Dialogue of Civilization: An Introduction to Civilizational Analysis Book

This is an excellent introduction to the study of communication. Fiske uses plain language and simple examples to describe semiotics in an interesting and accessible way. He makes it clear that we are all products of our social and cultural environment, that the assumptions we live with about the world don't naturally occur but are the result of a complex process called signification. It is through acceptance of or resistance to dominant ideologies that we constitute ourselves as individuals and make sense of our environment. This book offers essential tools for critical engagement with the media messages that surround us and guides the reader towards a deeper appreciation for the forces at work in producing our sense of reality.