To the Theory of Dark Media

The concept of dark media, justified by Eugene Thacker, fully fits into today studies of the contingent. This article aimed to explore the potential of classical media theory to clarify the functional boundaries of this concept. I prove that it is possible to substantiate dark media as a phenomenon only by recognizing the connection between the main and auxiliary media, and then showing how this connection contributes to the transition from clear to dark media and vice versa. Building on the theory of corporeal media dating back to Giambattista Vico, critically rethinking the formalizing media theory from Wolfgang Riepl to Marshall McLuhan, I refine the concept of dark media as opposed not only to the concept of clarity, but also to the concept of the historical age, the concept of the class of messages and the concept of a group of interrelated practices, including practice of writing, each time undermining the influence claims of these concepts.