The Play Theory: A Critique From The Communitarian Context

Abstract

Communication plays a vital role in human existence. Because of the importance and effects of communication on the interrelationship of man and its environment, attempts have been made by scholars and philosophers to explain the effects and roles of communication on various man's activities, phenomena and events. And this has resulted in theories and postulations cutting across different eras - mass society era - limited effect - scientific perspective - cultural era theories and now technological/digital age era. This study is a critique of William Stephenson's play theory of mass communication. His view that people use mass media mostly for play i.e. entertainment, pleasure and self-satisfaction rather than work
(information and improvement) was true to some extent in the traditional society where the need of the people was small and their level of education low. However, recent developments in communication and technology have madethat postulation in need of some revision, particularly with the development of the
new media and globalization of information which emphasizes skills both in the production and consumption of information.