Histoire de la Communication

Part 1: The History of Communication

• What makes us human? Culture, religion, technology, work, traditions, norms, laws, art, language, abstract thought, planning, complex rituals.
• Cognitive Revolution: A massive increase in communication complexity, leading to behavioral modernity.
• Communication's Definition: Communication allows humans to interact with each other and objects. Information is an object shaped for circulation through social connections.
• Evolution of Communication: Communication evolved through speech, writing, smoke signals, first paintings in prehistory to modern forms like TV, social media.
• Communication Through Time (Examples):
  • 105 AD: Invention of paper in China.
  • 1876: Invention of the telephone.
  • 1965: First email.
  • 2004-2009: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.
• Meaning of Communication (Com): The definition and understanding of communication has changed over time. In contemporary times, communication encompasses the transmission and sharing of information through various channels.
• Communication's Shifting Meaning: The meaning of communication has changed as the ways of communicating evolved from speech, to writing to modern technology.

Part 2: The Science of Communication

• Communication as a Science: It analyzes people's communication habits and interactions in various contexts.

• Communication Metaphor: Using a microscope as a metaphor for examining communication.

• Characteristics: Learning about how people communicate, exploring communication in many different scenarios, and gaining general knowledge about communication.

• Key Questions: Effective communication analysis, requires asking specific questions. Example questions to consider when studying communication include: What makes videos go viral?, Who?, What?, Why?, To Whom?, and How?.

• Communication Theories and Concepts: Theories and concepts are used in communication studies: interpersonal, intrapersonal communication, theories of gravity, social-scientific theories, which help to understand why certain concepts or behaviors emerge.

• Example Theory (Pyramid of Mcquail): Describes communication stages from societal level to those deeply personal exchanges where the exchange of concepts is present.

Part 3: Theories and Scientific Debates in Communication

• Every-Day Theories: Everyday theories help in understanding the world through personal experiences and choices.
• Normative Theories: These theories describe how media or communication should function based on values and beliefs.
• Operational Theories: These are more practical theories focused on action and are often built on normative frameworks.
• Social-Scientific Theories: These theories aim to provide a logical and rationale view of the world.
• Scientific Debates: Discussions on communication structures (things surrounding us and how we grow) versus individual agency (how we interact) and how societal changes occur.
• Different Perspectives: Examined are different theoretical lenses (materialist or cultural theories, social relationships, and paradigms): used to better understand communication.

Part 4: Paradigms in Communication

• Paradigms: Groupings of similar theories; Marxism is a well-known paradigm.
• Paradigm Change: Paradigm shifts are like complete overhauls or revolutionary changes in an understanding or belief system.
• Liberal vs. Critical Paradigms:
• Liberal: Practical and focused on concrete results, often optimistic.
• Critical: Focuses on broader societal impact and is often more critical and/or focused on ideological concerns.