Political Economy of Communication and Cultural Industries: notes about its current validation

Este texto analiza la trayectoria que la Economía Política de la Comunicación (EPC) y sus principales autores, tanto americanos como europeos, han ido experimentando desde mediados del siglo XX. Habla de cómo la parte crucial de la EPC es desentrañar las lógicas políticas, económicas y sociales presentes en las industrias culturales; y de cómo el concepto de industrias culturales se torna clave en todo el desarrollo de esta perspectiva. Incluso desde antes del nacimiento de la EPC, el desarrollo conceptual que ofrecenHorkheimer y Adorno de la industria cultural es imprescindible para el desarrollo de la teoría.This paper analyzes the trajectory that the Political Economy of Communication (EPC) and its main authors, both American and European, have been experiencing since the middle of the 20th century. It talks about how the crucial part of the EPC is to unravel the political, economic and social logics present in the cultural industries and how the concept of cultural industries becomes key in the whole development of this perspective. Even before the birth of the EPC, the conceptual development offered by Horkheimer and Adorno of the cultural industry is essential for the development of the theory. From a critical analysis, the EPC becomes essential especially since the communication sector has increased its participation in the world economy. The emergence of journals or the consolidation of specific sections of EPC in international meetings (IAMCR) certifies it. Later, the incursion of the term creative industry (popularized by Tony Blair's government in 2000) has been heavily criticized by main EPC theorists. But today, there is a need for new visions and new analisys’ approaches by taking the new concepts of cultural and creative industries as one of the possible approaches to the communicational phenomenon, but maintaining the specificity of culture.Fil: Mastrini, Guillermo Néstor. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencias Sociales. Industrias Culturales y Espacio Público; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin