Writing About the Future

Position Paper

Like it or not, our generation is conditioned to multitask.  I admit that I am one of those teenagers who always has several windows open on my computer at once.  I do not see myself deviating from this way of working any time soon.  Convergence culture may be distracting, but if used responsibly, the possibilities for productivity are infinite.  I can participate in countless forms of culture right from my room, in real time. Not only may we as consumers one day be able to receive all forms of media in a single “black box”, we may be able to utilize this black box to interact with our favorite characters from film or literature (or both) in a way never imagined.  Jenkins’ discusses this aspect of convergence culture by chronicling Harry Potter fan fiction is his chapter “Why Heather Can Write.”  Twenty years ago, books were a solid medium: they were written, published, and enjoyed.  After reading, that was it, unless the book was selected to be produced as a film.  Fast forward to today and look at the Harry Potter franchise.  The internet has made it possible for characters from the book series (and movies) to come alive straight off the page and the big screen.  Mad about the lack of back story of Dean Thomas?  Now you have the option of writing your own.  That is what Heather Lawver did.  As a isolated home school student, she developed her own fan fiction website, staffed by “102 children from all over the world” (Jenkins 178), united by their shared passion for fictional characters.  Fan fiction is just one example of convergence culture’s enabling power.  Somewhere along the line convergence culture turned us from mere consumers, being spoon fed a predetermined dose of culture, to producers, capable of choosing not only what culture we want to consume but also what culture we want to create.  Others then consume our contributions and may be inspired to create on their own.  The whole process is one giant cycle of creativity, giving simple consumers tremendous choosing power.

Apply this choosing power to other arenas, for example, news.  Some small protest occurs in a remote town in the Midwest.  No new coverage is given, but a bystander films the event with his cell phone and posts it to YouTube.  People comment.  Some follow the event and write blog articles about it. Interest grows.  News companies suddenly take interest and cover the event, spawning more comments, discussions, and editorials.  A story is born, all because we choose to notice it and demand that it receive due attention.

So This Is All New To Me…

Oh hello technology.  My name is Meighan.  Nice to meet you too.

Let’s get one thing straight.  I have never blogged before.  I am only somewhat competent in Internet i.e. I can use Facebook, access e-mail, research, and procrastinate, but that’s as far as my skills take me.  Don’t blame me, blame my family.  We had, gasp, dial-up until the end of my junior year in high school.  Our next door neighbors lovingly referred to us as the “Slowskys”.  Yes, the turtle family from the comcast commercial.  So this should give you an idea of my technology (or lack thereof) skills.

That being said, I guess I’ll give blogging a try.  I waste enough time on the internet , what’s a little more?  Its another rainy day in Davis so there’s not much else going on.  Might as well lounge around in sweat pants and watch some movies on my roommate’s netflix account.   But before I do that, I’ll knock this blog out of the way.  A little about myself: check.  Self-deprecating humor: check.  Technology aptitude: check.  Guess that’s all for now.