Tension and creation in Lotman: explosive media paths for communication

Abstract

This article aims to address Yuri Lotman’s thinking on communication and his concept of tension, which he uses to problematize the ideal conditions for human interaction. The author allows for a more complex understanding of more traditional viewpoints in communication theories by considering lines of force that traverse semiotic systems and articulate driving, thinking, and creative powers. This reflection draws attention, on the one hand, to the fundamental lack of identity between communicating subjects and reveals, on the other, the importance of spaces of difference. By considering the Lotmanian perspective within the media context, we understand the tensions and ruptures of meaning in the media as relevant elements that advance communication itself.