I am not familiar with media studies and my English is not so good, but Jenkins' book was quite easy to read thanks to many clear examples.
In his book, Jenkins tries to figure out what is the relation between media convergence, participatory culture and collective intelligence.
According to Jenkins, media convergence should be seen as a multiplication of media’s types and media contents. It is also the fact that the relation between all the media is becoming stronger and stronger. So new media are not replacing old media, they just cooperate and reinforce each other.
Participatory culture would be the active consumer’s participation is these changements. Indeed, consumers are no more passive media spectators. Producer and consumer interact with each other so that they may have several position. A consumer can easily become a producer. This phenomenon is easy to understand and for my point of view, it is more visible on the internet (youtube, wikipedia, myspace, all kind of blogs...). So there exist new rules in the media production, even in not everyone is equal in front of this production. In order to become a producer you should have specific abilities. For example, a lot of people use Youtube to watch videos but not every user uses it to post video. Even if it seems quite simple to post a video, you must have some tools and knowledge in order to do so.
Finally, collective intelligence is the result of the fact that consumption has become a collective process. According to Jenkins, everyone has a role to play is media production and can bring his own part of knowledge. And this collective intelligence would be an alternative source of media power. This phenomenon doesn’t have to be under estimated because it already has a great impact through popular culture.
What Jenkins wants to stress in his book is first that the idea of convergence doesn’t mean that all media content is going to flow through a single black box. He takes the example of mobile phone. Indeed, with a cell phone you can do much more than just call your friends. You can play games, take pictures, make movies, surf on the internet etc... So you might think that all media are converging is this little box. Actually, Jenkins wants to show us that there is a multiplication of black boxes even if media are converging. According to Jenkins mobile companies will be part of media convergence but they won't own it.
Then, Jenkins points out the fact that convergence is a cultural and social process as much as it is a technological one.
And finally, we are all still learning what it means to live in a convergence culture because we are taking part to this new phenomenon, which is a process that keeps going on.
I think Jenkins' analysis is totally relevant in a context of globalization. And we may think that this convergence culture is challenging our educational system. Indeed, the new mission of education would be to give the possibility to everyone to be a media producer. Because we are no more passive spectators, we all should be able to participate to this convergence culture.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
FANDOM - TV series fan From ALICE DUVERT
Just like a lot of people, I often watch TV series but paradoxically I watch them on my laptop. Indeed, between the moment when an episode is broadcast on the US Tv and the moment when the same episode is visible on French TV, you must wait a lot of time. To overcome this problem, you can easily find the latest episodes on streaming websites with subtitles.
The Internet has a major role in showing of series because it is the fastest way to watch it but also because it is a free area where fans can talk to each other. They express their feelings relating to the last episodes, their wishes for next episodes etc...
This link between the internet and series is so strong that some series are exclusively broadcast on the net. I am for example a fan of a serie whose name is “Décide-toi Clément” (translation would be “Make a choice Clément!”). It is a friend of mine who created this series with few means of support. The concept is to exclusively show the series on the internet and the internet users have a choice between two continuations/ two ends after each episode. Actually, the internet users help the hero to take a decision. They must vote for what they want simply clicking on a link, then the producer takes this choice into account and few weeks after he broadcast a new episode.
It is not very known in France but there already is a second season and there are more and more fans who can meet and talk on the series's blog or through facebook. Around 1300 people vote for each episode.
Blog: "http://www.decidetoiclement.com/en/blog/" http://www.decidetoiclement.com/en/blog/
Facebook:"http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=16937785884&ref=search&sid=556423599.1044824551..1" http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=16937785884&ref=search&sid=556423599.1044824551..1
I think this is a good example of how the Internet is becoming the main media, where a lot of innovations are taking place. On the internet you feel more active compared to TV or newspaper and there is a real interaction between people.
Media Diary From ALICE DUVERT
I chose to compare my use of media when I was in Finland and when I came back in France. Indeed, I noticed some changes due to the languages, my activities etc...
Actually, I had the feeling that my laptop was the only communication medium in Finland. Every morning I was used to check my emails and the news in France. I didn’t miss France that much but one year ago, I decided to chose “Le Monde.fr” (one of the most famous newspapers in France) as my home page when I surf the Internet. Thus, even if I don’t feel like reading the French news, I briefly see the home page of Le Monde several times in the day. Usually I just read the main titles, or if I am especially interested in a article I read it more carefully. I really like keeping myself informed through the internet because you feel free to make your own selection and focus on what your are interested in.
Every morning I also check Facebook. For a long time, I refused to sign in because I thought it was a kind of violation of private life. But finally, it was the easiest way to keep in touch with my friends all around the world. Facebook is also an essential tool in the Erasmus network, it gives the opportunity to get informed of the events, parties, trips etc... and easily share your pictures with your friends.
Later in the day I usually need to use the computers at the library in order to complete assignments. Once more, I surf the internet in order to find further information that I didn’t find in books. You are still active when you research on the net. Sometimes it is hard to classify all the information that you get: what is relevant? Is the author of this article generally approved? Is it serious and reliable?
That is what you can notice using the Internet: you are free, you can find a broad diversity of sources and points of view. But then, it is your own responsibility to classify these sources and it is not obvious.
In the evening I like relaxing watching TV series on my laptop. On streaming websites you can find the latest seasons that are not even on French TV, with subtitles. In these conditions, TV seems quite obsolete.
Sometimes I also use Skype to call my family or even my friends in Finland because it is for free and much more convivial than phone.
Because I didn’t have TV in Finland, I liked listening French radio via my laptop. Actually, I notices that my laptop was a kind of “super media” through which I could have the opportunity to read newspapers, listen radio, watch TV etc...
In France, my uses of media are not exactly the same. Actually, newspapers and TV are more accessible for me so I use more varied media even if the Internet is still in first position.
Every morning I check my mail just after waking up. These last days it was very important for me to read my mail because I was looking for an internship for my second semester. So every morning, I was keen to check if I received any answer to my candidacy. Fortunately, I finally found an internship!
In the morning, I also switch on the TV. But I don’t watch actively any program. It is just to have a background noise when I am alone and I am eating my breakfast.
Later in the day, if I have some time, I like reading magazines. I am for example a subscriber of ELLE, a fashion magazine. And when I read interesting articles, I sometimes like to find on the Internet further informations, about an artist, a brand, a event, a film that I discovered during my lecture.
In the evening I switch on the TV in order to watch the news. Sometimes I am not interted in every reporting, but it is a good way to have a global views of current affairs. Later, either I watch a movie on TV or, if there is nothing exciting on TV, I watch I movie using streaming websites on my laptop. But even if I am watching a movie or a series, I am all the time speaking to my Finnish friends through MSN or Skype. And that is why I am not able to go to bed early...
Actually, I had the feeling that my laptop was the only communication medium in Finland. Every morning I was used to check my emails and the news in France. I didn’t miss France that much but one year ago, I decided to chose “Le Monde.fr” (one of the most famous newspapers in France) as my home page when I surf the Internet. Thus, even if I don’t feel like reading the French news, I briefly see the home page of Le Monde several times in the day. Usually I just read the main titles, or if I am especially interested in a article I read it more carefully. I really like keeping myself informed through the internet because you feel free to make your own selection and focus on what your are interested in.
Every morning I also check Facebook. For a long time, I refused to sign in because I thought it was a kind of violation of private life. But finally, it was the easiest way to keep in touch with my friends all around the world. Facebook is also an essential tool in the Erasmus network, it gives the opportunity to get informed of the events, parties, trips etc... and easily share your pictures with your friends.
Later in the day I usually need to use the computers at the library in order to complete assignments. Once more, I surf the internet in order to find further information that I didn’t find in books. You are still active when you research on the net. Sometimes it is hard to classify all the information that you get: what is relevant? Is the author of this article generally approved? Is it serious and reliable?
That is what you can notice using the Internet: you are free, you can find a broad diversity of sources and points of view. But then, it is your own responsibility to classify these sources and it is not obvious.
In the evening I like relaxing watching TV series on my laptop. On streaming websites you can find the latest seasons that are not even on French TV, with subtitles. In these conditions, TV seems quite obsolete.
Sometimes I also use Skype to call my family or even my friends in Finland because it is for free and much more convivial than phone.
Because I didn’t have TV in Finland, I liked listening French radio via my laptop. Actually, I notices that my laptop was a kind of “super media” through which I could have the opportunity to read newspapers, listen radio, watch TV etc...
In France, my uses of media are not exactly the same. Actually, newspapers and TV are more accessible for me so I use more varied media even if the Internet is still in first position.
Every morning I check my mail just after waking up. These last days it was very important for me to read my mail because I was looking for an internship for my second semester. So every morning, I was keen to check if I received any answer to my candidacy. Fortunately, I finally found an internship!
In the morning, I also switch on the TV. But I don’t watch actively any program. It is just to have a background noise when I am alone and I am eating my breakfast.
Later in the day, if I have some time, I like reading magazines. I am for example a subscriber of ELLE, a fashion magazine. And when I read interesting articles, I sometimes like to find on the Internet further informations, about an artist, a brand, a event, a film that I discovered during my lecture.
In the evening I switch on the TV in order to watch the news. Sometimes I am not interted in every reporting, but it is a good way to have a global views of current affairs. Later, either I watch a movie on TV or, if there is nothing exciting on TV, I watch I movie using streaming websites on my laptop. But even if I am watching a movie or a series, I am all the time speaking to my Finnish friends through MSN or Skype. And that is why I am not able to go to bed early...
Monday, January 25, 2010
Jenkins Analysis From Morais Hélène
Jenkins mentions throughout his book the convergence of different media, different media processes. He even called his book Convergence.This word expresses in some sense the point from which the media intersect. He represents change, change of a specific content to a content transmitted by a variety of media.Through this term Jenkins evokes as well the interdependence increasingly strong of all these communication systems.For Henry Jenkins, the term convergence describes technological, cultural and social changes. He develops this theory in his book using many examples to illustrate it.The book also addresses the issues of “participatory culture” and “collective intelligence”. It opposed these two concepts to the passivity of older consumers.
The notion of “collective intelligence” is probably one of the most interesting from my point of view. Indeed, the constant evolution of media and their innovations have allowed this idea of “collective intelligence”. The information is all collected on the Internet for example. Websites are created, referring to specific issues and mixing explicative texts and perspectives. Movies but also music are accessible in an easier way. In this sense media represents nowadays a real cultural platform. This evolution depends on the active participation of consumers according to Jenkins. However, if Internet represents the main place for information, offering considerable data on a countless subjects, we must not forget that many erroneous information are circulating as well.Moreover, everybody have not access to the “collective intelligence” that is created and becomes increasingly important.
In discussing the concept of “collective participation”, the author underlines the roles played by media producers but also by consumers. Indeed, the current form of media gives to the consumers the opportunity to participate actively to the media development and the establishment of a “collective intelligence”.In fact, instead of announcing the death of traditional media like many people do, Jenkins underlines the impressive fertility born of the convergence between new media thanks to the impulse of users. He said the new media are interacting in complex ways with the formers. Thus, newspapers, radio or television does not have to disappear but are just coming into line with new media like Internet, mobile phones...
The notion of “collective intelligence” is probably one of the most interesting from my point of view. Indeed, the constant evolution of media and their innovations have allowed this idea of “collective intelligence”. The information is all collected on the Internet for example. Websites are created, referring to specific issues and mixing explicative texts and perspectives. Movies but also music are accessible in an easier way. In this sense media represents nowadays a real cultural platform. This evolution depends on the active participation of consumers according to Jenkins. However, if Internet represents the main place for information, offering considerable data on a countless subjects, we must not forget that many erroneous information are circulating as well.Moreover, everybody have not access to the “collective intelligence” that is created and becomes increasingly important.
In discussing the concept of “collective participation”, the author underlines the roles played by media producers but also by consumers. Indeed, the current form of media gives to the consumers the opportunity to participate actively to the media development and the establishment of a “collective intelligence”.In fact, instead of announcing the death of traditional media like many people do, Jenkins underlines the impressive fertility born of the convergence between new media thanks to the impulse of users. He said the new media are interacting in complex ways with the formers. Thus, newspapers, radio or television does not have to disappear but are just coming into line with new media like Internet, mobile phones...
An example of fandom phenomena From Morais Hélène
It is difficult for me to assert that I am a fan of something in particular, though I am very interested in the huge and international phenomenon generated by the books of J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter. A success that was not expected by the author herself! Actually, this saga provoked an unexpected mass of fans all over the world, a mass of fans which is still continuing to grow up years after years.
Furthermore, this phenomenon generates a profound activity through a broad sample of ages.
This phenomenon, called the “potter mania” in France, is really interesting in the sense it concerns many varied areas such as books, movies, music, games, clothes, toys… Actually, the fandom phenomenon and the success of this story have generated the creation of a myriad of by-products. In a certain sense, the commercial exploitation of the original books has provoked an increase of the fans movement and permit to maintain it as well.
Besides, the fandom activity is really varied. Fans can develop their passion in a myriad of different activities. The multitude of blogs created by fans, for instance, can show the importance of this phenomenon. Generally created by teenagers, the information they communicate are rich and various. Most of these blogs are created and used in order to share information about the topic or conveys some personal opinions. Actually, we can find in it much information about the books, the movies, the actors who embody the main characters, or the new games which are going to bring out.
It is as well the place where they put some articles, some interviews, and some videos in order to inform fans of what happens new for this topic. In general, many pictures and images are posted to illustrate these places.
With these blogs, Harry Potter fans can also share their feelings about the stories, the movies, the characters, etc… or share their opinion about it.
In fact, they are always informed of everything and they are also in touch with each other. The blogs: http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/ is a very good example of a fandom blog. There are always recent news about the film, the actors or everything which concerns Harry Potter (even decorations such as “gingerbread creation”).
The book official website (http://www.jkrowling.com/en/index.cfm) permits to the fans of J.K. Rowling to have news, information about the books, how she wrote it, more precisions about the characters, or some animals for instance.
Fans have to discover all the clues and the secrets through the website in order to have information, or to obtain some secret draws by J.K. Rowling for instance…
Fandom phenomenon can be perceptible as well through some elements such as the number of enters in cinema to see the adaptation of the books, the queue to have an autograph of the author or of the actors, the number of fans gathers at the premiere of the movies, the security measures to preserve the secret of the last book, or the fact that for the publication of several tomes of Harry Potter some bookshops have organize a sale that took place at midnight and gathered a huge number of fans. In United States of America, the 6th movie of Harry Potter was showed for the first time at midnight, and according to Warner Bros, the film achieved revenue of $ 22.2 million just for this session!
And fandom activity through the phenomenon of Harry Potter is not ready to stop, even if the last book is brought out. Actually, fans are waiting for the last episodes of the movie and this story seems to cross generations. Consequently, fandom movement is still active…
Furthermore, this phenomenon generates a profound activity through a broad sample of ages.
This phenomenon, called the “potter mania” in France, is really interesting in the sense it concerns many varied areas such as books, movies, music, games, clothes, toys… Actually, the fandom phenomenon and the success of this story have generated the creation of a myriad of by-products. In a certain sense, the commercial exploitation of the original books has provoked an increase of the fans movement and permit to maintain it as well.
Besides, the fandom activity is really varied. Fans can develop their passion in a myriad of different activities. The multitude of blogs created by fans, for instance, can show the importance of this phenomenon. Generally created by teenagers, the information they communicate are rich and various. Most of these blogs are created and used in order to share information about the topic or conveys some personal opinions. Actually, we can find in it much information about the books, the movies, the actors who embody the main characters, or the new games which are going to bring out.
It is as well the place where they put some articles, some interviews, and some videos in order to inform fans of what happens new for this topic. In general, many pictures and images are posted to illustrate these places.
With these blogs, Harry Potter fans can also share their feelings about the stories, the movies, the characters, etc… or share their opinion about it.
In fact, they are always informed of everything and they are also in touch with each other. The blogs: http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/ is a very good example of a fandom blog. There are always recent news about the film, the actors or everything which concerns Harry Potter (even decorations such as “gingerbread creation”).
The book official website (http://www.jkrowling.com/en/index.cfm) permits to the fans of J.K. Rowling to have news, information about the books, how she wrote it, more precisions about the characters, or some animals for instance.
Fans have to discover all the clues and the secrets through the website in order to have information, or to obtain some secret draws by J.K. Rowling for instance…
Fandom phenomenon can be perceptible as well through some elements such as the number of enters in cinema to see the adaptation of the books, the queue to have an autograph of the author or of the actors, the number of fans gathers at the premiere of the movies, the security measures to preserve the secret of the last book, or the fact that for the publication of several tomes of Harry Potter some bookshops have organize a sale that took place at midnight and gathered a huge number of fans. In United States of America, the 6th movie of Harry Potter was showed for the first time at midnight, and according to Warner Bros, the film achieved revenue of $ 22.2 million just for this session!
And fandom activity through the phenomenon of Harry Potter is not ready to stop, even if the last book is brought out. Actually, fans are waiting for the last episodes of the movie and this story seems to cross generations. Consequently, fandom movement is still active…
Media Diary From Morais Hélène
In making-up my media diary I realized how the media are constantly present in my everyday life. Indeed, there is not one day spent without used it. From waking up until the moment I go to bed, they accompany me ... Or rather, I use them. First, I wake up every morning thanks to my cell phone. I use it as an alarm. I checked if a message is waiting for me and if it is the case… I read it! In general, if I am not late, I take time to turn on my computer and I take my breakfast reading my emails or my Facebook. I answer the most urgent messages and post some comments on the social networking site. In general, when I am in France, I listen to the radio at the same time, but in Finland it is a little bit different... I often call some friends before leaving to university, in order to know where to join us for the lunch or for the class. Later, I go to the library. I often take time to read newspapers or books I need for some homework or essays. I also use the computer to check again my emails and looking for some information. This is usually the moment I chose to read the French newspaper online. I also often select some articles about a topic that particularly interests me or that I studied. When I come back to the university, I turn on my computer when I get home. I spend more time on Facebook, I call my family with Skype and I talk with my friends using Messenger. The computer and especially Internet keeps me in constant contact with my family and the rest of the world in a certain way ... I regularly use the television in my own country, but I have not in Finland, so I spend much time surfing on the Internet. I usually watch documentaries about current issues and various subjects or I listen to music on Youtube, looking for new bands. I even use the computer as dictionary at this moment…But I just put it out before going to bed. I still spend half an hour at least to read a novel before sleeping. And I fall asleep after having checked one last time if no message appears on my cell phone ... On weekends, if I organize myself differently, I am still using more or less the same media, I just spend more time in using it…
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