Communication and Solution : Raymond Williams and the Concept of Medium

Abstract

The article focuses on the role of medium and mediality in the thought of Raymond Williams in the context of his theory of culture and literature. It analyzes the concept of medium in his early books, his critique of McLuhan's technological determinism and the status of mediality in his cardinal theoretical works Marxism and Literature and Culture (signifying systems, the opposition solution vs. precipitate).

It demostrates that although Williams criticises the concept, his way of thinking can be characterized as media-centred.

Keywords

• Raymond Williams
• cultural materialism
• literary theory
• media theory
• theory of culture
• mediality
• medium
• technological determinism
• signifying systems
• solution and precipitate