Convergence Culture

In the Introduction of Henry Jenkins' Convergence Culture, he defines "convergence" as the flow of content across multiple media platforms, the cooperation between multiple media industries, and the migratory behavior of media audiences who would go almost anywhere in search of the kinds of entertainment experiences they wanted. Convergence is a word that manages to describe technological, industrial, cultural, and social changes, depending on who's speaking and what they think they are talking about. In today's society, people expect all forms of technology and media to converge. However, these things are able to co-exist, rather than taking over a means of communication or technology all together. Participatory culture is in contrast of a convergence culture, a culture in which fans and other consumers are invited to actively participate in the creation and circulation of new content. People get to take part and voice their opinions on the changes that occur everyday. This feedback allows producers to understand what consumers do and do not agree with. With his experiences at MIT and publishing other books, Jenkins brings a unique perspective to culture and communication. The intended audience is all users of media, which is ever growing.

Looking and the Gaze

"Through looking we negotiate social relationships and meanings. Looking is a practice much like speaking, writing, or signing. Looking involves learning to interpret and, like other practices, looking involves relationships of power."

We are always looking; looking for admiration, curiosity, and understanding. By looking at all things around us, we learn new things and reduce uncertainty. In "Looking and the Gaze", men are portrayed as the dominant group, who have to power to look and objectify women. While the women are the ones being looked at, they begin to view themselves as objects.
The appearance of a woman is stereotyped as nurturing, emotional, attractive, subjective, and private. The appearance of a man is stereotyped as reasonable, objective, powerful, strong, and public. The various photographs portray women as very feminine and gentle. 
The dualism implicit in the Dürer image of the artist drawing the nude implies subordination of the woman. We do not see nearly as many drawings of nude men, for they hold the power of the looker and are thought to be the ones looking and admiring the women as objects. Again, the women are subordinate to men and therefore seek to please the man by becoming objects of desire.