The media and modernity is refreshingly optimistic in offering a constructive yet sensible alternative to the doom and gloom with which the modern media are often regarded it is impressive in its scope often insightful in its analysis and solidly grounded in its arguments and so makes a valuable contribution to the fields of both media sociology and social theory. Thompson is foremost among sociologists to grasp and assess the importance of the mass media in modern social theory he does so in this fresh and compelling story of modernity thompson writes with tremendous scope insight and precision james lull san jose state university. Start your review of the media and modernity a social theory of the media write a review sep 17 2012 chiara rated it really liked it shelves school assignments i had to read this book for one of my first years university exams so far its one of the few academic books that didnt bore me to death but on the contrary caught my attention. The media and modernity is refreshingly optimistic in offering a constructive yet sensible alternative to the doom and gloom with which the modern media are often regarded it is impressive in its scope often insightful in its analysis and solidly grounded in its arguments and so makes a valuable contribution to the fields of both media sociology and social theory