New media and popular culture
New media and popular culture are closely intertwined, with new media platforms and technologies playing a significant role in shaping and reflecting popular culture. Here are some key ways in which new media and popular culture intersect:
- Social media and celebrity culture: Social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube have created new avenues for celebrities to connect with their fans and promote their work. This has led to a blurring of the lines between celebrity and fan, with fans often feeling like they have a direct connection to their favorite stars.
- Influencer culture: Social media influencers have become a significant force in popular culture, with many people looking to them for fashion, beauty, and lifestyle advice. Influencers often have large followings and can promote products and services to their audiences.
- Online communities and fandoms: The internet has enabled the creation of online communities and fandoms around popular culture, such as TV shows, movies, books, and music. These communities often share and discuss their favorite content, creating a sense of belonging and shared experience.
- Viral content and memes: The internet has given rise to viral content and memes, which can quickly spread across social media platforms and become a part of popular culture. Memes often comment on current events, politics, and social issues, and can be a powerful way to express humor and satire.
- Streaming services and binge-watching: The rise of streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime has changed the way people consume popular culture, with many people binge-watching TV shows and movies online.
- Gaming and esports: The gaming industry has become a significant part of popular culture, with many people playing games and following esports tournaments. Gaming has also become a platform for social commentary and storytelling.
- Podcasting and audio content: Podcasting has become a popular way to consume audio content, with many people listening to podcasts on their daily commutes or while exercising. Podcasts often cover a wide range of topics, from news and politics to entertainment and culture.
- Virtual and augmented reality: Virtual and augmented reality technologies are changing the way people experience popular culture, with many people using VR and AR to play games, watch movies, and attend virtual events.
- Crowdsourcing and participatory culture: The internet has enabled crowdsourcing and participatory culture, with many people contributing to creative projects and sharing their own content online. This has led to a more democratized and decentralized form of popular culture.
- Digital preservation and archiving: The rise of digital media has raised questions about how to preserve and archive popular culture for future generations. This has led to the development of digital preservation initiatives and archives, such as the Internet Archive and the Library of Congress's National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program.
Some key concepts and theories related to new media and popular culture include:
- Convergence culture: Henry Jenkins' concept of convergence culture, which refers to the blending of different media forms and platforms.
- Participatory culture: Henry Jenkins' concept of participatory culture, which refers to the ways in which people participate in and contribute to popular culture.
- Remix culture: The idea that people are constantly remixing and reworking existing cultural materials to create new forms of expression.
- Digital storytelling: The use of digital media to tell stories and create narratives.
- Social media and identity: The ways in which social media platforms shape and reflect our identities and sense of self.
Some key scholars and researchers in the field of new media and popular culture include:
- Henry Jenkins
- Douglas Rushkoff
- Mark Zuckerberg
- Clay Shirky
- danah boyd
- Nancy Baym
- danah boyd
- Jonathan Gray
- Ethan Zuckerman
Some key books and articles related to new media and popular culture include:
- "Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide" by Henry Jenkins
- "The Wealth of Networks: How Social Production Transforms Markets and Freedom" by Yochai Benkler
- "The Participatory Culture Handbook" edited by Henry Jenkins, Sam Ford, and Joshua Green
- "Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy" by Lawrence Lessig
- "The Social Media Reader" edited by Michael Mandiberg
- "The New Media Reader" edited by Noah Wardrip-Fruin and Nick Montfort
- "The Digital Humanities" edited by Susan Schreibman, Ray Siemens, and John Unsworth
Some key online resources and communities related to new media and popular culture include:
- The New Media Consortium
- The Digital Humanities Observatory
- The Participatory Culture Foundation
- The Social Media Club
- The Online Journalism Review
- The Journal of New Media and Society
- The International Journal of Digital Culture and Electronic Tourism
- The Digital Culture and Society journal
- The New Media and Society journal