The new affordances made possible by digital, networked, and mobile technologies have revolutionized both the idea and the practice of participatory culture over the past 20 years. This intriguing new book examines that transition by bringing together three prominent figures for a debate. Jenkins, Ito, and Boyd look at how our interactions with and exposure to developing media affect our personal and professional lives.
The authors outline the process of diversification and mainstreaming that has altered participatory culture while emphasizing involvement’s social and cultural settings. They urge for a shift away from individualistic self-expression and in favor of an attitude of “doing it together” as well as “doing it yourself.”
Students and academics interested in digital media and its social influence will find Participation Culture in a Networked Era interesting. Readers will also be drawn into a wider discussion and discourse about their own participatory practices in the digital era.