The Public Sphere: An Introduction

by Alan McKee

Drawing on many examples from contemporary media culture, Alan McKee looks at how we communicate with each other in public--and how we decide whether changing forms of communication are beneficial for the "public sphere". McKee's introduction to the concept of the public sphere, or free debate space, includes background history as well as philosophical arguments concerning its function.

Genres: Nonfiction

280 pages, Paperback

First published November 16, 2004

Reviews

[Bruce Martin]

Strong argument that the "masses'" counterpublics -- evidenced by their commercialization, triviality, spectacle, etc., is a legitimate public sphere, not a new degraded and depraved one. This argument validates minority and working class spheres where few other texts attempt to do so.

[Marjorie Hakala]

This is a book-long demonstration of the reasons not to use parenthetical citation. Also, it is weirdly dated. But it is thorough.

[Heidi]

Postmodern against modern way of seeing public sphere. Arguments to support diversity of cultures against universalism.

[Laura Walin]

It is always a pleasure to read a book that makes it argument clearly, in a readbale way. That is not very often the case in academic writing. Ironically, McKee's argument is that the rational written way to make arguments (to create the public sphere and have discussion there) by white men is not the only one, and we should see the other ways rather as opportunities than threats to the public sphere of our times. He makes a genuine attempt to understand the reasoning of the "modern" side of the story (compared to his own "postmodern" view), and what is also very nice, he wants to stay optimistic about the future of teh humankind.