Communication: A Critical/Cultural Introduction

Engaging narratives, public advocacy, and contemporary cultural examples... a fresh new Introduction to Communication!

Designed for hybrid approaches to the course, this exciting new text provides an introduction to communication theory, interpersonal communication, and public communication and culture through the lens of contemporary critical theory.

Key Features

• Takes a critical/cultural approach: Students come to appreciate how communication occurs within the context of power and our different cultural locations
• Written in an engaging narrative style: The authors′ own stories, and the narratives woven throughout each chapter, create a sense of relevance for the content
• Provides a focus on public advocacy: Connecting students′ work to the process of being critical, active citizens, this feature shows how civic engagement can improve our communities
• Illustrated with contemporary examples: Theory and concepts are demonstrated through discussions of marriage equality, affirmative action, disability, and social media

By situating communication concepts and theories within contemporary and engaging cultural scenes, the book is much more than a survey of ideas―it demonstrates the power of communication in our everyday lives.

John T. Warren (Late) was professor of Speech Communication at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. His major research and teaching centered in Communication Pedagogy, Performance Studies, and Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies. He was the author of numerous books including Performing Purity: Whiteness, Pedagogy and the Reconstitution of Power; Casting Gender: Women and Performance in Intercultural Contexts; Critical Communication Pedagogy; and the SAGE Handbook of Communication and Instruction. He also authored articles for several education and communication studies journals, including Educational Theory, Communication Education, and Text and Performance Quarterly.

Deanna L. Fassett is Department Chair and professor of communication pedagogy at San José State University where she has, since 2002, mentored her department’s graduate student instructors.  She is the author and editor of three other books:  Coordinating the Communication Course:  A Guidebook, Critical Communication Pedagogy, The SAGE Handbook of Communication and Instruction, and Communication: A Critical/Cultural Introduction, Second Edition. Her published research has appeared in a broad array of communication studies journals, including Basic Communication Course Annual, Communication Education, Liminalities: A Journal of Performance Studies, and Text and Performance Quarterly.