Participatory Culture

Participatory culture can be considered an important element of convergence. It will play a huge role, if not be, the facilitator of how the black box theory will come about.
Participatory Culture is one in which fans and other consumers are invited to actively participate in the creation and circulation of new content. (Jenkins, 2006)

It’s based around the concept of interactivity, which is inherent in the concept of Web 2.0. Participatory culture on the internet encourages two way communication allowing users become authors; ‘prosumers’. It encourages creative content to be submitted to the internet. It has potential for user generated content to satisfy society’s various needs and wants; “Audiences use the media in unpredictable ways (through selection, interpretation and integration with other every day activities) to please themselves, not necessarily as media producers intend it to be used.” (O’Shaughnessy, 2005, pg 102).

Examples of participatory culture on the internet include; Youtube, Flickr, Social Networking sites (Myspace, Facebook, Twitter etc), Blogs and the broader concept of Citizen Journalism.
The benefits of the rise of this are:
ž More opportunities to produce and create media; decentralised method
ž Reform communication; two-way
ž Enhance quality of media; More varied and creative
ž Sharing of media can result in sharing of culture
ž Online communities
ž Increase in information sharing and education

Digital storytelling allows ordinary people to use new media technologies to tell their own stories in a compelling format and to share with others. The Center for Digital Storytelling (CDS) is an international non-profit training, project development, and research organization dedicated to assisting people in using digital media to tell meaningful stories from their lives. It is an example of online participatory culture that is committed to community engagement and empowerment.
As Jenkins notes, participatory culture has the potential for huge growth; “The Web represents a site of experimentation and innovation, where amateurs test the waters, developing new practices, themes, and generating materials that may well attract cult followings on their on terms.” (Jenkins, 2006, pg 148).

O’Shaughnessy et al.,2005, Text Meanings, and Audiences, Media and Society: An Introduction, 3rd edn, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, pp 91-107

Jenkins, H., 2006, Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide, New York University Press, NY and London