The main schools of communication studies

Research methods, adhere to empirical research (using sociological and psychological methods, emphasizing quantitative analysis, focusing on empirical and micro), and combining academic research with political and commercial interests.

In terms of social concept, it is believed that western society is a society in which multiple interests compete and balance each other, rather than a society dominated by classes; Maintain the existing social system and communication system; Serve the mass media and fully realize its political, economic and military functions.

The research focuses on how to spread, effectively spread and spread its own laws, and the foothold is on the communication effect and audience.

Criticize schools

The critical school 20C60S originated in Europe and criticized the pragmatism and positivism spread in the United States. The main schools are Frankfurt School in Germany, Birmingham School of Cultural Studies in Britain, and School of Political Economy. In addition, the critical school also developed Gramsci's theory of ideological hegemony.

Characteristics of critical school:

The research method is mainly speculative, emphasizing qualitative, comprehensive and macro, and opposing positivism.

In society, capitalism and its communication system itself are unreasonable, and mass media is essentially an ideological tool used by a few monopoly bourgeoisie to achieve rule, which must be criticized and changed.

On the research focus, who is concerned about spreading; The relationship between communication system and various social elements is based on the meaning of communication.

The main schools of critical school:

① Frankfurt School

1923, the Institute of Sociology of Frankfurt University was established, with M.M. Hallmo, T.W. Adorno, H. Marcuse, W. Benjamin and J. Habermas as representatives. They made a macro and extensive critical study of capitalist society based on Marxist theory.

A. Adorno, Hawke Hammer and the Theory of Cultural Industry

Adorno and Hawke Hamo founded the theory of cultural industry, and comprehensively criticized the mass culture streamlined by industry, thinking that they are the products of technical rationality. The similarity of popular culture stifles the creativity and autonomy of the public, and has the coercive force of forcing readers to submit and obey, which makes the public recognize the rationality of cultural industry and fundamentally safeguard the capitalist rule.