MAREK PALCZEWSKI: Umberto Eco and his analysis of media in essays and novels

In his articles, essays and books Umberto Eco often writes about issues related to journalism and media. He usually has a critical opinion when discussing the media. However, an analysis of selected passages from Umberto Eco’s body of work highlights the difficulty in locating a coherent system of ideas about the media in his writing. Undoubtedly more decisive views can be found in his fiction. In his novels Eco expresses views about the media more freely and the language is more radical. Eco notes the power of media in the modern world, drawing attention to their political, cultural and symbolic influence. Media shape an image of the modern world, an image that recipients of the media consider to be their own, being unaware of media manipulation and lies.

Keywords: Umberto Eco, media, journalism, manipulation