Henry Jenkins on Participatory Culture: Big Thinkers

TL;DR

Young people today are more engaged in intellectual and creative activities outside of school, participating in a participatory culture where they produce and share media. This culture can be harnessed to foster civic engagement and empower students in education.

Transcript

My grad students were interviewing high-school-aged students around the world. In almost every case, what we heard was young people had a richer intellectual and creative life outside of school than inside it, that the things they learned from and the things they cared about were things they did after the school day was over. >>Participatory cult... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍🏫 Young people often have a more enriching intellectual and creative life outside of school.
• 🫚 Participatory culture has a long history, rooted in folk culture, where media is produced to be shared among a community.
• 🔉 Online platforms like YouTube provide opportunities for individuals to produce and share media with others.
• ❓ Participatory culture can be a pathway to civic and political engagement.
• 👻 Interest-driven networks allow individuals to connect their passion for popular culture with social and political causes.
• 🪡 Educational systems need to embrace participatory culture and incorporate it into the learning process.
• 🤗 Innovative and open-minded teachers are essential in bringing participatory culture into education.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is participatory culture?

Participatory culture is a culture where individuals actively engage in creating and sharing media, expressing their interests and passions outside of traditional educational institutions.

Q: What is the significance of folk culture in relation to media production?

Folk culture, as seen in the production of quilts or zines, involves a social mode of production where skills and knowledge are shared among community members. This idea can be applied to participatory culture, where people produce media to share with others.

Q: How does participatory culture relate to civic and political participation?

Participatory culture can provide a foundation for civic and political involvement. Many individuals who engage in media production started by "messing around" with technology, acquiring skills and knowledge that can be used to mobilize and affect change in the world.

Q: How can interest-driven networks contribute to political and social activism?

Interest-driven networks, such as fan communities or groups like the Harry Potter Alliance, allow individuals to connect their passion for popular culture with real-world issues. By mobilizing their skills and interests, they can raise awareness and take action on various social and political causes.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Many young people have a richer intellectual and creative life outside of school, engaging in activities and interests they are passionate about.

• Participatory culture, where individuals create and share media, has a long history and can be seen as a folk culture where media is produced to be shared and not for profit.

• Online platforms such as YouTube provide avenues for people to produce media and share their interests with others.