Tony Kashani – författare

Lost in Media examines collectively the ethical issues that have arisen in media-driven everyday life and will that arise as paradigm shifts occur on a global scale. Films, television and the new media often serve the globalization aims of a capitalist society as they function to socially reproduce the hegemonic norms, values, and styles of the larger society. Chapters in the book use the tradition of critical theory to look at issues of free market fundamentalism, journalism’s erosion of communication of truth, public relations ethics of perception management; yielding self-censorship in the media, entertainment media pedagogically cultivating consumerism and docility, music and morality, misrepresentation of resistance movements, ethics of spectatorship, and the transformation of everyday ethics.

Lost in Media examines collectively the ethical issues that have arisen in media-driven everyday life and will that arise as paradigm shifts occur on a global scale. Films, television and the new media often serve the globalization aims of a capitalist society as they function to socially reproduce the hegemonic norms, values, and styles of the larger society. Chapters in the book use the tradition of critical theory to look at issues of free market fundamentalism, journalism’s erosion of communication of truth, public relations ethics of perception management; yielding self-censorship in the media, entertainment media pedagogically cultivating consumerism and docility, music and morality, misrepresentation of resistance movements, ethics of spectatorship, and the transformation of everyday ethics.

Movies Change Lives is a rigorous interdisciplinary examination of cinema as a vehicle for personal and social transformation. Interdisciplinary scholar Tony Kashani builds a theory of humanistic transformation by discussing many movies while engaging the works of philosopher/psychologist Erich Fromm, cultural studies theorist Stuart Hall, critical pedagogy theorist Henry Giroux, political philosopher Hannah Arendt, the great French thinker Edgar Morin, the pioneering psychologist Carl Jung, the co-founder of string theory, physicist Michio Kaku, and Frankfurt School philosopher Jürgen Habermas, among others. The book argues that in the globalized world of the twenty-first century, humanity is in dire need of personal and social transformation. Movies have universal appeal and can deeply affect their audiences in a short time. Coupled with critical pedagogy, they can become tools of personal and social transformation. Movies Change Lives is an ideal text for graduate and upper-division undergraduate courses on film (cinema) and society, visual culture, consciousness studies, transformative studies, media and social change, advanced personal and social psychology, and political philosophy.

Meditations on Resistance explores various academic fields, such as education, media studies, cultural studies, law, psychology, and philosophy. Through a transdisciplinary approach, it harnesses a wide range of theories and ideas to delve into inquiries concerning the impact of Artificial Intelligence and new media within the realm of Neoliberal capitalism. The volume serves as a collective and immanent critique of Neoliberalism and significant technological corporations, while also issuing a call for action."This distinguished collection offers hope in a difficult time. The authors remind us of the power of resistance to the threat represented by neo-liberalism and the fascist upsurge it has provoked. The struggle continues!"—Andrew Feenberg, Author of The Ruthless Critique of Everything Existing: Nature and Revolution in Marcuse’s Philosophy of Praxis (Verso Books)"Meditations brings together insights as we in the United States and around the world reckon with the challenges brought on by corporate and state-driven AI and other technologies. This book provides perspectives by leading scholars discussing the material impacts of these emerging technologies and powerful visions of how we, around the planet, may find a path forward whereby technologies of all kinds may actually work for the betterment of humanity."—Ramesh Srinivasan, Professor of Information Studies in the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies Program, UCLA, and author of Beyond the Valley (MIT Press)"This anthology provides a synoptic survey exploring the interface between the media tech industry, the culture industry, capitalism, democracy, the rise of neo- fascist populism, and efforts to increase critical media literacy in schools and other forms of media democracy. An indispensable guide for anyone perplexed by the contemporary structural transformation of the public sphere."— David Ingram, Professor of Philosophy, Loyola University, and author of World Crisis and Underdevelopment (Cambridge University Press)