Political Economy of Communication and Culture: L atin A merica

Abstract

The question of media effects pertains to all areas of the communication field. It must be understood in a historical perspective and also as a theoretical and epistemological challenge to the Latin American context. This entry presents a broad view of the most important theoretical perspectives of the Latin American field. It then considers theories of cultural studies and reception. Finally, it addresses the importance of the political economy of communication and culture, which, though it has traditionally not focused its reflections on the issue of mediation (except for one case, which will be considered here), is fundamental to the epistemological delimitation of the communication field and will be presented here as an alternative paradigm.