从斯蒂芬森出发:传播游戏理论的新进展

Starting with Stephenson:New Evolvement of the Play Theory of Mass Communication

本文从"游戏"的概念与理论溯源入手,试图从斯蒂芬森出发,梳理大众传播的游戏理论内涵,将传播游戏理论看作是对传播信息论的补充与发展,同时又与凯瑞的传播仪式观形成隔空的共鸣。立足当前的数字媒体时代,传媒体验的游戏化和新闻叙事的游戏化已然势不可挡,"玩工"的出现模糊了游戏与工作的边界,大众文化的游戏化也引发了对于媒介化社会的关注。反思目前传播游戏理论的运用存在着严重的实体化倾向,"传播游戏"从隐喻沦为了实指,解释力有余而想象力不足。斯蒂芬森的时代已然回不去,传播游戏理论旅行至数字媒体时代也悄然变换了面目,不同情境时空下的原理论发生了异变,是时候开启未来游戏理论的新格局了。

Starting from the concept and theoretical origin of“game”,this paper tries to sort out the connotation of the play theory of mass communication from Stephenson's point of view.It regards the play theory of mass communication as a supplement and development of the information theory of mass communication.Meanwhile,it forms an coincidental resonance with Carey’s ritual theory.Based on the current digital media era,the game of media experience and the game of news narrative are irresistible.The emergence of "play-worker"blurs the boundary between play and work.Moreover,the game of popular culture also arouses the attention of the media society.Reflecting on the current application of the play theory of mass communication,there is a serious tendency of materialization,"communication-play" from metaphor to actual meaning,with more explanatory power and less imagination.Stephenson's era has been unable to go back!The travel of the play theory of mass communication to the digital media era has quietly changed its features.In different situations,the primary theory has evolved gradually.Therefore,it is time to open a new pattern of the future play theory.