In this paper theoretical foundations of critical media and communication studies are discussed. The assumption of scholars such as Marshall McLuhan and Jean Baudrillard that Marx in his analysis of capitalism did not take into account media and communication is discussed. It is shown that counter to such opinions Marx provided important insights for analyzing the role of the media in commodity and ideology production, circulation, and consumption and for discussing the role of alternative media production, circulation, and reception. Marx’s works are systematically reconstructed in order to identify aspects of the media and communication. This reconstruction is based on the Marxian circuit of capital. Marx provided important groundwork for media and communication theory that can be connected to contemporary critical media and communication studies.
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