A Companion to New Media Dynamics edited by John Hartley, Jean Burgess & Axel Bruns - Book review

A Companion to New Media Dynamics

Edited by: John Hartley, Ph.D., Jean Burgess, Ph.D., Axel Bruns, Ph.D.

Published: February, 28, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 520 pages
ISBN-10: 1444332244
ISBN-13: 978-1444332247
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell















"Capitalism, technology, social networks, and media all evolve and change, sometimes to our delight,sometimes our dismay. This incessant process of disruption, renewal, and eventual (if not partial) replacement is now one of humanity's central experiences", write editors Professor of Cultural Science and Director of the Centre for Culture and Technology at Curtin University, John Hartley; Associate Professor of Digital Media Studies, Creative Industries Faculty, School of Media, Entertainment, Creative Arts, Media and Communication, Queensland University of Technology, Jean Burgess: and Associate Professor in the Creative Industries Faculty,School of Media, Entertainment, Creative Arts,Media and Communication, Queensland University of Technology, Axel Bruns in their comprehensive and multi-disciplinary anthology A Companion to New Media Dynamics. The editors provide a widely based collection of essays, by leading international contributors, on the various approaches to current and future developments of new media practices within contemporary culture.



John Hartley (photo left), Jean Burgess, and Axel Bruns present a series of essays relating to new media from the viewpoint of dynamic change. This change inspired approach includes readings from disciplines ranging from culture and the arts to politics and the social sciences. The contributions also consider media dynamics aspects relating to technology and the sciences.

Discussion of media ownership, regulation, and public policy are examined through their impact on, as well as from dynamic change. Other papers include a consideration of new media dynamics in terms of scale. The three degrees of scale include the macro scale at the overall system level, the meso scale at the level of institutions, and the micro scale in terms of agencies and individual outlets.



Jean Burgess (photo left), Axel Bruns, and John Hartley provide a glimpse into the very powerful forces of innovation and creative destruction that bring about dynamic change in media. While these forces are not new, and economic and political influences are critical in the still strong old media, the papers look at their impact on and from new media.

The book's approach is distilled into three overarching sections. The three major parts of the book include sub-heading as well:

Part 1: Approaches and Antecedents

Part 2: Issues and Identities
* Agency
* Mobility
* Enterprise
* Search
* Network
* Surveillance

Part 3: Forms, Platforms, and Practices
* Culture and identity
* Politics, participation, and citizenship
* Knowledge and new generations



Axel Bruns (photo left), John Hartley, and Jean Burgess combine effectively contributions on the overall theoretical aspects of new media dynamics, with the various aspects of technology and societal considerations in what for me, is the power of the book. The international roster of contributors is not only outstanding for the quality of the papers published in the volume, but for the diversity of their backgrounds as well.

Included are presentations from researchers, academics, and entrepreneurs who share their insights into the ever evolving dynamics of new media in contemporary culture.

To ensure that all aspects of the topics are addressed, the chapters uses an approach to new media that emphasizes their generative potential, market adoption and monetary benefits, and their retention within a corporate setting. This approach also considers the cultural, political, and arts based uses and applications of the dynamics inherent in new media, and also in the legacy old media channels.

I highly recommend the all encompassing and widely landmark book to any new and old media leaders, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, technologists, academics, students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, government officials, public policy makers, nonprofit executives, and anyone interested in the ever changing and dynamic landscape of new media. This book provides insights and ideas that will provide the seed for future change and innovation across the entire new and old media environment.