View source for Biography:Arthur Asa Berger

{{Short description|American academic (born 1933)}}
{{BLP sources|date=May 2023}}}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name              = Arthur Asa Berger
| image             = Arthur Asa Berger1.jpg
| alt               =
| caption           =
| birth_date        = {{birth year and age|1933}}
| birth_place       = Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
| death_date        = 
| death_place       = 
| death_cause       = 
| relatives         = 
| education         = Roxbury Memorial High School for Boys
| fields            = 
| workplaces        = [[Organization:San Francisco State University|San Francisco State University]]
| alma_mater        = 
| thesis_title      = Li'l Abner: A Study in American Satire
| thesis_url        = 
| thesis_year       = 1964
| doctoral_advisor  = Mulford Q.Sibley
| academic_advisors = 
| doctoral_students = 
| notable_students  = 
| known_for         = 
| influences        = 
| influenced        = 
| awards            = 
| website           = {{URL|decoderman.blogspot.com}}
| footnotes         = 
| spouse            = Phyllis Berger
| children          = 2
}}
'''Arthur Asa Berger''' (born 1933) is an American academic and author known for his contributions to the field of media studies. He is currently a [[Social:Emeritus|Professor Emeritus]] in Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts at [[Organization:San Francisco State University|San Francisco State University]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 September 2021 |title=Berger, Arthur |url=http://www.sagepub.com/authorDetails.nav?contribId=501254}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Born in 1933, Berger grew up in a [[Religion:Jews|Jewish]] household but received a [[Organization:Catholic Church|Catholic]] education in his public high school. Most of his teachers were Catholics who had been educated at prestigious institutions such as Boston College or College of the Holy Cross. Berger developed a keen interest in writing and drawing during his formative years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Writing Myself into Existence: A Writer's Odyssey in the Form of an Abecedarian of Sorts &#124; enculturation |url=http://www.enculturation.net/writing-myself-into-existence}}</ref> In 1954, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in literature and philosophy from the [[Organization:University of Massachusetts|University of Massachusetts]]. Berger believed that his broad education would equip him for a variety of professions. However, driven by his passion for writing, he decided to pursue a graduate degree in journalism. Initially enrolling at the [[Organization:University of California, Berkeley|University of California, Berkeley]], in 1954, he later transferred to the [[Organization:University of Iowa|University of Iowa]], where he had the opportunity to work with influential figures like Marguerite Young. During his time at Iowa, Berger also studied philosophy under [[Biography:Gustav Bergmann|Gustav Bergmann]], a notable member of the [[Philosophy:Vienna Circle|Vienna Circle]]. Shortly after completing his Master's degree, he was drafted into the Army in 1956 and discharged in 1958. Following his military service, Berger embarked on a year-long journey through [[Earth:Europe|Europe]].{{vague|date=May 2023}}

== Academic career ==
Upon returning from Europe, Berger enrolled in the [[Social:Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] program in American Studies at the [[Organization:University of Minnesota|University of Minnesota]]. After completing his doctoral studies, he joined the faculty of San Francisco State University, specifically the department of Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts. In this capacity, he taught courses on writing and media criticism, sharing his expertise and passion for understanding the role of media in society. Over the course of his career, Berger has authored more than 130 articles and written over 70 books. His works cover a wide range of topics, including [[Social:Media studies|media theory]], [[Social:Popular culture|popular culture]], [[Philosophy:Semiotics|semiotics]], and [[Visual communication|visual communication]]. Berger's contributions to academia have been widely recognized, and his works have been cited extensively by scholars from around the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arthur Asa Berger |url=https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=RPJrfN0AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao}}</ref> He has also held academic positions at prestigious institutions, including the University of Milan in Italy, Jinan University and Tsing Hua University in {{wipe|China}}, and has been a Fulbright Senior Specialist, delivering lectures on semiotics in {{wipe|Argentina}}.<ref>Ralon, L. (2012), Interview with Arthur Asa Berger Professor Emeritus Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts [[Organization:San Francisco State University|San Francisco State University]].The Popular Culture Studies Journal, Vol. 1, No. 1&2,  126-137</ref>

== Personal life ==
Berger is married to Phyllis Berger, and together they have two children. Their son Gabriel pursued his undergraduate studies at [[Organization:Harvard University|Harvard University]] and holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from [[Organization:Columbia University|Columbia University]]. He currently works for [[Company:Google|Google]]. Their daughter Nina obtained a doctorate from an institute specializing in [[Social:Psychoanalysis|psychoanalysis]] and now practices as a psychoanalyst. Jason Berger, the late Boston landscape painter, was Arthur's brother. In addition to his academic pursuits, Berger maintains a personal weblog called "Decoder Man."<ref>http://decoderman.blogspot.com/ {{User-generated source|date=August 2022}}</ref>

==Selected bibliography==

*(1982). Media analysis techniques. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.
*(1984). Signs in contemporary culture: An introduction to semiotics. New York: Longman.
*(1989). Seeing is believing: An introduction to visual communication. Mountain View, Calif: Mayfield Pub. Co.
*(1997). Bloom's morning: Coffee, comforters, and the secret meaning of everyday life. Boulder, Colo: Westview Press.
*(1997)  Postmortem for a Postmodernist. Walnut Creek, California: AltaMira Press
*(1998). Media research techniques. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
*(2003). Durkheim is dead!: Sherlock Holmes is introduced to sociological theory. Walnut Creek, CA: Altamira Press/Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
*(2011). Ads, Fads, and Consumer Culture: Advertising's Impact on American Character and Society. Boulder, Colo: Rowman & Littlefi eld Publishers, Inc.
*(2017). The Art of Comedy Writing. Routledge.

==References==
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[[Category:Philosophers of language]]

{{Sourceattribution|Arthur Asa Berger}}