Media Convergence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yFevH0deKE&feature=related

Star Wars, apart from possibly Star Trek, has the widest and most diverse fan base of any franchise. Every year conventions and conferences are held to those who adore and live Star Wars. In this video clip, the fan goes so far as to pretend to be a jedi and dispatch shots from a laser gun. The ‘jedi’ loves the franchise so much that he wants to be a part of the action and wants to be in the middle of his favorite series. Henry Jenkins says in his book Convergence Culture, “This is what happens when consumers take media into their own hands…within convergence culture, everyone’s a participant…” (132)

Barack Obama’s middle name caused numerous racial and ethnic slurs by the media and public. Hussein is infamous in American culture as a result of Sadam Hussein and the atrocities in Iraq. His Muslim background aids in the ridicule that he is ‘sleeping with the enemy’ and brings up images of the 9/11 attacks and Osama Bin Ladden. This image is targeted to opposers of Obama and to possibly sway followers of him. Henry Jenkins says that, while these images are poor substitutes for more traditional political media, it is the “degree to which amateurs are able to insert their images and thoughts into the political process…an in some cases these images can reach a large public.” (222) This saying that the converging culture around us has made it easier for us as consumers and participants to change the way certain event happen, may it be the re-airing of Star Trek or the political slandering of a candidate.