Herbert Schiller (Critical Media Studies)

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Summary: Respectful Summary of a Groundbreaking Theorist
Review: This is a semi-biography of the influential communications theorist Herbert Schiller, and a review of most of his major works. Schiller was one of the creators of the field of political economy in communications, as he was among the first to explore the political and social aspects of mass communication structures, along with the effects of ownership structures and dominant ideologies among power players. Schiller made a large impact on academia by releasing books with hard-hitting titles like "The Mind Managers," "Mass Communications and American Empire," and "Communication and Cultural Domination" - titles that give an indication of the powerful implications of his theories. These works are influential among communications theorists to this day, and at the time also got Schiller into some trouble with the powers that be. Here Richard Maxwell summarizes how Schiller formulated his theories, as well as his travails with academic and governmental leaders. However, while this is an in-depth summarization of Schiller's works, it is mostly non-critical and non-judgmental as Maxwell writes as if his mentor can do no wrong. Thus we get a useful introduction to Schiller's groundbreaking theories, but for serious students, simply reading the original works is the best way to appreciate Schiller's vision. [~doomsdayer520~]