Just wanted to write my thoughts on the opening chapter; many of these concepts are fairly new to me so I need to see what the "experts" in these fields are both saying and doing! Henry Jenkins creates an
image of participatory culture that is easy to like, defining it as “one which
embraces the value of diversity and democracy through every aspect of our
interactions with each other” (2). A culture that expects and allows us to live,
make decisions, and express individuality as well as camaraderie through a
variety of forums. Jenkins seems to be a voice among voices, much like Howard
Rheingold in this arena. We are guided by Henry through the dialogue he, Mimi
Ito and danah boyd share, illuminating the diversity of their connections to
participatory culture. The widely different perspectives, values, purposes, and
emphases are discussed by these three to the point of argumentation, validating
their individual investments.
Mimi
claims her focus was initially on geeks whereas Henry admittedly focused on fans and "fandom." Mimi
approached media through the learning sciences, where education is perceived
“as an act of participation in communities” (5). She explains in this approach,
the learning and participation emerge from the day-to-day experiences of living
and sharing in communities instead of educational settings. danah’s early
impressions of participatory culture were from Henry, as she was his grad
school student. After moving to San Francisco in the early 2000’s, working on
the early phases of Web 2.0, she began to see the things Henry described in action. The “ground floor” concepts
had blossomed and, judging by the three different perceptions offered here,
taken on many different faces and abilities, dependent on who is speaking.
Henry’s
samba school and its mode of engagement is a dynamic example. Different forms
of learning can now be addressed and directed, as educational settings are expanded
by media’s effective use. Participatory learning was a standard of previous
generations. Desire to learn meant watching, listening, modeling, and then
finding how to express one’s individuality through age-old forms using new
materials and/ or approaches. The passing on of knowledge was a respected
tradition to be upheld. Today’s society has its cultural practices, such as
selfies, a form of self-expression which can reach a larger network. However, this
type of involvement prompts both positive and negative effects.
Participatory media platforms like Henry’s grandmothers
quilting was a source of her society; the realities of her life I find easy to
relate to. It is hard to compare that investment of self to our networked
societies, but with the impersonality of many neighborhoods today, the
reassurance of an online community can present a healthy, participatory media
platform. Here one can share thoughts, ask for advice, and gain support with
the click of a finger. Nobody needs to feel isolated.
Participation and resistance are discussed from a perspective of danah’s early
days in San Francisco when online communities challenged control of powerful
institutions. Henry, at that time, sought to “describe relationship between fans and the
culture around them” (14). He explains, “Fandom” comes from both fascination
and frustration. But Henry cannot understand what resistance people are talking
about. In response, danah elaborates, everyone is attracted to
“communities that are resistant” (14). By this point in their dialogue, I am
clearly with Henry. Alternatives and resistance seem to be interchangeable, and
I am neither resistant nor seeking alternatives at this stage...
The next movement is towards a more participatory
culture; but is media an equal opportunity platform? I don’t imagine completely,
but one can use this as a place, a platform, to establish status.
Unfortunately, one needs a voice that people want to hear before they anyone will listen. Such a status must be owned before the online identity will be heard.
What’s at stake? Our future selves, it seems, as the world becomes ever more
dependent on the media which informs and governs our lives.
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