Dhvani and Epiphany: Essays in Criticism

Author: Manu Chakravarthy Editor: Unni Krishnan Karikkat

Culture and Creativity is a collection of essays of N Manu Chakravarthy, a prominent culture critic known for his discourses on music, cinema, literature and several aspects of culture and philosophy. This book illustrates the intellectual and ethical perspectives that shape his discussions on wide range of issues. These discussions are reflective of the inspiration he draws from his father Prof G N Chakravarthy and his teachers Prof C D Narasimhaiah, Prof U R Ananthamurthy, and Prof B Damodara Rao. The ideas of Ivan Illich and Noam Chomsky, and his friend D R Nagaraj are also instrumental in framing the critical nature of his interpretations. The essays in this book encompass Prof Manu Chakravarthy’s perspectives on religion, secularism, tradition, and modernity. The references to Sri Narayanaguru, M K Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, and the interview with Gustavo Esteva, evince his preoccupation with madhyamamarga. They also foreground his views on nationalism, metaphysics, media, politics and the crises of the third world and India in a globalised context. This work is a testimony to the form of scholarship he values.

Interested readers may write to us at mup@manipal.edu about purchasing the book.

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Editors: Beate Illg, Beatrice Dernbach

Free and fair media are at the heart of any democratic set up. A thriving field of journalism and zealous and ethical journalists in that sense become torch bearers of a brighter and promising tomorrow. In this light, the status of journalists, the most important actors in the field becomes increasingly important as a matter of study. They act as gatekeepers of information that is flooding in the era of new media, a wave that is not so new anymore. Their roles remain intact and even becomes prominent in the chaos of many-to-many communication.
Not concentrating on specific countries, selected contributions in the book reflect on the developments of media and journalism education across different countries. Introducing the book with an overview about the state-of-the-art of journalism education and the research on a meta level, the book moves on to talk about media studies in the Asian countries and in Arab world, the African States and Brazil.
The recent economic and social developments present both opportunities and risks for journalism. Freedom of expression and freedom of press, even in democratic countries, are under pressure. This book provides an international perspective on the different aspects of journalism – the situation in which journalists work, their working conditions, educational backgrounds, struggles and successes. It is aimed at an international public interested in the field of journalism and freedom of speech. It addresses journalists, trainers and academics. Furthermore, institutions in the field of development cooperation, education or cultural policy and cultural education are the focus of this work. Though the book is focused on journalism and journalism education in developing countries, contributions are from across the globe. This book is an interesting read for all those who care about a vital media landscape and an open democratic society.

Interested readers may write to us at mup@manipal.edu about purchasing the book.

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