Cyberspace’s Participatory Village

In order to have a better understanding of the evolution of the web and its influence on society, we must better understand its origin in the changes in development that has made it what it is today. Knowing how the Internet and the web are connected will help us to appreciate how this medium of digital technology has morphed culture, behavior and everyday life. (David)

In this culture, participation is an important factor. According to Jenkins, participation is “shaped by the culture and protocols” making participation “[…] more open-ended, less under the control of media produces and more under the control of media consumers” (The Social Media Reader. 205). o. With the use of creativity, the possibilities are endless and mass culture gets turned into popular culture when it gets pulled back in the reemergence of grass root folk culture. (Alex)

The Internet has become the last true medium in which people can truly express themselves, a place where authority and accessibility lie in the power of the self. Along with this freedom of expression has come the idea of everyone being a publisher. Since everyone is able to publish or as Shirky might say “mass amateurization” people are able to post, blog or tweet anything they want to on the Internet. (David)

The media altered environment has caused us to surrender to living within a global village. Time being ceased coupled with space vanishing has led to a much more intimate public sphere locally, nationally and globally. Instant communication insures that all dynamics of the environment and of involvement harmonize in a form of active interplay. This harmonization holds lasting effects on not only the self, but also the concepts of family, neighborhood, education, work (job), and government. (Ryan)

Girl Talk Mashup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bMM7tGV9MI