# Digital Media & Culture: Collaborative Essay Collection 2018/Convergence/Research Question 4: How does Henry Jenkins' theory of 'Media Convergence' correlate and contrast with alternative approaches to the term adapted by various other academic scholars?

Right, Digital Dancers team, today we need to decide on a question for our collaborative essay. Our topic is of course Media Convergence, so does anyone have any initial ideas? JoshCoates12 (discuss • contribs) 12:39, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
We could attempt to define media convergence and look at its impact in todays society? very broad but what do you guys think?Eam00024 (discuss • contribs) 12:40, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
I would also like to say that we should include something along the lines of the different platforms(i.e. technology, social media etc) that have contributed to media convergence.Ekm00007 (discuss • contribs) 12:42, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
That would be a good start, but maybe we should delve deeper into a specific theorist? Or maybe how they approach the concept of convergence? Let me know what you guys think! Amm00137 (discuss • contribs) 12:48, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
That might be a good idea actually! We could look at Henry Jenkins research on the matter? I've read briefly into his publication - "Introduction to Convergence Culture - and I believe his comments to be both accurate and arguable, which may give us the opportunity to write a concise essay, showcasing his findings and our arguments? JoshCoates12 (discuss • contribs) 12:49, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
Hye Jin Lee and/or Mark Andrejevic?Ekm00007 (discuss • contribs) 12:50, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
That's a good idea, looking at a specific theorist will allow us to go into more detail. What about the Holt or Sanson reading?Eam00024 (discuss • contribs) 12:57, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
Yeah great ideas, I'll also throw in the idea of looking at Bolter and Grusin and their method of remediation in connection with convergence? Just exploring multiple topics within the one? Amm00137 (discuss • contribs) 12:59, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
Ok, so I guess we could go at it one of two ways;
1 - We could delve specifically into one theorist and discuss his findings as a sort of critical/discursive essay?
or
2- We could look at multiple theorists and discuss their findings and research, reviewing their stand points and come to a final conclusion on our opinions and arguments? JoshCoates12 (discuss • contribs) 13:02, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
I think the 2nd option would prove to be more effective with the depth we can go into on it. I believe it is less vague than the 1st option and would allow us to make better connections. Amm00137 (discuss • contribs) 13:06, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
Personally, I think your second suggestion is stronger it will allow us to look at a wider range of theories in order to provide a more complete answer. Also the suggestions we have already given regarding different theorists remain useful as we can now look at each of them and include their views in our essay.Eam00024 (discuss • contribs) 13:07, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
I would probably go for the second option but with a particular emphasis on Henry Jenkins as he forms the general foundations for discussion on the theme of media convergence. Of course we would still need to discuss other opinions as you say.Ekm00007 (discuss • contribs) 13:08, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
Ok, so we're agreed? So now we just need to decide on a specific written question and fire it off to greg, anyone have any initial ideas? JoshCoates12 (discuss • contribs) 13:10, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
I think we should do something in relation to Jenkins and forming the basis for our essay from him then comparing his views on convergence with 3 other theorists. That way we could take a theorist each and come back with our findings.Ekm00007 (discuss • contribs) 13:19, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
Well I have thought of a possible starting point. Compare Henry Jenkins theory of media convergence(2006) with other academic theories, discuss the limitations of each before reaching a conclusion over their effectiveness. Eam00024 (discuss • contribs) 13:23, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
Okay so if we say something like "Comparing Henry Jenkins theory of media convergence (2006), how do other academic theorists base their approach off of Jenkins' theory? Discuss the limitations of 3 other theorists and comment on their effectiveness to the contribution of media convergence." Amm00137 (discuss • contribs) 13:31, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
That would be my preference.Ekm00007 (discuss • contribs) 13:33, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
I like its specificity and its formality, sounds like a good angle to argue from and will allow us to divide the work evenly into paragraphs, and to create a concise essay. JoshCoates12 (discuss • contribs) 13:41, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
Let's send it off to Greg and go from there! Hopefully it stands! Good work guys JoshCoates12 (discuss • contribs) 13:43, 13 March 2018 (UTC)
I think its good, provides us with a good discussion point and includes a henry Jenkins making it relevant to what we have already learnt. I'm happy to go with that.
So guys I was thinking and I think our question might be too vague and generalised for the task. I think we might need to adapt it to something a bit more specific, maybe to do with something that Jenkins refers to within the book we are using? Amm00137 (discuss • contribs) 13:34, 14 March 2018 (UTC)
Right so I changed the question a bit, let me know what you think of it and feel free to critique it! "How does Henry Jenkins' theory of 'Media Convergence' correlate and contrast with alternative approaches to the term adapted by various other academic scholars?" Amm00137 (discuss • contribs) 14:30, 14 March 2018 (UTC)
I like this angle of argument Amy, it allows us to imply and compare Jenkins research clearly to a number of theorists, this will allow us to split up the work easily and come to a concise conclusion! Everyone agree? JoshCoates12 (discuss • contribs) 14:35, 14 March 2018 (UTC)
I'm inclined to agree. I think this is a far more concise research question but does not retract from the previous one in any sense. It gives a clear view of where we are going in the question in terms of direction and as Josh says allows us to split up the work easily.Ekm00007 (discuss • contribs) 14:43, 14 March 2018 (UTC)
Sources[edit] 1. Jenkins, H. (2006) Introduction to Convergence Culture pp. 1-24
2. Holt and Sanson (2014) Introduction to Connected Viewing pp. 1-15
3. Lee and Andrejevic (2014) 'Second Screen Theory: From the Demographic Surround to the Digital Enclosure' in Holt and Sanson (eds.) Connected Viewing pp. 40-61
Notes[edit] @Ekm00007 - Theorists to look into: Lee and Andrejevic. @JoshCoates12 - Theorist to look into: Henry Jenkins. @Eam00024 - Theorists to look into: Holt and Samson. @Amm00137 - Theorists to look into: Bolter and Grusin.