Convergence culture is the new black. And everyone's doing it. Differing forms of media used to be reached using different channels, consuming our hours day after day. But nowadays, I just pick up my iPhone and I can do pretty much everything...
It's scary how much that just sounded like a marketing pitch for Apple. But that's what I've become: a walking, talking iPhone promoter- only without the perks of a sales job. And it seems that everyone around me has too. If you don't have an iPhone, I'll show you all the reasons you should invest in one. If you do have an iPhone, our conversation will probably consist of comparing apps, updating twitter, checking in to our location and checking the next week's weather together.
It's strange to think that 5 years ago all we could do with a phone was text, call and play snake. In relation to our media use, Jenkins states “This circulation of media content—across different media systems, competing media economies, and national borders—depends heavily on consumers’ active participation.” We are going to see convergence becoming more and more predominant in our lives in the following years, not just we like it- because soon we'll need it. We are to become addicts to the drug that is mixed media, (the sum of all forms of media combined) and without our dear little friend convergence, we may just have to lift a finger in order to find out what's going on in the world.
Jenkins, H. (2006). 'Worship at the altar of convergence: A new paradigm for understanding media change'. In H. Jenkins, Convergence culture: Where old and new media collide (pp 1-24). New York: New York University Press. [URL:http://www.nyupress.org/webchapters/0814742815intro.pdf]
I like this post, it’s short and sweet! Your opening line did sound like a marketing pitch for apple! And I feel this builds on the notion that Deuze touches on, as he suggests that the much of the convergence and co-creation mechanisms are instigated in corporations and thus, “serves both as a mechanism to increase revenue and further the agenda of industry, while at the same time enabling people… to enact some kind of agency regarding the omnipresent messages and commodities of this industry” (2007).
ReplyDeletehey emma
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you saying we have become promoters for smartphones. I remember when I got my first iphone everyone was wow-ed when I showed them its features and the various types of apps that could be used.
In regards to convergence becoming more predominant in the years ahead - I totally agree. Though I do question at what rate, and whether or not we will reach a point where we are overwhelmed and need to take a step back and enjoy the physical world.
However, living in an participatory culture is not always ideal and has its burdens. For example the notion of self service has been accelerated through new technologies (ie ecommerce) and has allowed for ATM's, online banking, self-service checkouts and petrol to exist. while this provides freedom/power and control to people i sure know i would prefer someone else to fill up my petrol tank when its 5 degrees outside in winter.
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ReplyDeleteI too have become a walking, talking IPhone promoter. This technology is an amazing thing. It allows me to do so much and it such a small device. Your post just got me thinking about what I have used my IPhone for today. Today I have used it to send a text, make phone calls, send photos, book a ticket to the movies, check my sols, play games, check in on Facebook, keep up to date with the news, check my phone bill, check train times and so much more. In a way I rely on my smartphone for alot of my everyday activities. I think its crazy and that it’s only going to get bigger. Today my boyfriend showed me a YouTube video which is posted below on the possible features of the IPhone 5. The clip is not the real thing, only a demonstration on what it could be. It shows incredible features which to me seem impossible but in this era it would not surprise me if this is what apple has come up with.
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/lzsBwnv_dAg