ABSTRACT
It is now commonplace to view our field as one that is in “ferment.” Fry, Alexander, and Fry give evidence of this ferment as they combine ideas drawn from semiotics, social psychology, literary analysis, and audience research to create an innovative framework that integrates concerns about personal identity, media consumption, and mass culture. They clearly are optimistic about the possibility of shaping a new research paradigm that will go beyond present approaches. While I share their optimism, I am also aware of the enormity of the task. It will not be easy to shape new paradigms. As critic, I will assess the integrity and utility of the framework they develop. What sort of research is likely to result from their perspective? Through my comments on the Fry et al. essay, I will illustrate some of the theoretical and methodological issues that we will need to face as we seek to move beyond the “dominant paradigm.”
