Powerpoint Communication And The Knowledge Society

The book "Powerpoint Communication And The Knowledge Society" by Hubert Knoblauch discusses the widespread use and impact of PowerPoint presentations in academic and professional settings. The author explores the social and intellectual implications of this form of communication, including its influence on the way information is presented, validated, and absorbed. The book also delves into the relationships between the aural, visual, and physical dimensions of PowerPoint presentations, as well as the various institutional contexts in which they are used. Overall, the book provides a comprehensive analysis of PowerPoint as a genre and its role in the contemporary communication culture. It is relevant to scholars in the fields of communications, sociology, and education, and offers valuable insights into the development of the information and knowledge society.

PowerPoint has become an integral part of academic and professional life across the globe. In this book, Hubert Knoblauch offers the first complete analysis of the PowerPoint presentation as a form of communication. Knoblauch charts the diffusion of PowerPoint and explores its significance as a ubiquitous and influential element of contemporary communication culture. His analysis considers the social and intellectual implications of the genre, focusing on the dynamic relationships between the aural, visual and physical dimensions of PowerPoint presentations, as well as the diverse institutional contexts in which these presentations take place. Ultimately, Knoblauch argues that the parameters of the PowerPoint genre frames the ways in which information is presented, validated and absorbed, with ambiguous consequences for the acquisition and transmission of knowledge. This original and timely book is relevant to scholars of communications, sociology and education. Review: '... The book is intended for an academic audience with an interest in understanding how knowledge is created via powerpoint. ... Knoblauch's book is an extensive and in-depth investigation into why powerpoint has become the de facto presentation style.... This book is a first step to fully understanding a means of communication that is exploding in use.' Kimberly Fairchild Kimberly Fairchild, PsycCRITIQUES 'On the whole, this is a significant work which examines the globally important phenomenon of PowerPoint - and powerpoint - in a context that is highly meaningful for sociological theory ... The study is not just about the software and related performances but also about the contemporary development of information and knowledge society, which has been a major social and cultural change across the globe. The analysis is also pertinent to the classic questions concerning human action that have captivated the greatest sociological thinkers ... the overall quality and significance make it a valuable piece of sociological scholarship.' Stanislaw Krawczyk, State of Affairs