反思功能主义范式下的新媒体研究

Reflection on New Media Research under the Functionalist Paradigm

文章从功能主义范式出发,讨论了该范式下的新媒体研究现状及其存在的问题,认为国内新媒体研究虽然增量较大,但是由于深受功能主义路径的影响,呈现出偏重新媒体的工具性取向、预设系统平衡前提、"倒果为因"的循环论、功利主义取向突出等问题。对此,作者分别就新媒体研究的经验材料与理论建构关系、功能主义的保守性与新媒体研究取向、功能主义在地化变异对新媒体研究的深远影响等维度进行了反思,进而提出未来的新媒体研究应将四个方面纳入考虑范畴:即重新确定人与历史维度的地位、在交叉学科视野中寻求学科合法性、回归泛媒介思维、拓展研究方法。

Starting from the functionalist paradigm,this paper mainly discusses the current situation and problems of New Media Research under this paradigm.The author holds that although the research on new media in China has increased a lot,it is deeply influenced by the path of functionalism,which shows the instrumental orientation,the presupposition of balanced premise of the system,the cyclical theory of'the consequence is the cause'and the prominent orientation of utilitarianism.In view of this situation,the author rethinks the relationship between empirical materials and theoretical construction,the conservatism of functionalism and the orientation of new media research,and the far-reaching impact of functionalism on new media research in the context of localization,and then puts forward that the future direction of new media research can include four aspects:Redefining the status of human and historical dimensions,seeking disciplinary legitimacy from the perspective of interdisciplinary,returning to pan-media thinking,and expanding research methods.