Abstract: Christopher Lasch considered that American narcissistic individualism was shaped by the changes in the structure of late capitalism, and the author considered late capitalism as a postmodern society in which individuals might lose their self-identity due to hyperreality. This paper primarily illustrates Baudrillard’s and Simmel’s perspectives to elucidate narcissism in postmodern society. Additionally, the […]

Abstract: The essay primarily illustrates how the historical experiences in the United Stated that provided the impetus for the emergence of American Pragmatism and symbolic interaction and how human communication played a role during the process. First, the essay focuses on the historical events that happened in Dewey’s time and how those events made human […]

ABSTRACT:  This paper addresses how theories of communication constitute the pedagogy of critical media literacy. An essentialist view of communication indebted to the philosophy of John Locke relies on a pluralist social theory in which individuals are seen as self-sufficient and aligned against what is seen as a coercive society. In this view, communication is […]

Abstract: In the current highly fragmented (social) media landscape, brands must increasingly rely on their own consumers to reach out to new potential consumers. Taking a social networks approach, the current study examines patterns of consumer engagement with brands on social media, identifying the major clusters as well as key users and messages that are […]

Abstract: The diffusion of social networks platforms opened the door to a new age of peer to peer distributed advertising content widely referred to as viral advertising. The current study proposes a social networks approach to the study of viral advertising. Expanding beyond the conventional retweets metrics to include Twitter mentions as connection in the […]

Abstract: Mobile-based celebrity games are a byproduct of a new, more feminized video game industry. Within celebrity games, the player engages with celebrity culture in a variety of ways, often being transformed into their own brand of celebrity. Celebrity games are a form of hypertrophic media, based on the dyadic interactions between the player and […]

Abstract: With social networking site (SNS) use now ubiquitous in American culture, researchers have started paying attention to its effects in a variety of domains. This study explores the relationships between measures of Facebook use and political knowledge levels using a pair of representative samples of U.S. adults. We find that although the mere use […]

Abstract: This paper is a textual accounting of the world music phenomena (Buena Vista Social Club) across the realms of music, YouTube, social media and industry commentary. It develops a theoretical framework around “Authenticity” as an important marker of world music, and the identity politics that underlies this specific aspect of transnational entertainment media culture.

Abstract: Actors are, and have always been, the biggest labor force in Hollywood. Although their faces might be familiar, how they have negotiated the extremely competitive and ever-changing business of Hollywood is typically a mystery. For many, at least those below the level of stars, work in Hollywood is inconsistent. Hollywood Freelance demonstrates how sporadic […]

From the ragtag crews of 1910s productions to the organized backlots of Classical Hollywood to the runaway productions of the last fifty years, Hollywood has employed a wide array of workers. Their duties have ranged from hanging lights and writing music to designing sets and casting talent, and their professional norms and practices have helped […]