Description
Book SynopsisLove and Communication is an intriguing philosophical and religious inquiry into the meaning of “talk” – and ultimately the meaning of “being human.”
Taking an historical approach, Paddy Scannell argues that the fundamental media of communication are (and always have been) talk and writing. Far from being made redundant by twentieth-century new media (radio and television), these old media laid the foundation for today’s technologies (AI and algorithms, for instance). Emphasizing these linkages, Scannell makes the case for recognizing what a religious sensibility might reveal about these technologies and the fundamental differences between a humanmade world and a world that is beyond our grasp. Drawing on the pioneering work of John Durham Peters, the book proposes that communication and love go together, which can be understood in two ways: as a human accomplishment, or a divine gift. Ultimately, the essential conundrum of today is highlighted: do we wish to remain in a human>
This book draws on a lifetime of academic work and the author’s personal experience. It will be of interest to scholars and students of media and communication, who will welcome this highly original and searching examination of love as communication.
Trade Review“Love and Communication marks yet another chapter in Paddy Scannell’s searching and brilliant investigations of media, communication, and everyday life. Working through ideas about language and talk, Scannell provides a fascinating account of what restores our trust in the goodness of daily, everyday life: faith, hope, and love. For a new generation of media scholars grappling with a digital world on edge, this book is an indispensable guide.”
Aswin Punathambekar, University of Virginia
“This rare and special book is the synthesis of a career considering the most fundamental issues of communication. It brings together talk and communication, language and writing, radio and television, along with three worlds: God’s world of yesterday, the human world of today, and the machine world of tomorrow.”
John Durham Peters, Yale University
“Paddy Scannell’s new thought-provoking book is a sort of intellectual and scholarly testament...this profound study is a great deal more than merely a summary of a prominent communications scholar’s research and reflections. He also feels forced to explore hitherto largely ignored territory.”
VoegelinView
Table of ContentsIntroduction
Part One
Talk and communication
Writing and language
Chapter One The Still Face Experiment
Chapter Two Talk and writing
Chapter Three The wonder of the world
Part Two
Miracles
Chapter Four Heidegger’s teacup
Chapter Five Miracles
Chapter Six Love and communication
References
