Revisiting the Althusser/E. P. Thompson-controversy: Towards a Marxist theory of communication

This chapter works out elements of E. P. Thompson’s theory that can inform a Marxist-humanist, critical theory of communication.

The chapter proceeds by introducing the background (Section 3.2), discussing Althusser’s conception of base and superstructure (Section 3.3), engaging with Thompson’s critique of Althusser (Section 3.4), and an outline of foundations of how a critical theory of communication can draw on and go beyond the Althusser and Thompson-debate (Section 3.5).