Convergence...

Mash-ups are awesome

Media Convergence is an amazing thing. I love the fact that I can do so many things on just my computer alone - check email, watch tv, watch movies, listen to music, and talk to people through video, audio, and text. What is even cooler, is that it is all free. I can't even imagine what it will be like 10 years from now, or even 5.

Jenkins says that "Convergence alters the relationship between existing technologies, industries, markets, genres and audiences..."

I want to elaborate on that, how I see the alterations in each of those subjects...

Existing Technologies

I have seen the relationship between existing technologies altered in more than one way. First of all, televisions and computers. HDTV's are becoming the standard now, and in turn, High Definition monitors for computers and laptops have too. Now you can watch your HD TV shows online, for free - without a special cable box. Monitors are getting larger too, so they seem just like a TV. Personally, I have an iMac desktop with a 19" screen and I use it to watch dvd's and tv shows on. It works just like a TV, so I have no need for one in my bedroom, which in turn saves me space.

Industries

An industry that comes to mind that has recently converged is digital online music with physical online music. For instance, Amazon.com. You generally go to their web-site to look up products to purchase, like cd's, dvd's, etc. Now, while browsing cd's you might potentially buy from them, you can sample the songs in mp3 format. If you like the song or album, you can save more time and just buy the digital version, and download it to your computer - no waiting for it to ship to your house. The only downside to this, is you dont get the physical cd to have, but really...who collects cds anymore?

Markets

A market that I think has changed their relationship due to media convergence, is Advertising. All of the different markets within advertising have converged - television, radio, online, etc. You cannot go anywhere without being subject to at least some form of advertising. Televisions were practically made for advertising, the shows are just there to keep us watching until the next commercial comes on. Radio pretty much lives on advertising, like tv, with constant commercials. Now that the internet is available on your cell phone, so is more advertising - and not only through the internet, text messages as well. Online advertising has taken advantage of the convergence with television by placing more and more ads that you are forced to watch during the episodes of your favorite online tv shows (hulu, sidereel, youtube, etc.)

Genres

This is the one that caught my attention the most, because it is the one that I enjoy the most. I love music, and hip-hop is my favorite genre. Hip-hop was born by converging different genres of music together to come up with something new, and eventually became what it is today. It is constantly evolving too, with different remixes and collaborations. I was introduced to Mash-up's back in 2005 when I heard about "The Grey Album". The Grey Album is a mash-up of Jay-Z's Black Album, and The Beatles White Album. There was a lot of controversy over it, because DJ Danger Mouse didn't clear any of the samples or beats, but it put him on the map. Now he is one of the most successful producers in the industry (Gnarles Barkley, Gorillaz, etc.) The next one I learned about was in 2006; "Blue eyes meets Bed stuy" in an issue of GQ - John Legend had mentioned it during an interview - anyway, the album is a mash-up Notorious B.I.G. and Frank Sinatra. DJ Chapel & Smitty put it together, and I was blown away with it. Biggie's rhymes combined with Sinatra's melody and big band sound, was the perfect mix.

Audiences

Audiences have altered their relationships as everything else has. Music and Television are all gaining new followers, from all age groups. "old" people are now listening to the likes of Radiohead and Kanye West, where as 10 years ago you would never see a person over 50 listening to an artist like West. Television shows like Deal or No Deal are bringing people of all ages together as well - even though it is one of the dumbest shows in the history of television. It is something everyone can understand, and the suspense is something people of all ages can feel. Audiences are always going to be separated, but they are slowly coming together more and more. I wouldn't be surprised to see families watching an entire night of tv together, or all listening to the same "popular" music together, and not having to ask each other questions.