Exploring the intersections of fandom and media theory, this twentieth anniversary edition features an interview with Jenkins and a supplemental study guide by Louisa Stein. It encourages students to analyze fan cultures through various lenses, including consumer capitalism, genre, gender, and sexuality. This reissue of a classic text aims to engage a new generation in understanding the complexities of participatory culture and popular consumption.
"There is a widespread perception that the foundations of American democracy are dysfunctional and little is likely to emerge from traditional politics that will shift those conditions. Youth are often seen as emblematic of this crisis--frequently represented as uninterested in political life and ill informed about current affairs. By Any Media Necessary offers a profoundly different picture of contemporary American youth. Young men and women are tapping into the potential of new forms of communication, such as social media platforms and spreadable videos and memes, seeking to bring about political change--by any media necessary. In a series of case studies covering a diverse range of organizations, networks, and movements--from the Harry Potter Alliance, which fights for human rights in the name of the popular fantasy franchise, to immigration-rights advocates using superheroes to dramatize their struggles--By Any Media Necessary examines the civic imagination at work. Exploring new forms of political activities and identities emerging from the practice of participatory culture, By Any Media Necessary reveals how these shifts in communication have unleashed a new political dynamism in American youth."--Jacket.
In the last two decades, both the conception and the practice of participatory
culture have been transformed by the new affordances enabled by digital,
networked, and mobile technologies. This exciting new book explores that
transformation by bringing together three leading figures in conversation.
"Henry Jenkins, one of America's most respected media analysts, delves beneath the new media hype to uncover the important cultural transformations that are taking place as media converge. He takes us into the secret world of Survivor Spoilers, where avid Internet users pool their knowledge to unearth the show's secrets before they are revealed on the air. He introduces us to young Harry Potter fans who are writing their own Hogwarts tales while executives at Warner Brothers struggle for control of their franchise." "Jenkins provides an introduction to the world where every story gets told and every brand gets sold across multiple media platforms. He explains the cultural shift that is occurring as consumers fight for control across disparate channels, changing the way we do business, elect our leaders, and educate our children." "This paperback edition has been thoroughly updated and features substantial new material that addresses, among other things, the promise and perils of Web 2.0 and the rise of YouTube."--Jacket
Maps a territory where old and new media intersect, and where the power of the
media producer and the power of the consumer interact in unpredictable ways.
This book explains the cultural shift that occurs as consumers fight for
control across disparate channels, changing the way we do business, elect our
leaders, and educate our children.
Shifting the conversation about the digital divide from questions of
technological access to questions about opportunities for being involved in
participatory culture and acquiring the necessary skills.
"Spreadable Media" maps fundamental changes taking place in the contemporary media environment, a space where corporations no longer tightly control media distribution. This book challenges some of the prevailing frameworks used to describe contemporary media.
The intersection of girls and computer games highlights the need to challenge the stereotypes prevalent in toy aisles. While many parents express concern over video games' impact on children, these consoles can prepare kids for the digital world. However, they often perpetuate misogyny and limit girls to objectified roles. The emerging "girls' games" movement seeks to address these issues through a unique collaboration between feminist activists aiming to transform the gendering of digital technology and industry leaders eager to tap into the girls' market. Contributors explore how gender assumptions influence the design, development, and marketing of games, advocating for strategies to combat the stereotypes that dominate the industry. The diverse array of voices includes media and technology scholars, educators, psychologists, game developers, industry insiders, and girl gamers, all contributing to a rich dialogue on the subject. Their insights delve into the current gaming landscape and propose ways to create more inclusive and empowering gaming experiences for girls. This collective effort aims to reshape the narrative around girls and gaming, fostering a more equitable digital environment.
Henry Jenkins' pioneering work in the early 1990s promoted the idea that fans
are among the most active, creative, critically engaged, and socially
connected consumers of popular culture. This title takes readers from Jenkins'
early work defending fan culture against those who would marginalize or
stigmatize it, through to his work.
YouTube is one of the most well-known and widely discussed sites ofparticipatory media in the contemporary online environment, and itis the first genuinely mass-popular platform for user-createdvideo. In this timely and comprehensive introduction to how YouTubeis being used and why it matters, Burgess and Green discuss theways that it relates to wider transformations in culture, societyand the economy.The book critically examines the public debates surrounding thesite, demonstrating how it is central to struggles for authorityand control in the new media environment. Drawing on a range oftheoretical sources and empirical research, the authors discuss howYouTube is being used by the media industries, by audiences andamateur producers, and by particular communities of interest, andthe ways in which these uses challenge existing ideas aboutcultural ‘production’ and ‘consumption’.Rich with both concrete examples and featuring speciallycommissioned chapters by Henry Jenkins and John Hartley, the bookis essential reading for anyone interested in the contemporary andfuture implications of online media. It will be particularlyvaluable for students and scholars in media, communication andcultural studies.
