ABSTRACT
In this afterword, Jensen and Davidsson discuss potential future directions of intermedial and multimodal studies, particularly focusing on Lars Elleström’s contributions to the field and how his theories can be further developed. The authors identify several promising areas for future studies, including the integration of more social and cultural perspectives with Elleström’s systematic media theory to better address contemporary societal challenges, including media literacy and disinformation. They also discuss the ongoing exploration of complementarity between intermedial and multimodal approaches, something which is challenged by inconsistent and partly overlapping terminology, but which also holds the potential for a more nuanced understanding of different dimensions of media, as well as of media combinations. Finally, the authors touch upon the potential in expanding our view of narrativity and emphasise the importance of continuing empirical case studies to test theoretical frameworks. They conclude by acknowledging the value of intellectual conversation and collaboration in developing media theory, principles that were central to Elleström’s approach to scholarship.
