Henry Jenkins on Participatory Culture: Big Thinkers

Introduction

• High school students have a richer intellectual and creative life outside school than inside.

• Students often report that their real learning occurs after the school day.

Participatory Culture

• Definition: A culture where everyone participates and has the ability to produce and share media.

• Historical Background:

  • Dates back to the mid-19th century.

  • Emergence of the Tory printing-press movement, where high school students produced their own publications.

  • Development of the Amateur Press Association, which contributed to modern media movements.

  • Influences seen in science fiction fandom, radio (e.g., amateur radio), and zine movements.

  • Connection to global movements like Riot Grrrls, punk rock, and indie culture.

Folk Culture

• Overview: Media in folk culture is produced for community sharing, not for profit.

• Example: Handmade quilts passed down within communities as gifts rather than sold.

• Skills and knowledge shared informally, promoting community engagement.

Internet Media and Participatory Culture

• Numerous online creators produce media out of passion, not profit.

• Examples of Content Creators:

  • Skateboarders sharing stunts.

  • Remix artists reworking popular TV shows.

  • Political commentators and vloggers sharing insights into their lives.

• These activities exemplify participatory culture.

Transitioning Participation to Civic Engagement

• Many youth engaged in political campaigns (e.g., Obama campaign) start from interest-driven media creation.

• Skills acquired from hobbies often transition into civic actions.

• Concept of 'Messing Around': Young people experimenting with media can lead to deeper engagements in civic matters.

• The challenge lies in inspiring youth to channel their passions toward democratic engagement.

Case Study: The Harry Potter Alliance

• Organized around human rights issues, leveraging the narrative of activism from the Harry Potter story.

• Andrew Slack uses the concept of Dumbledore's Army to mobilize thousands of young activists.

• Efforts include:

  • Addressing human rights violations (e.g., from Darfur, Uganda).

  • Advocating for workers' rights and supporting issues like gay marriage.

  • Raising aid for global crises (e.g., Haiti).

• Participants tend not to be traditionally politically active students but rather those with interests in media and fiction.

The Need for Guidance

• While youth are capable of self-directed learning, many lack adult support in navigating their interests toward societal change.

• Important to provide validation and guidance for their skills, fostering higher-level engagement.

• Teachers are taking initiative in innovative educational approaches, overcoming institutional barriers.

Integrating Participatory Culture into Education

• Importance of incorporating participatory culture within the educational process.

• Example: Students working on Wikipedia entries for "Moby Dick" to build arguments and engage with public discourse.

• Many schools limit such participatory activities by rejecting platforms like Wikipedia.

Conclusion

• Emphasizing immediate action to empower progressive teachers to utilize participatory media.

• Foster a supportive environment that encourages the development of new media literacies among students.