The Theoretical Foundations of the Concept of "Representation"; with Emphasis on Epistemological Dimensions

This paper is an inquiry into the concept of "representation." Therefore, while reviewing the historical background of the subject, it explains the contemporary views regarding the function of technological media. Representation is a process related to the world of external objects on the one hand, and an activity represented by the agent to the audience through a mediator on the other hand. The process of representation, in this sense, is formed by passing through the three worlds of "being", "presenting" and "representing". Therefore, this paper deals with a theoretical discussion of representation and passage through these three worlds. It is conducted using an analytical-rational method and aims to shed lights on the layers of epistemological -theoretical discussions. In this process, first the " concept" is formed in relation to the of world of “being”. Then, concepts are adjusted, categorized and rearranged in the world of “presentation” and finally, they are transferred to the "representation" world through the expression device. The result is that the representation of an external issue passes through a multi-stage process which is saturated with structure, scope, idea, pre-determined will or preconception, and questions the mere and undisturbed transfer of objective concepts to the audience.