In Henry Jenkins’ words, convergence culture relates to a change in the “ways media circulates.” To elaborate, the word “circulate” is meant as a blanket term for the way media is created, changed over time, perceived, and put out to the public. The word “media” is also a blanket term, referring to the obvious media platforms (old media like print and tv and radio, new media like the web) as well as products themselves and information (about products and opinions of products).
Essentially, "convergence" is when things come together and combine. In convergence culture, consumers are no longer mere passive viewers- they are active participators and they are able to give their feedback and therefore contribute to the current and future media.
Convergence culture can describe many different situations. The examples provided in Jenkins’ book include the phenomenon of fans trying to figure out the ending of the show Survivor. This is only one example, and nowadays the concept of convergence culture is stronger than ever. I keep thinking about the example from that movie we watched earlier in the semester, in which the fan girl was obsessed with the Hunger Games and was a huge contributor to their advertising simply by sharing her obsession over social media and participating in contests. Social media especially is one way that participators, or consumers, are able to discuss and share information and opinions about the past, present, and future of a product or piece of media.
Participators can literally influence how a show will end, or how a product will be changed, or how a website will be edited. Our opinions matter more in more in this new convergence culture, because we are the viewers/audience and we are now able to easily reach out and provide our feedback. I think that creative engagement is when a consumer is able to give their creative input (you can find some unique and creative feedback on comments and reviews!)
We are engaging by forming communities online- communities especially can prove that something deserves a change because whole online communities may end up agreeing on a creative idea or suggestion. We are engaging by social media, just as I said above. Social media involves comments and free-willed opinions.
Sometimes we are even straight up asked to contribute, either when companies or media ask for feedback (especially on websites) or when consumers are encouraged to participate in a contest or a use a hashtag.
