A Latin American perspective on communication/cultural mediation

Abstract

Latin American communication research shows an increasing convergence with cultural studies in terms of its ability to analyze communication and cultural industries as a matrix for both the disruption and reorganization of the social experience. The article argues that it is imperative to reflect on the way in which communication has been transformed into a highly effective mechanism for the insertion of all cultures – whether ethnic, national or local – into the sphere of the market. The article explores the changing configurations in the field of communi-cation research in Latin America, noting the shift in focus from mediation to media and the increasing contribution of an ethnographic perspective, which seems particularly promising when applied to the younger generation’s cultural trajectories