Bats in the Belfry: On the Relationship of Cybernetics and German Media Theory

Publikation: Beiträge in ZeitschriftenZeitschriftenaufsätzeForschungbegutachtet

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Bats in the Belfry: On the Relationship of Cybernetics and German Media Theory. / Müggenburg, Jan Klaus.
in: Canadian Journal of Communication, Jahrgang 42, Nr. 3, 28.07.2017, S. 467 – 484.

Publikation: Beiträge in ZeitschriftenZeitschriftenaufsätzeForschungbegutachtet

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@article{e612c4b7a05b491e8ec3e615a8ffb746,
title = "Bats in the Belfry: On the Relationship of Cybernetics and German Media Theory",
abstract = "Background When German media theory (GMT) took shape in the early 1980s it was influenced by cybernetic concepts; however, it eventually discovered the history of cybernetics as an object of research.Analysis The article follows the assumption that GMT{\textquoteright}s double reference to cybernetics must be characterized as the result of both a shared epistemology and a specific discursive constellation. After contrasting McCulloch{\textquoteright}s concept of a synthetic physiological a priori and Kittler{\textquoteright}s concept of a technological a priori it examines how GMT adopted concepts from cybernetics, and how its members eventually became fascinated by the history of cybernetics.Conclusion and implications The article concludes that the double reference to cybernetics explains its special role in GMT, while raising problems for GMT{\textquoteright}s current fascination with cybernetics.",
keywords = "Media and communication studies, Cybernetics, Second order cybernetics, German media theory, Warren McCulloch, Heinz von Foerster, Friedrich Kittler",
author = "M{\"u}ggenburg, {Jan Klaus}",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 Canadian Journal of Communication Corporation.",
year = "2017",
month = jul,
day = "28",
doi = "10.22230/cjc.2017v42n3a3214",
language = "English",
volume = "42",
pages = "467 – 484",
journal = "Canadian Journal of Communication",
issn = "0705-3657",
publisher = "Fraser University",
number = "3",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Bats in the Belfry

T2 - On the Relationship of Cybernetics and German Media Theory

AU - Müggenburg, Jan Klaus

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2017 Canadian Journal of Communication Corporation.

PY - 2017/7/28

Y1 - 2017/7/28

N2 - Background When German media theory (GMT) took shape in the early 1980s it was influenced by cybernetic concepts; however, it eventually discovered the history of cybernetics as an object of research.Analysis The article follows the assumption that GMT’s double reference to cybernetics must be characterized as the result of both a shared epistemology and a specific discursive constellation. After contrasting McCulloch’s concept of a synthetic physiological a priori and Kittler’s concept of a technological a priori it examines how GMT adopted concepts from cybernetics, and how its members eventually became fascinated by the history of cybernetics.Conclusion and implications The article concludes that the double reference to cybernetics explains its special role in GMT, while raising problems for GMT’s current fascination with cybernetics.

AB - Background When German media theory (GMT) took shape in the early 1980s it was influenced by cybernetic concepts; however, it eventually discovered the history of cybernetics as an object of research.Analysis The article follows the assumption that GMT’s double reference to cybernetics must be characterized as the result of both a shared epistemology and a specific discursive constellation. After contrasting McCulloch’s concept of a synthetic physiological a priori and Kittler’s concept of a technological a priori it examines how GMT adopted concepts from cybernetics, and how its members eventually became fascinated by the history of cybernetics.Conclusion and implications The article concludes that the double reference to cybernetics explains its special role in GMT, while raising problems for GMT’s current fascination with cybernetics.

KW - Media and communication studies

KW - Cybernetics

KW - Second order cybernetics

KW - German media theory

KW - Warren McCulloch

KW - Heinz von Foerster

KW - Friedrich Kittler

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85026423322&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.22230/cjc.2017v42n3a3214

DO - 10.22230/cjc.2017v42n3a3214

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 42

SP - 467

EP - 484

JO - Canadian Journal of Communication

JF - Canadian Journal of Communication

SN - 0705-3657

IS - 3

ER -

DOI