MediaTheory: Wilbur Schramm: Founder of Communication Study (W6-P6) Fa18

"Uncle Wilbur"

In his book, A History of Communication Study, Ev Rogers wrote:

"Wilbur Schramm was the founder of communication study.  If his contribution to the field could somehow be removed, there would not be a field of communication study.  It is doubtful that anyone else could have founded the field" (p. 476).

Whether we accept this fully or to a lesser degree, we still owe Schramm some respect and appreciation for his contributions.  He is a key part of our intellectual family.  The founding father?

For me personally, I have much admiration for Schramm.  Besides being a part of my intellectual family, he may be part of my actual family (haven't quite finished the genealogical research on this).  There are Schramms in my family tree.  We were born in the same small city (Marietta, Ohio).  We went to the same small college (Marietta College).  While I won't come close to accomplishing what he accomplished, I can at least say I'm part of "Uncle" Wilbur's family (if only intellectually).  And in turn, my students get to call him "Uncle" Wilbur too as they join the intellectual family tree of teacher-student-teacher-student...

Below is a timeline of  Wilbur Schramm's life and contributions to our field.*

My scribbles in the margins.  I made those scribbles when I was a Ph.D. student in Ev Rogers' History of Comm class in 1997 or 1998.

***

Schramm's history told from a slightly different perspective. 


This shift in perspective leads to what changes in the story?

* Source: Rogers, A History





If the timeline is not showing above for you, the Schramm timeline can be also be found at this link.



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MediaTheory: In Honor of Everett M. Rogers (W6-P5) Fa18

I teach many of my courses in of honor of Ev.

He was my professor, adviser, co-author -- and my mentor.  He is missed.

Everett M. Rogers (1931-2004)

Ev was a noted scholar in our field.  His key contribution to the field is his book

DIFFUSION OF INNOVATIONS, 4TH ED.

Ev also had a keen interest in and an appreciation for the history of our field.  Out of this interest and appreciation, he wrote

History Of Communication Study

Now, let's a little of Ev's story through a video.

"Ev Rogers was a leader in the development of the communication field. His early research focused on diffusion of innovations, opinion leaders, and the adoption of new ideas, concepts that framed much of his work throughout his career. He is remembered as a gifted teacher, a generous mentor, and a prolific scholar, with more than thirty books and hundreds of articles in publication at the time of his death in 2004. Importantly, Ev Rogers was a change agent, who sought to use scholarly research to advance policies and practices that improved peoples' lives. This documentary features rare footage taped just prior to his death, exploring his early life on an Iowa farm, professional choices, love of teaching and research, and ideas about diffusion. Writer/Producer: Glenda R. Balas, University of New Mexico; Videographer/Editor: Jason Balas, University of North Texas."

 "A Conversation with Everett Rogers" (on Vimeo)

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MediaTheory: History and Interdisciplines (W6-P4) Fa18

When talking about the history of a field of study and especially the beginnings of that field of study, a key term should be discussed.

Interdiscipline: "a field of scholars who identify with various disciplines but share a common interest in a theme that crosses traditional [academic] boundaries“ (Littlejohn). 

If we want to get metaphorical, we could think of an interdiscipline as an oasis.

Oasis: "A fertile spot in a desert where water is found" (Oxford Dictionaries).

An oasis (public domain image, Wikipedia)

What is the relationship between an interdiscipline and an oasis?


At what point in the historical development of a field of study does the oasis or interdiscipline ideas fit in?  When was communication study/media study an interdiscipline?  The beginning?  The middle?  Now?

The beginning, especially.  Why?

Another question: Early in the study of communication/media where did the theories come from?



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