Introducing Communication: Perspectives, Assumptions, and Implications

Review "Media and communication scholars come from a wide range of backgrounds and focus on varied fields, so designing a curriculum for university students is no easy task. A key question that has no easy answer is: what is foundational knowledge? This clearly written, succinct, and yet surprisingly thorough textbook on communication would be of great help to those of us grappling with this question." ― European Journal of Communication"Amardo Rodriguez’s latest work continues to facilitate the filling of the gap in terms of what we think we know about the study and practice of communication, and about ourselves. He encourages us to go deeper by being both curious and courageous so that we may view communication more expansively and inclusively. Additionally, he explains how the questions we are willing to pose and to ponder can serve to reveal the superficial boundaries that frame our "discipline." Introducing Communication: Perspectives, Assumptions, and Implications is ultimately about interrogating what we think we know about communication, and our role in it. This book is essential reading for students, faculty, and/ or anyone interested in comprehending communication beyond its boundaries." -- Heather E. Harris, Professor of Communication at Stevenson University, Editor of Neo-Race Realities in the Obama Era by SUNY Press (2019)"This book lays bare the essence of communication as contextually based, and is written in clear and cogently articulated terms that an undergraduate student can comprehend and the most sophisticated scholar can appreciate. Bravo to Professor Rodriguez for a beautifully written expository treatment of our field!" -- Ronald L. Jackson II, Past President of National Communication Association and author of The SAGE Encyclopedia of Identity Product Description The study of communication deepens our understanding of the human condition, enlarges how we frame and resolve human problems and struggles, and allows us to appreciate the different perspectives that communication brings to the study of the human experience. Introducing Communication provides an overview of eight different communication perspectives and explores important concepts from around the world, highlighting the consequences and implications that come with diverse ways of defining, understanding, and studying communication. Featuring discussions on issues and challenges associated with mass globalization and new technologies, this smart and sophisticated text encourages students to reflect on how these consequences and implications come to bear on how we live and communicate. Introducing Communication is ideally suited for instructors who teach introductory communication courses and are seeking a text that is theoretically rigorous, intellectually expansive, and pedagogically elegant. About the Author Amardo Rodriguez is a Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith professor in the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies at Syracuse University.