On the Media Logic of the State

Abstract

In Altheides/Snow’s important book on “media logic” it is stated that “media are the dominant force to which other institutions conform”. This argument is completely convincing, but it implies the difference between “media” and “other institutions.” “Media” is one institution among others. Although this is of course correct from e.g. a systems-theoretical perspective in which “mass media” form one subsystem of society, from the standpoint of Medienkulturwissenschaft it neglects that all institutions are always already based on medial infrastructures. This is shown with the regard to the state, its medial infrastructure of identity documents and the historical development of the defense of the media monopoly of the state