Mediatization, polarization, and intolerance (between environments, media, and circulation)

Ada C. Machado da Silveira 162 social interactions: “By the mediatization of culture and society we understand the process whereby culture and society to an increasing degree become dependent on the media and its logic” (HJARVARD, 2012, p. 64). David Deacon and James Stanyer (2014, p. 1-2) point out the current understanding of mediatization as an influential concept in media and communication studies, contradicting a previous use linked to imperialism. The authors understand the widespread use of the notion of mediatization as directed to the study of “how causal processes are thought about, how histori- cal change is understood, and how concepts are designed.” 5 This original usage described processes of dis- empowerment, whereas the more recent invoca- tion describes the accrual of power created by the increased pervasiveness and autonomy of media institutions, values and technologies. In essence, these factors no longer mediate power, they con- stitute it, and it is this proposition that is used to justify the need for this new nominalization to re- place the old descriptive workhorse of ‘mediation’. (DEACON; STANYER, 2014, p. 2) In response to Deacon and Stanyer, researchers Hepp, Hjarvard, and Lundby (2015) ponder what they see as confusion between what can be termed (in a free translation) as media- centered approaches, a holistic understanding of social forces, and others called media-centric, from a unilateral perspective 6 . They argue that the distinction does not capture how mediati- 5 Deacon and Stanyer (2014, p. 1-2) point to applications in different processes, such as politics, war, religion, medicine, science, music, identity construction, health, childhood, theater, tourism, memory, climate change, formulation of politics, performance, consumption, madness, death, intimate relationships, ge- ography, and human education. They do not, however, point to applications in the study of the media itself in its news activity. 6 “Following Livingstone (2010), we find it important to distinguish between be - ing ‘media-centric’ and ‘media-centered’. Being ‘media-centric’ is a one-sided approach to understanding the interplay between media, communications, culture, and society, whereas being ‘media-centered’ involves a holistic under- standing of the various intersecting social forces at work at the same time as we allow ourselves to have a particular perspective and emphasis on the role of the media in these processes” (HEPP; HJARVARD; LUNDBY, 2015, p. 316).