The Future of Convergence (Expand the Conversation) - Post 4
What is the future of convergence? As a result of where the convergence culture looks to be going, it seems that this question will never be completely answered. With specific medias spreading and expanding across more and more mediums, the future of convergence seems alive and well. Pop culture, politics, and other forms of entertainment has made it not only possible, but more of a necessity for stories to continue to expand.
Slate Article on Presidential Debate in Virtual Reality
Even technology has aided in the convergence endeavors to expand stories and conversation across mediums. The power of participation has shown to be a strong force in the future of convergence and is the quintessential element of the culture that drives it through a prosperous future. Author of book Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media, Henry Jenkins has more to say about this in his book. He states, "Throw away the powers of broadcasting and one has only cultural fragmentation. The power of participation comes not from destroying commercial culture but from writing over it, modding it, amending it, expanding it, adding greater diversity of perspective, and then recirculating it, feeding it back into the mainstream media" (Jenkins 268). The future of convergence looks so prosperous because of this idea of expanding and adding rather than destroying. The world of convergence does not seem to be just about creating and destroying anymore. It is about adding to the story that makes convergence culture so successful and is becoming the symbol of our future. Jenkins goes on to state, "Participation is understood as part of the normal ways that media operate, while the current debates center around the terms of our participation" (Jenkins 257). In stating this, Jenkins brings into light the idea of participation and its importance to the cause of convergence. Without participation, the future of convergence would look bleak.
The expansive media today has show the future of the expanding world of the convergence culture. Jenkins states, "Convergence represents a paradigm shift--a move from medium-specific content toward content that flows across multiple media channels, toward the increased interdependence of communications systems--" (Jenkins 254). Convergence is all about expanding the storyline and technology has made it possible for stories and conversations to expand in ways that would have never been possible before. An example of this is with the recent presidential debates. Technological products like the Oculus Rift has made it possible for consumers to view the debates as if they were on stage with the candidates. The product that was meant to just enhance video game simulation has now expanded into other mediums. The intersection of technology and storytelling has made it possible for not only the stories of video games or other entertainments to expand, but also stories of politics.
Pop culture has also been seen to benefit from the expansion of the convergence culture. Jenkins furthers this argument by stating that media industries have been benefiting from the loyalty of the fans. Jenkins states, "Media industries are embracing convergence for a number a reasons: because convergence-based strategies exploit the advantages of media conglomeration; because convergence creates multiple ways of selling content to consumers; because convergence cements consumer loyalty at a time when the fragmentation of the marketplace and the rise of file sharing threaten old ways of doing business" (254). In stating this, he brings up the point that fan loyalty has expanded through out the years and with that, so has consumer participation to expand the convergence world. An example of this would be the phone applications made by the well-known Kardashian and Jenner celebrities. Recently, they have made applications that bring to their fans their lifestyle and fashion choices. The success of the many applications has only proven that convergence culture is expanding and doing well in so many mediums. Celebrities as well as media companies are now able to profit from these applications by the means of consumers paying for it and it also feeds the fans need more information on their favorite celebrities. This shows that while information is expanding, so is the way that people get the information.
Video Game Modification and Coding Book for Kids
The future of gaming has also been expanded because of the ever growing convergence culture. Video games are no longer bound to one gaming system or even one group of people. As a result of the boom of convergence culture, gaming has expanded through mediums, systems, genres, and even types of people who play games. Similar to politics and pop culture, the expansion of convergence culture has created a huge expansion in the gaming world as well. The convergence culture has also shown to benefit the learning skills that could be applied to anything, more specifically gaming. Children are now able to do basic codings and modifications to their favorite video games such as Minecraft. Jenkins writes, "Right now, people are learning how to participate in such knowledge cultures outside of any formal educational setting" (Jenkins 270). Jenkins sees that convergence has now opened learning to anyone from anywhere. Children can now learn things that used to be only learned by graphic designers or game developers. They are turning into the creators and collaborators of modern day games and more.
A great example for convergence turning fans into actual creators is the story of Rooster Teeth, a YouTube channel that started making videos on a famous video game called Halo. A small crew of fans came together to make a company that focused on shorts on games and later actual gameplay of different video games. Today, what started as just a few friends making videos on YouTube has now become a full-running company that shares their own unique content through various mediums such as YouTube, Twitter, Vine, and their very own website. They have expanded so much and have even created things that would have never happened without the convergence culture. Recently, the department of Rooster Teeth that operates the gameplay section of their entertainment system tried a unique way of sharing their content of playing video games in an environment was unique and original to the game playing/streaming world. They decided to go live with their gameplay. Hundreds of fans showed up to a concert-like venue and watched their favorite YouTube stars doing nothing but play video games. Convergence culture has made it possible for this to happen and has shown to bring out the creativity in anyone from anywhere. The future of the convergence culture has yet to show more of this kind of creativity and with the loyalty of fans, anything can be possible.
In conclusion, the convergence culture has a bright future in front of it. Jenkins states, "Convergence culture is the future, but it is taking shape now. Consumers will be more powerful within convergence culture--but only if they recognize and use that power as both consumers and citizens, as full participants in our culture" (Jenkins 270). To prepare for the "takeover" convergence culture, society has to understand that it is no longer about individual information, but rather collaborative information. Our world is no longer limited to one creator. We are now all expanding creators and what we decide to create or decide to expand to creations only enhances the conversation even more. With convergence culture, the conversation may start, but convergence has made it possible for the conversation to never end.
Works Cited
Jenkins, Henry. "Conclusion and Afterward." Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York: New York UP, 2006. 220-260. Print.
Rooster Teeth. Web. 9 Dec. 2015.
Waldman, Katy. "I Watched the CNN Debate in Virtual Reality and Am OK." Web. 9 Dec. 2015.
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