Henry Jenkins’ theory of convergence culture explains the changing relationships of media flow across different distribution platforms including, industries and audiences, which presents a back-and-forth power and control of media content. A convergence technological domain is the existence of other media platforms that perform similar tasks, including television, radio, smartphones, and the internet of things (Jenkins, 2006). Old media have been advanced, and the new media perform tasks in a broad context, ensuring consumers access the information efficiently. Participatory culture is characterized by low barriers to media production and enhanced media creation, sharing, and content consumption. The consumers of new media environments have developed into a more active audience that uses the available data to create amateur content originating from their personal social media experience or fan fiction. As more participatory contents emerge, consumers have gained control skills that enable them to decide when, how, and where to consume the available data and transform their content across multiple media platforms.
Henry Jenkins’ argument is focused on media convergence which influences industrial, cultural, social, and technological shifts, allowing consumers of media information to recreate ideas in more creative ways for personal use. Companies push their content through various media platforms to make revenue and gain more audience, while consumers of the media content shift control and employ new ways to become active participants. Media producers and consumers now employ new rules to construct personal mythology. I agree with the author’s arguments of media convergence because I used New York Times publication about Mexico truck accidents to guide others on respecting road measures to avoid road crashes (Lopez, 2021). Therefore, Henry Jenkins’ theory of convergence is critical in the age of globalization, ensuring participants interact and produce more valuable media content.
References
Jenkins, H. (2006). Convergence culture. New York University Press. Web.
Lopez, O. (2021). At least 54 dead in migrant crash in Mexico. Web.