Part 5 - Society Expects Technological Advancements to Promote CONVERGENCE

Over the last century, communication has evolved tremendously through the employment of cutting-edge technologies, that have given birth to convergence.  Convergence is defined as “the erosion of traditional distinctions among media” (Stanley Baran, 2015).  Convergence is also as a result of digitization of “almost all content,” the increasing speed of “wired and wireless networks” which make access to digital content “seamless, fast and easy,” and the fast-growing mobile technologies in communication (Baran, 2015).

However, convergence is not just limited to technology and Henry Jenkins (Edutopia, 2013) posits that as a result of technological convergence, cultural convergence is born.  Cultural convergence relies heavily on the fusion of cultures within the global society; whereby, promoting participatory convergence. 

Through cultural convergence, participatory culture allows global societies to participate in a community infused with the myriad of cultures on the internet.  According to Understanding Media Culture (2016), YouTube is a primary example of participatory culture as it provides the avenue for “anyone with a video camera and an Internet connection the opportunity to communicate with people around the world and create and shape cultural trends.”  Moreover, this social media platform has managed to promote and provide opportunities for not just technological convergence, but also participatory culture, which has inadvertently shaped how technology has altered society’s expectations of mass media and culture. In essence, participatory culture caters to providing access to new media platforms through which cultural barriers become blurred and seemingly nonexistent.

References

Baran, S. (2015). Communication, Media & Society (9th ed.). [Bookshelf reader version]. N.p.: McGraw - Hill Education. Retrieved from https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/#/books/1259879895/cfi/6/14!/4/466/4@0:45.1

Convergence and Synergy. (2015, February 06). [Image]. Retrieved June 17, 2018, from https://mpwasmedia.wordpress.com/exam/the-music-industry-2/new-digital-technology/

Edutopia. (2013, May 07). Henry Jenkins on Participatory Culture (Big Thinkers Series). Retrieved June 17, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gPm-c1wRsQ

Understanding Media and Culture: An Introduction to Mass Communication. (2016, March 22). Retrieved June 17, 2018, from http://open.lib.umn.edu/mediaandculture/chapter/1-4-convergence/