Compound Modernity:the Research On Communication Vision Of Mediated Society

This dissertation focuses on "modernity". The writer considers modernity as a multi-dimensional concept, which can be examined in various perspectives by different subject researchers. Accordingly, modernity can be understood more deeply and thoroughly. Communications study seldom looks closely at the relations between modernity and media. With the advent of media society, it will become more significant to clarify modernity.Despite a variety of criticisms, modernity remains one of the biggest issues that China is confronting with. Plus the particularities in Chinese history and geography,"modernity" represents complexity and abundance in China. Based on this statusquo, the writer puts forward the concept of "compound modernity". On the one hand, it inherits Thompson’s tradition, which considers media as modern dynamics and systematical dimension, and portrays the dynamic, system and vision of the media society on three aspects of individual, community and nation, which are distinct but interrelated."Modernity" is defined as a kind of social life organization model, as well as the goal that individual, community and national soft power are pursuing. On the other hand, this paper attempts to understand the commonalities and differences in the current Chinese context through two dimensions of both space and time. The writer exemplifies Chinese media approach with case studies. On the whole, compound modernity is a formally descriptive concept.This dissertation consists of three parts. The first part includes chapter one and chapter two, raising the issues and concerned definitions, in particular, compound modernity. This part writes around two key words "modernity" and "mediasociety" analyzing their relevance and level formation. At the same time, it outlines the research approaches, methods and basic frame.Part two is the main body. It includes chapters three, four and five. This part discusses the media resources application and comprehension at three different levels of individual, community and nation, describing the communication vision of media society.Part three is chapter six. It concludes the whole research, and presents the problems and concerns in the media society.