Underpinning the paradoxes in the artistic fields of MySpace: the problematization of values and popularity in convergence culture

Abstract

With the rise of participatory culture, social networking sites such as MySpace (www.myspace.com) provide a new outlet for the works of independent artists. The operation of participatory media is not autonomous because the opportunity of intersection with the mainstream media exists, hence the term 'convergence culture' coined by Henry Jenkins. Nonetheless, the critical question for this article pertains to the role of participatory media in consecrating artworks: are independent artists using participatory media simply to have their work viewed, or are they seeking mainstream media exposure? Does the mere act of gaining access to mainstream media result in the consecration of an artwork? How do musician labor on this site to gain value and legitimacy? Overall, this article argues that the blind valorization of the medium itself may inspire an indifferent attitude toward the underlying problems connected with the differing sets of values being negotiated in the participatory media.

Collaboration on Social Network Sites: Amateurs, Professionals and Celebrities

“…The widespread absence of celebrities in this study appears to contradict evidence from other social network sites like MySpace and Facebook, which are home to many celebrities in the music scene (Beer 2008;Suhr 2009). Facebook and MySpace have much larger numbers of active users, including also those that are not active participants in the domain and may not have profiles on passion-centric social network sites.…”

Cultural products go online: Comparing the internet and print media on distributions of gender, genre and commercial success

“…Ultimately, it might transform the process of value creation in the cultural domain as new cohorts of media users tend to prefer the Internet to print media such as newspapers (Pew, 2009). With the exception of a few case studies (e.g., Beer, 2008;Suhr, 2009), there is hardly any empirical research of how online attention takes shape and what it renders specific cultural products. It is only through a more systematic comparison of cultural output and media selections, we argue, that general patterns can be established.…”

Total Institutions and Reinvented Identities

“…Suhr (2009) suggests that the practice is indicative of a wider 'participatory culture', whereby individuals make use of digital media to forge social bonds instrumentally, on the basis of perceived usefulness. Buckingham (2008) argues that young people in particular rely upon digital media as the primary means of constructing and (re)defining their social identities, and that they spend significant proportions of their time interacting in these 'digital public' spaces.…”