Is a theory of media and communication history possible (and necessary)?

Benjamin Krämer; Philipp Müller

doi:10.5771/2192-4007-2016-3-307

Contents
- Chapter Expand | CollapseAuthorsPage
- I–II Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis I–II
- 241–306 EXTENDED PAPER 241–306
  - Einflussfaktoren auf die Mediennutzung der Unterschichten im deutschen Kaiserreich (1871–1918) Felix Frey Felix Frey
- 307–333 FULL PAPER 307–333
  - Is a theory of media and communication history possible (and necessary)? Benjamin Krämer, Philipp Müller Benjamin Krämer, Philipp Müller
- 334–366 RESEARCH-IN-BRIEF 334–366
  - 334–352 Issue entropy in the Internet age Volker Gehrau, Gianna Haake Volker Gehrau, Gianna Haake 334–352
  - 353–366 Commenting quality Anna Sophie Kümpel, Nina Springer Anna Sophie Kümpel, Nina Springer 353–366
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SCM Studies in Communication and Media , page 307 - 333

Is a theory of media and communication history possible (and necessary)?

Autoren

Benjamin Krämer Philipp Müller

DOI
- doi.org/10.5771/2192-4007-2016-3-307
- ISSN online: 2192-4007
Abstract

While there has been a broad debate on the use of theory in history in general, there are few contributions by historians of communication and the media discussing the role of theory in their particular field. We therefore review and discuss some of the main arguments pertaining to the use of theory in historiography and apply them to the field of media and communication history. Such arguments include the assumption that theories are already implicit in all types of narratives, or the idea that theory amounts to a speculative philosophy of history. We also discuss the controversial question whether deductive explanations and general laws should be applied to history. The article concludes that the use of theories is advisable, perhaps even necessary, given their multifunctionality and their different forms.
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