Media evolution and ‘epi-technic’ digital media: Media as cultural selection mechanisms

Mogens Olesen

Media evolution and ‘epi-technic’ digital media: Media as cultural selection mechanisms

Department of Nordic Studies and Linguistics

Abstract

The explosive development of new digital media technologies is often described as a media evolution but hardly ever is the concept of ‘media evolution’ taken at face value. This article takes up that challenge by combining cultural evolution theories with medium theory. The article argues that biological selection mechanisms can provide an inroad into a new kind of historical and structural understanding of the relation between human culture and our technologies. In specific, human history is seen as a cultural evolution in which media technologies are the selection mechanisms.

Originalsprog	Dansk
Tidsskrift	Explorations in Media Ecology
Vol/bind	14
Udgave nummer	1/2
Sider (fra-til)	141-160
ISSN	1539-7785
Status	Udgivet - 2016

Emneord

Det Humanistiske Fakultet
Media evolution
media environments
memetics
medium theory
Digital Media
cultural evolution
epigenetics

Citationsformater

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KW - media environments

KW - memetics

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KW - cultural evolution

KW - epigenetics

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