Abstract

DIGITAL MATERIALISM: APPROACHES AND PERSPECTIVES IN MEDIA STUDIES This paper explores theoretical and methodological frameworks into the complex interdisciplinary field of Digital Materialism as media theory. From a starting point of the notion of “digital materiality”, as a core concept to develop an epistemological shift towards “material turn”, we aim to illustrate different approaches as new materialist paradigms, German media theory, Media Archaeology, Media ecologies, Software Studies and Marxist media theory. The so-called Digital Materialist Studies include a wide range of theories, which are sometimes in mutual opposition. However, overall these approaches help to re-evaluate the centrality of the material dimension of digital media in contemporary society. Finally, we indicate some possible theoretical evolutions of digital materialism. On the one hand, there are theories focused on highlighting the complexization and diversification of power relations through the study of some “lens” of digital materialities. On the other hand, we suggest the possibility of combining in a coherent theoretical framework the media archaeology studies of the Italian theorist Alberto Abruzzese in order to investigate the transition from old media to digital media by analyzing the material and symbolic conflicts that the media themselves incorporate.