Is There a Common Epistemological Ground of Actor-Network Theory and Media Aesthetics?

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 56-65
Author(s):  
Veronika Pöhnl
Keyword(s):  
Media Studies ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Media Theory ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Similarities And Differences

Based on the increased interest in ANT in Media Studies, this paper discusses similarities and differences in the epistemological premises of ANT and German Media Studies, and in particular, Media Aesthetics. Proceeding from well received ANT investigations on the transformational processes of scientific research and the discussion of their importance and suitability for media aesthetic approaches, basic operations and metaphors of the ANT are identified and questioned. By juxtaposing the epistemological premises of ANT and those of techno-philosophically informed approaches of media theory, profound resemblances as well as fundamental differences are outlined.

The End of Media

2017 ◽  
pp. 20-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andréa Belliger ◽  
David John Krieger
Keyword(s):  
New Media ◽  
General Theory ◽  
Media Studies ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Media Theory ◽  
Network Society ◽  
Media Production ◽  
Media Convergence ◽  
Actor Network

In the network society and the age of media convergence, media production can no longer be isolated into channels, formats, technologies, and organizations. Media Studies is facing the challenge to reconceptualize its foundations. It could therefore be claimed that new media are the last media. In the case of digital versus analog, there is no continuity between new media and old media. A new and promising proposal has come from German scholars who attempt the precarious balance between media theory and a general theory of mediation based on Actor-Network Theory. Under the title of Actor-Media Theory (Akteur-Medien-Theorie) these thinkers attempt to reformulate the program of Media Studies beyond assumptions of social or technical determinism. Replacing Actor-Network Theory with Actor-Media Theory raises the question of whether exchanging the concept of “network” for the concept of “media” is methodologically and theoretically advantageous.

A Critique of Operativity

2017 ◽  
pp. 234-248
Author(s):  
Dieter Mersch
Keyword(s):  
Media Studies ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Cultural Analysis ◽  
Media Theory ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Key Terms

The concepts of “operation” and “operational sequences” are central for Actor-Network Theory. They have also become key-terms for cultural and media studies and in specific the so-called German Media Theory. However—this is the thesis of the article—whoever starts with the assumption of operativity or privileges operational sequences in the context of cultural practices is already treading on the ground of the technical and thus has accepted what they set out to prove: the interpretation of culture solely on the basis of technical approaches and the prerequisite of an a priori of technique. Instead the article insists on the difference between operation and practice which serve as a criterion for a cultural analysis beyond any universalization of technology.

From Intermediality to Intermateriality

2017 ◽  
pp. 38-50
Author(s):  
Andrea Seier
Keyword(s):  
Remote Control ◽  
Media Studies ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Political Analysis ◽  
Similarities And Differences

This chapter discusses Actor-Network Theory in the context of post-essentialist theories in Media Studies. In doing so, the similarities and differences between different models and concepts will be taken into consideration, such as dispositive, assemblage and actant networks. The chapter argues that instead of replacing models of micro-political analysis of media with ANT, it should rather be combined with such in a productive way. This argument will be put to the test by using the example of the remote control.

Von der Intermedialität zur Intermaterialität

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Seier
Keyword(s):  
Remote Control ◽  
Media Studies ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Media Analysis ◽  
Wird Eine ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Political Media

"Der Beitrag diskutiert die Akteur-Netzwerk-Theorie im Kontext eines post-essentialistischen Denkens innerhalb der Medienwissenschaft. Beobachtet werden die Ähnlichkeiten und Differenzen zwischen den Modellen: Dispositiv, Gefüge und Aktanten-Netzwerk. Plädiert wird für eine Kombination der ANT mit bereits etablierten Modellen der mikropolitischen Medienanalyse, nicht für deren Ersetzung. Am Beispiel der Fernbedienung wird eine solche Kombination durchgespielt. </br></br>The paper discusses the actor-network theory (ANT) in the context of a post-essentialist thinking within media studies. It studies the similarities and differences between the models: dispositive, structure and actants network. It argues for a combination – and not a replacement – of ANT with already established models of micro-political media analysis and puts it to the test using the example of the remote control. "

scholarly journals Om mursten og minder, gråd og globalisering

1970 ◽  
pp. 126
Author(s):  
Kristine Munkgård Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Media Studies ◽  
Urban Studies ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Contemporary Culture ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Emotional Geography ◽  
Academic Fields ◽  
Broad Variety

Konferencen “Emotional Geography”, Aarhus Universitet, Århus 2. november 2006.Ten speakers from a range of academic fields were invited to discuss the concept of Emotional Geography and to debate how spaces change as a result of contemporary culture, globalisation and the experience economy.The conference touched upon a broad variety of empirical cases from within tourism, art, branding, urban studies and media studies. The theoretical framework was also broad, extending from phenomenology to Actor Network Theory and Heidegger’s concept of Dwelling. 

Mediated Action and Network of Actors

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 21-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Díaz Andrade ◽  
Samuel Ekundayo
Keyword(s):  
Activity Theory ◽  
Human Activity ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Mediated Action ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Analytical Tools ◽  
Sociology Of Technology

Both actor-network theory and activity theory call attention to the coexistence of people and technology. Although both theories provide analytical tools to understand the nature of the reciprocal action-shaping of humans and nonhumans, each puts emphasis on different conceptual elements of human activity. In this paper, the authors examine both activity theory and actor-network theory and present their similarities and differences, limitations, and complementarities. Using the theoretical lenses of both theories, the authors trace the evolution of an ordinary artifact to illustrate how researchers on the sociology of technology and innovations can benefit from these parallel theoretical approaches.

The Subject of Media Studies

2017 ◽  
pp. 51-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joost van Loon
Keyword(s):  
Media Studies ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Human Subject ◽  
Transcendental Phenomenology ◽  
Free Association ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Critical Discussion ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Generalized Symmetry ◽  
The Subject

On the basis of the banal example of the rise of “the selfie”, this chapter critically considers the issue of the Subjects of (and in) Media Studies and argues that the reason why Actor-Network Theory (ANT) has thus far not been widely accepted within this field has been its adherence to the Principles of Generalized Symmetry and Free Association. That is to say: ANT categorically refuses subsuming properties of entities to abstractions such as nature, society or technology. On the contrary, Media Studies have doggedly adhered to privileging “the Human” as its subject of analysis. On the basis of a critique of transcendental phenomenology, which has been specified by a critical discussion of McLuhan's famous edict “media are extensions of man”, the chapter exposes the empirical fallacy of granting the human subject a status of exception and instead proposes an empirical metaphysics based on ‘prehension' as an alternative. This, it is argued, will enable forms of media analyses that can be both radically empirical and politically engaged.

Applications of Actor-Network Theory in Media Studies

2017 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Markus Spöhrer
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Media Studies ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
International Research ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
The Other ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Related Research ◽  
Production Studies ◽  
The One

The chapter offers an international research overview of the possibilities and problems of applying Actor-Network Theory in Media Studies and media related research. On the one hand the chapter provides a summary of the central aspects and terminologies of Bruno Latour's, Michel Callon's and John Law's corpus of texts. On the other hand, it summarizes both theoretical and methodological implications of the combination of Actor-Network Theory and strands of Media Studies research such as discourse analysis, Production Studies and media theory.

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