they're still around, but they turn up repeatedly on our readinglists 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 reasonto hide them. Canons (and saints) should be shared, because they definefields and communities. These texts are not simply monuments, however. Theyare alive and breathing, standing the test of time by shedding old meaningsand assuming new ones. The minimal care they need - occasional brushingoff and bulb-changing - is well worth the trouble.HOW ABOUT THESE? The field of media studies is now more than 50years old, and the contributors to this volume offer their own candidates forcanonization. Each of the thirteen essays in the book presents acritical reading of one of these classics and debates itscandidacy. You are invited to disagree. The texts are summarized,analysed and re-examined for their contemporary relevance. They aregrouped together in schools (Chicago, Columbia, Frankfurt, Toronto,British Cultural Studies) to highlight the different perspectivesthat characterize the field. This book offers thirteen pairs of shoulders to stand on, thebetter to see the field of media studies. It will serve as anexcellent teaching text for advanced students in communications andmedia and cultural studies.

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