and cultural heritage preservation
• communication and cultural hybridity
• the impact of technology on communication and culture
• the intersection of gender, race, and communication in culture
• communication and cultural representation in media.
We welcome contributions from various disciplines, including, but not limited to, communication studies, cultural studies, sociology, anthropology, media studies, and linguistics. We also encourage authors to use diverse theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches to address the complex relationship between communication and culture in our mediated world.