Jenkins loves a good book.
3. The third chapter this week (ch. 5, Jenkins) deals with tensions in the transmedia franchise of Harry Potter. Discuss how digital media/convergence has changed traditional book publishing.
In an almost battle, between Fans and Corporations, the Harry Potter book series is fought over. The magic world of Harry Potter, has created a massive fan following, to the point, where participatory culture follows it aswell. A girl, who faced problems in traditional school, created an online version of a News Paper seen in the movies/written in the books. This is an example of how a fan can take ownership of something they resonate with in Pop culture. It goes deeper. The Warner Brother studio, using the rights they bought in 2001, essentially terrorized Fan sites and held it hostage if it didn't comply to their standards. Luckily they realized their mistakes and back pedaled, giving fan sites promotional materials and funding, to make up for their negligence.
This isn't the only battle being waged. Religious groups see the book which has fans trying to get involved in outside of the book, as a demonic symbol, and anti-religious. People had to cancel events because they claim it was a demon worship based event. Taking things out of context, drawing of scars to replicate the one Harry has, religious activists believe they're almost initiating into this 'cult', and that the readers can be compared to Dylan Klebold (Columbine School Shooter).
In actuality, the fans are no different than the digital media titans we see today. Both see something traditional, and have an improvement for it. Harry Potter fans saw that the book universe was vast and 'unexplored' so they created what they thought would make good additions or changes. They're adapting the Harry Potter universe for their use, and its incredible.
School teachers, librarians, publishers, book sellers, and consumers fought for the book to be used and distributed more widely across the states, and are fighting the good fight. Are you? @lukelouzan, let me hear your thoughts on this issue.
In an almost battle, between Fans and Corporations, the Harry Potter book series is fought over. The magic world of Harry Potter, has created a massive fan following, to the point, where participatory culture follows it aswell. A girl, who faced problems in traditional school, created an online version of a News Paper seen in the movies/written in the books. This is an example of how a fan can take ownership of something they resonate with in Pop culture. It goes deeper. The Warner Brother studio, using the rights they bought in 2001, essentially terrorized Fan sites and held it hostage if it didn't comply to their standards. Luckily they realized their mistakes and back pedaled, giving fan sites promotional materials and funding, to make up for their negligence.
This isn't the only battle being waged. Religious groups see the book which has fans trying to get involved in outside of the book, as a demonic symbol, and anti-religious. People had to cancel events because they claim it was a demon worship based event. Taking things out of context, drawing of scars to replicate the one Harry has, religious activists believe they're almost initiating into this 'cult', and that the readers can be compared to Dylan Klebold (Columbine School Shooter).
In actuality, the fans are no different than the digital media titans we see today. Both see something traditional, and have an improvement for it. Harry Potter fans saw that the book universe was vast and 'unexplored' so they created what they thought would make good additions or changes. They're adapting the Harry Potter universe for their use, and its incredible.
School teachers, librarians, publishers, book sellers, and consumers fought for the book to be used and distributed more widely across the states, and are fighting the good fight. Are you? @lukelouzan, let me hear your thoughts on this issue.
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