Canonic Texts in Media Research - Are there Any? Should there Be? How About these?

ARE THERE ANY? Many of us have our own canonic texts - the kind that won''t
go away. We tell them that their time has passed, that it''s embarrassing
they''re still around, but they turn up repeatedly on our reading lists and
in our bibliographies. They inspire us, haunt us, argue with us -- but they
won''t leave. Typically, we keep them to ourselves.

SHOULD THERE BE? Of course there should be, and there''s no reason to hide
them. Canons (and saints) should be shared, because they define fields and
communities. These texts are not simply monuments, however. They are alive
and breathing, standing the test of time by shedding old meanings and
assuming new ones. The minimal care they need - occasional brushing off and
bulb-changing - is well worth the trouble.

HOW ABOUT THESE? The field of media studies is now more than 50 years old,
and the contributors to this volume offer their own candidates for canonization. Eac