Abstract

Over the last twenty years both cultural studies and media studies have gone through a process of reshaping and rethinking. This contribution reconstructs the deep relationship between the two disciplines focusing on the extent to which cultural studies has been useful – and still is – to understand different aspects of contemporary media and cultural and creative industries. Firstly, the article deals with some theoretical questions to pinpoint the intellectual contributions of cultural studies. Secondly – drawing on some of the most relevant international publications – the article lines up and explores those recent debates at the heart of contemporary media studies that have been influenced by cultural studies. Focusing on (1) media production, (2) audiences and cultures of consumption, and (3) platform power and algorithmic culture, the paper stresses and (re)defines the ongoing importance of cultural studies in researching contemporary media