"Welcome to convergence culture, where old and new media collide" (H Jenkins 2006 p.3).
Convergence culture is explained by Jenkins as a "flow of content across multiple media platforms", he also tells us that his book is about the relationship between three concepts - convergence media, participatory culture and collective intelligence.
Jenkins argues that the days when devices were created for solely for one purpose are long gone. He uses many examples throughout his introduction to reinforce his case e.g. he talks about how cell phones are not simply devices that can make phone calls any more. They allow the consumer to surf the internet, download/listen to music, stream live music events and use cameras for photo and video purposes. In fact the simple purpose of making a phone call seems to be the least focused on attribute on the device. He reinforced this claim with his own experience of when he went to stores looking for a cell phone that just made phone calls and was told they don't make them like that anymore. This is what Jenkins called a "Cultural Shift".
In his book Jenkins speculates that the way consumers are utilizing media it will end up that all media artefacts will one day be rolled into one black box he calls this "The Black Box Fallacy". Jenkins believes that we already live in a society where devices are already so close to being everything in one. Although he does state that old media will never die, just the way in which we access it and enjoy it through the technological mediums will change.
"Delivery technologies become obsolete and get replaced; media, on the other hand, evolve." (H Jenkins 2006 p.19).
The fact Jenkins emphasizes during this introduction is that convergence is coming and there is nothing anyone can do about it, so we will have to get accustomed to it.
References:
Henry Jenkins (2006) Where Old and New Media Collide, Introduction "Worship at the Altar of Convergence" p.1-25
Image: http://kelger.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/technological-convergence.html
Jenkins argues that the days when devices were created for solely for one purpose are long gone. He uses many examples throughout his introduction to reinforce his case e.g. he talks about how cell phones are not simply devices that can make phone calls any more. They allow the consumer to surf the internet, download/listen to music, stream live music events and use cameras for photo and video purposes. In fact the simple purpose of making a phone call seems to be the least focused on attribute on the device. He reinforced this claim with his own experience of when he went to stores looking for a cell phone that just made phone calls and was told they don't make them like that anymore. This is what Jenkins called a "Cultural Shift".
In his book Jenkins speculates that the way consumers are utilizing media it will end up that all media artefacts will one day be rolled into one black box he calls this "The Black Box Fallacy". Jenkins believes that we already live in a society where devices are already so close to being everything in one. Although he does state that old media will never die, just the way in which we access it and enjoy it through the technological mediums will change.
"Delivery technologies become obsolete and get replaced; media, on the other hand, evolve." (H Jenkins 2006 p.19).
The fact Jenkins emphasizes during this introduction is that convergence is coming and there is nothing anyone can do about it, so we will have to get accustomed to it.
References:
Henry Jenkins (2006) Where Old and New Media Collide, Introduction "Worship at the Altar of Convergence" p.1-25
Image: http://kelger.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/technological-convergence.html
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This is a class blog for students enrolled on the History and Analysis of New Media Module at The University of Ulster. Please keep comments constructive to help students progress with the given text