A culturalist approach to the concept of the mediatization of politics: The age of “media hegemony” | Culture and communication in digital worlds

Author(s): Elena Block

Year of publication: 2013

Keywords: Mediatization of politics, Media hegemony, Symbolic dimension, Citizen engagement, Politically mediatized situations, Hugo Chávez

Methodology/Sample: _/_

Reference: Block, E. (2013). A culturalist approach to the concept of the mediatization of politics: The age of “media hegemony”. Communication Theory, 23(3), 259-278. https://doi.org/10.1111/comt.12016

Abstract

This article rethinks the concept of the mediatization of politics from a culturalist perspective, rebuilding the concept through five arguments: the first two are focused on the symbolic dimension of the issue in the context of the naturalized hegemonic media; the third presents it as a conceptual tool helpful to study the way citizens increasingly interact with media technologies and forms to engage with politics; the fourth poses it as a state of affairs where individuals and groups develop cultural patterns of media connectivity that lead to politically mediatized situations; the last proposes this state of affairs as the “fourth age” of political communication: An age of media hegemony. Hugo Chávez’s politically mediatized Venezuela serves as an illustration.

> Summary

The paper rethinks the mediatization of politics from a culturalist perspective, emphasizing symbolic and hegemonic qualities.
It argues that media technologies are shaped by human actions and cultural contexts.
The analysis highlights the interplay between media, culture, and political engagement.
Hugo Chávez’s Venezuela serves as a case study illustrating these concepts.
The paper proposes a “fourth age” of political communication characterized by media hegemony.

> Problem statement

The paper critiques the separation of culture and politics, emphasizing their interrelation in political communication.
It discusses the hegemonic role of media in shaping political discourse and citizen engagement.
The concept of mediatization is explored as a state of affairs affecting political communication.
The paper argues against viewing media, politics, and culture as independent entities.
It highlights the need for a culturalist perspective to understand media’s influence on political processes.

> Methods used

The article employs a culturalist perspective to analyze the mediatization of politics.
It critiques determinist views, emphasizing human action in media practices.
The paper discusses symbolic power and media hegemony in political communication.
It illustrates arguments using the case of Hugo Chávez’s Venezuela.

> Practical implications

The paper emphasizes the need to understand media’s role in shaping political communication and societal interactions.
It suggests that political reality is constructed through cultural engagement with media.
The mediatization of politics serves as a conceptual framework for analyzing power dynamics in media.
The study highlights the importance of cultural patterns in media connectivity for political engagement.
It critiques technological determinism, advocating for a human-centered approach to media analysis.
The paper illustrates these concepts using Hugo Chávez’s Venezuela as a case study.