Convergence Culture

When talking about covergence Henry Jenkins (2006) he says that he means

Henry Jenkins

I found this amusing image online!

 "the flow of content across multiple media platforms, the cooperation between multiple media industries, and the migratory behaviour of media audiences who would go almost anywhere in search of the kinds of entertainment experiences they wanted. Convergence is a word that manages to describe technological, industrial, cultural, and social changes, depending on who's speaking and what they think they are talking about"

Basically the concept that Henry Jenkins suggests is that people are finding different information on different platforms. For example instead of purchasing magazines in a shop, I can now read them online.
 Another theorist Terry Flew (2002) says that "we can define new media as those forms that combine the three C's: Computing and information technology, Communication networks, and digitised media and information content..."

One example of convergence in my media use is now that I am at university instead of phoning my parents is using Skype to talk to them instead. A Similar example to this is at Christmas time we usually have a phone call to my Auntie in America but this time we decided to sit round a laptop and have a Skype conversation with my Auntie and Uncle instead.

Another example of my media use converging is that now I'm at university I haven't got a television so watch programmes on iplayer and 4od, this have become a part of my daily routne to catch up with soaps and other programmes that I have missed online.

A further example of convergence in my recent media use is the fact that I don't have to get paper copies of books for non academic readings, for relaxing texts to read, instead I am able to download free e-books or choose to pay for them and read them on my Blackberry phone instead.

I have a friend in spain who I met on Flickr who wanted to improve his English and so I suggested we became pen pals, however as my friend Andres said would take weeks to recieve a letter and so he suggested using msn messenger to improve his writing and skype to use spoken English on. This shows the convergence of writing letters by hand to keeping in contact via being online at the same time as another person.

Convergence is happening over all areas of the media and it is evident from my examples that in my opinion it is a good thing because for example people will need less media devices to access the information that they want for example I have my laptop for watching television programmes, listening and buying music and also to skype my friends. So my laptop could replace devices such as a television, ipod and also a telephone. Another advantage of convergence in the media is that people can become more easily informed, rather than using traditional sources of media such as a newspaper, they can just log onto their laptop and get news instantly and therefore media becomes more accessible for everyone.

Giving up Facebook for Lent- a crazy idea?

The other day a friend and I were discussing what to give up for Lent. There were the usual things that came up like, alchol, coffee, fizzy drinks, chocolate. But what would be even better to give up than all these things put together?
The anwser: Facebook.
You're sitting there constantly refreshing the page and some days nothing happens, but the repetitive and tedious status updates, "doing a pub quiz", "having the best night out", if you're having such a good time- why on earth are you logged onto Facebook?

Facebook has affected the way I work, learn and socialise. I'm sure I'm not the only one who when it comes to doing some work, the first thing I do is log onto Facebook. I'm don't do this purposefully, it just happens in my subconcious mind. When in actual fact I get more done when I just sign out and focus on the piece of work I'm meant to be doing. Facebook is a distraction, this is one reason why it wouldn't be a crazy idea to see how long I could/ if I could give it up, even if just for a week!

However I thought I would never say this but Facebook has become a huge part of my social life since I've started at university. Facebook enables me to keep in touch with my brother who goes to university in Southampton. Through using Facebook I am also able to keep in touch with my friends from college who haven't yet gone to university. Another aspect of Facebook that helps me socialise is how anyone can create events and groups. For example as I'm apart of DMU pirate society there is a group which allows us all to talk to the members we have met at socials. Facebook's event pages also allow my socialise because pirate society can set up events and invite me and let me know when the next social is happening. Also the club pages that I "like" for example mosh nightclub can also alert me of nights when they have a free guestlist on the door. In Nancy White (2009) blog on "How I use Social Media" states that "we can find, develop and utilize relationships online". Looking at Facebook and how it helps me effects me socially I would have to agree with this statement.

Facebook also helps me learn for example I have an italian friend who came to live with us for a week last summer as part of a cultural exchange week with my orchestra. I was able to add him on Facebook and learn more about his family and culture. Although saying this Facebook can also distract me from learning and doing work as well which becomes annoying.

Overall I have decided not to give up Facebook for Lent because I rely on it too much socially to keep in touch with other people and arrange to go out in the week via Facebook. However at some point I would like to challenge myself and see how long I can go without logging in to that silly stream of pointless statuses and endless stream of pages to "like".