Intermediality
Open accessAbstract
Abstract Intermediality refers to the interconnectedness of modern media of communication. First, the term denotes communication through several discourses at once, including through combinations of different sensory modalities of interaction, for instance music and moving images. Second, intermediality represents the combination of separate material vehicles of representation, as illustrated by the use of print, electronic, and digital platforms in various communication activities. Third, intermediality addresses the interrelations among various media as institutions in society—interrelations addressed in technological and economic terms such as convergence and concentration.
AI snapshot
Written from the paper’s full text.
TL;DR
This encyclopedia entry maps how "intermediality" is used across communication research, distinguishing three conceptions that follow from three different definitions of what a medium is: discourse, material vehicle, and social institution. It traces the concept's roots in intertextuality and medium theory and argues that digital media have made the interrelations among media increasingly central to everyday communication.
Key findings
- Three distinct senses of intermediality are identified: communication through several discourses and sensory modalities at once; combinations of separate material vehicles of representation (e.g., print, electronic, and digital platforms in one campaign); and interrelations among media as institutions, captured in terms such as convergence and concentration.
- The discursive strand descends from Bakhtin's dialogism, renamed "intertextuality" by Kristeva, and from Higgins's 1965 revival of "intermedia" for the Fluxus movement; Fiske (1987) is credited with splitting intertextuality into horizontal (meaning carried across long historical spans) and vertical (topics circulated within minutes to months) dimensions, plus a three-tier scheme of primary, secondary, and tertiary texts.
- Material intermediality is framed through medium theory (Innis, McLuhan, Meyrowitz) and Jensen's own typology of media in three degrees: humans as embodied first-degree media, mass media as second-degree, and the digital computer as a "metamedium" or third-degree medium that recombines earlier forms.
- Institutional intermediality is analyzed via concentration, conglomeration, and convergence; the entry notes that the 2000 TimeWarner–AOL merger failed to meet expectations, supporting skepticism that convergence is a predictable megatrend rather than an open-ended, sometimes diverging process.
Methods
- Conceptual and theoretical synthesis rather than empirical research: the entry reviews and organizes existing scholarship on intermediality, intertextuality, medium theory, and media institutions.
- Evidence consists of cited prior work and illustrative cases (e.g., James Bond and Batman as cultural icons, fan-culture and oral-history studies, Apple and Google as institutional examples, the TimeWarner–AOL merger).
- No sample, dataset, or statistical analysis is reported.
Limitations
- The entry itself states no limitations. It does, however, observe that intertextual and intermedial studies have tended to concentrate on a small, select set of texts and to give less attention to empirical readers and audiences, and that they often treat meaning as flowing from a few mass media outward to users.
- Evident from the text: this is a reference-work overview that proposes and organizes conceptual distinctions rather than testing them, so no claims are empirically validated here; the three-degrees typology is presented as the author's own earlier proposal (Jensen, 2010) rather than as an established consensus.
Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
0 of 9 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged
- Interpretationnone given
Three different conceptions of intermediality can be identified in communication research, deriving from three notions of what a medium is.
“While intermediality might be taken to include any relation whatsoever between media, three different conceptions can be identified in communication research, deriving from three notions of what a medium is in the first place.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
Human beings can be understood as media of the first degree.
“In the perspective of communication history and theory, human beings can be understood as media of the first degree.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Jensen, 2010 source
- Interpretationreasoning
Institutional intermediality may limit communicative diversity.
“Institutional intermediality may limit communicative diversity.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
The current state of the media sector suggests that different kinds of media are involved in multiple open-ended processes of converging (and sometimes diverging), rather than being already converged.
“The current state of the media sector suggests that different kinds of media are involved in multiple open-ended processes of converging (and sometimes diverging), rather than being already converged or likely to reach such a steady state in the near future.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
The human body is a necessary and sufficient condition of communication.
“In this capacity, the human body is a necessary and sufficient condition of communication, even if our bodies are cultivated into being productive and receptive media of communication through prolonged and complex processes of socialization and acculturation.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
- Premisecitation
The seminal idea of intertextuality was advanced by Mikhail Bakhtin and his circle in the early decades of the 20th century.
“The seminal idea of intertextuality had been advanced by the Russian literary scholar Mikhail Bakhtin and his circle in the early decades of the 20th century (Bakhtin, 1981).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Bakhtin, 1981
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Interpretationcitation
Digital technologies prompted renewed theoretical and empirical scrutiny of the very idea of media.
“Digital technologies prompted renewed theoretical and empirical scrutiny of the very idea of media, including examination of the ways in which one medium may reproduce as well as reshape another medium in a process of remediation (Bolter & Grusin, 1999).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Bolter & Grusin, 1999
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 21
- May combine two claims. 2
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).
Interpretationnone givenIntermediality represents the combination of separate material vehicles of representation.
“Second, intermediality represents the combination of separate material vehicles of representation, as exemplified by the use of print, electronic, and digital platforms in a communication campaign.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).
InterpretationcitationIn media and communication studies, an aesthetic and broadly discursive approach to the media is the legacy of the humanities.
“In media and communication studies, an aesthetic and broadly discursive approach to the media is the legacy of the humanities.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).
Interpretationnone givenIntermediality denotes communication through several discourses at once, including combinations of different sensory modalities.
“First, the term denotes communication through several discourses at once, including through combinations of different sensory modalities of interaction, for instance music and moving images.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).
Interpretationnone givenIntermediality refers to the interconnectedness of modern media of communication.
“Intermediality refers to the interconnectedness of modern media of communication.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationIntermediality has been most widely used with reference to multiple discourses and modalities of experience and representation, as examined in aesthetic and other humanistic traditions of communication research.
“As a term and as an explicit theoretical concept, intermediality has been most widely used with reference to multiple discourses and modalities of experience and representation, as examined in aesthetic and other humanistic traditions of communication research (Paech & Schröter, 2007).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Paech & Schröter, 2007
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
InterpretationreasoningIntermediality addresses the interrelations among the media as institutions in society.
“Third, intermediality addresses the interrelations among the media as institutions in society-interrelations that are captured in technological and economic terms such as convergence and concentration.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Interpretationnone givenDifferent media refer to and depend on one another, both explicitly and implicitly.
“As means of expression and exchange, different media refer to and depend on one another, both explicitly and implicitly”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
InterpretationreasoningThe intermedia terminology has been employed to stress the innovative or transgressive potential of artworks that articulate their message in the interstices between two or more media forms.
“In accordance with such an avant-garde orientation, the intermedia terminology has been employed to stress the innovative or transgressive potential of artworks that articulate their message in the interstices between two or more media forms.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationOne medium may reproduce as well as reshape another medium in a process of remediation.
“including examination of the ways in which one medium may reproduce as well as reshape another medium in a process of remediation (Bolter & Grusin, 1999).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Bolter & Grusin, 1999
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningTools are neither necessary nor sufficient for communication, despite extending the human body.
“In comparison, tools-whether writing utensils or musical instruments-are neither necessary nor sufficient, despite the fact that they extend the human body and its communicative capacities in significant ways.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationFiske's vertical intertextuality includes audience members as media in their own right.
“One additional point of Fiske's vertical intertextuality was to include audience members as media in their own right, who may respond to and debate among themselves the contents as well as the forms of media texts.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Fiske, 1987
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
InterpretationreasoningVerbal language represents a privileged modality in evolutionary, psychological, and social terms.
“Verbal language, nevertheless, represents a privileged modality-in evolutionary, psychological, and social terms.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Interpretationnone givenThe general process of institutional intermediality and its historical trajectory can be laid out with reference to three concepts: concentration, conglomeration, and convergence.
“The general process of institutional intermediality and its historical trajectory can be laid out with reference to three concepts: concentration, conglomeration, and convergence.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone givenAs institutions, the modern media of communication are interrelated, both among themselves and with other key social institutions.
“Also as institutions, the modern media of communication are interrelated, both among themselves and with other key social institutions.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
Interpretationnone givenThe concept of convergence is associated specifically with technological, economic, and cultural aspects of the interrelations between media.
“The concept of convergence is associated specifically with technological, economic, and cultural aspects of the interrelations between media.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
InterpretationreasoningDigitalization transformed implicit intertextuality into different forms of explicit hypertextuality.
“Digitalization, in a sense, transformed implicit intertextuality into different forms of explicit hypertextuality: hyperlinks that relate various computer-mediated texts, genres, and applications.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationFiske distinguished two aspects of intertextuality: horizontal and vertical.
“An important contribution (Fiske, 1987) distinguished two aspects of intertextuality: horizontal and vertical.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Fiske, 1987
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationVertical intertextuality highlights the media system that circulates topics, themes, and agendas in shorter time frames.
“Vertical intertextuality, in contrast, was introduced by Fiske (1987) to highlight the media system that circulates topics, themes, and agendas in shorter time frames-from minutes to months.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Fiske, 1987
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Interpretationnone givenA key aspect of digital media is that they facilitate distributed processes in which users interact with texts, and with each other through texts.
“A key aspect of digital media is that they facilitate distributed processes in which users interact with texts, and with each other through texts.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
Interpretationnone givenThe concept of intermediality highlights the interrelated discourses of communication that the general public encounters via interrelated media technologies throughout contemporary everyday life.
“In sum, the concept of intermediality highlights the interrelated discourses of communication that the general public encounters via interrelated media technologies throughout contemporary everyday life.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).
InterpretationreasoningTexts make sense not in themselves, but in relation to other texts.
“Texts make sense not in themselves, but in relation to other texts.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationHorizontal intertextuality refers to the transfer of meaning through historical time.
“The horizontal aspect refers to the traditional and most common understanding of intertextuality in literary studies as the transfer of meaning through historical time-over decades, centuries, even millennia-as accumulated in the symbols, characters, and styles of both fine arts and popular media.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Fiske, 1987
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
The authors state this as an assumption.
All texts—all human acts of communication—are created equal, at least in principle.
“The assumption is that all texts-all human acts of communication-are created equal, at least in principle.”
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- Authors
- Jensen, K. B.
- Affiliations
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
- Corresponding author
- Jensen, Klaus Bruhn
- ORCID
- Jensen, Klaus Bruhn
- Venue
- The International Encyclopedia of Communication Theory and Philosophy
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2016-03-03
- Pages
- 1-12
- OpenAlex
- W3190536958
- Cited by
- 44
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2017: 2
- Type
- reference entry
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- The International Encyclopedia of Communication Theory and Philosophy (publishedVersion)
- Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Visual Arts and Performing Arts › Visual Culture and Art Theory
- Social Sciences › Communication › Media and Communication Studies
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Networks and Communications › Media and Digital Communication
- Keywords
- intermediality, media convergence, media concentration, multimodal communication, music and moving image, media companies
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