Participatory Media & Convergence Culture

Jonathon Hutchinsonjonathon.hutchinson@sydney.edu.au

@dhutchman

Slight change of plans…

• RIPE conference in week 5• Lectures in week 5 now becomes week 6 and

vice versa• Prof Gerard Goggin will give his mobilities

lecture in week 5• I will give data journalism in week 6• Edwina to do ALL tutes in week 5

Comedy over many platforms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57dzaMaouXA

Today…

• Participation theory• Recap on convergence• Key characteristics of convergence• Convergence in practice• Criticisms of convergence• Jenkins strikes back!• Where to now

Participation

• Embedded in ‘old’ media• Is it participation of interactive?• The reception of the audience requires more

attention• Participation benefits all

Carpentier, 2009

Four problems:

Relevance of Participation

Professional quality

&

Social relevance

First things

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/technology-news/campbell-newmans-wikipedia-page-under-attack-from-vandalism-20140809-1023pg.html

History of cultural studies

• Cultural studies is “the making of society” which “requires the finding of common meanings and direction” (Williams 1958: 93)

• Marshall McLuhan “the medium is the message” (1964)

• Stuart Hall encoding/decoding (1978)• Cunningham and Hartley & The Creative

Industries

Convergence culture

1. An alignment between media industries and companies

2. The multiplication of platforms for news and media

3. Technological hybridity4. Mix of media forms between documentary

and non-documentary(Hay and Couldry 2011)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOUK0Nak8gQ

HITRECORD

• Collaborative• Producer/user• Remix• Gatekeeper• Emerging economical model

…or Convergent Culture

• The link between cultural and political participation

• The use of new media in political change• The continuation of institutional power of our

cultural production• The significance of convergence within a

neoliberal market arrangement(Jenkins 2013)

One side of the debate

• Jenkins• Bruns• Burgess• Hartley• Shirky• Benkler• Castells

The other

• Couldry• Miller• Maxwell• Carpentier• Driscoll

The Utopian-istas

• Media to bring about political change• Inclusive voice for all• Interactivity• Participation• Technological devices readily available• Fundamental institutional change• Economical balance

The Challengers

• A more nuanced understanding of participation

• What is politically or economically driven?• Much of the scholarship is speculative

Relevance of Participation

Professional quality

&

Social relevance

Hutchinson 2013

The more considered Convergent Culture

• Participatory Cultures > Meaningful participation

• Intervention is crucial for citizens• It is a facilitated process

Convergence in your projects

• How has it worked/not worked?• What are your convergence elements?• How might this lecture influence your

understanding of convergence?• How might you transfer your learning to your

next project?