Technological Convergence

Peretti, as cited in Politics, Products and Markets: Exploring Political Consumerism Past and Present, describes convergence as being “the morphing of devices (mobile phones, computers, televisions, etc.) as they become multi-purpose conduits for a range of activities involving digital media” (Peretti, 2004).

Technological convergence has blurred the lines between television and the internet; never in the history of entertainment has a television series – or any form of entertainment – been so readily available to the consumer. The program can be viewed on HBO, streamed directly to your television through Netflix, downloaded through iTunes, live streamed from sites such as QuickStream and VipBox, and, most controversially, illegally downloaded through various torrenting websites. Once the user has some form of the series, it can be linked and streamed through several devices at once (such as laptops, iPads, iPods, gaming consoles, and digital televisions).

(Jackson Pollock’s ‘Convergence’, 1952)

Game of Thrones has expanded beyond the small screen to become a global pop culture phenomenon. The online fandom for the series  has exploded over the last 3 years, with the rabid passion of the fans rivaling even those of Star Wars, Star Trek, Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. The series has millions of dedicated followers on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and HBO’s own website (https://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones/), allowing for the creation of a global online community that can interact, share, and remix content.

(Note: As I’m writing this, there are 400,000 people talking about Game of Thrones on Facebook)

(Game of Thrones official Twitter, 745,683 followers)

(Game of Thrones official Facebook, 5,987,158 likes)

References

• Peretti, Jonah (with Michelle Mitcheletti) 2004, ‘The Nike Sweatshop Email: Political Consumerism, Internet and Culture Jamming’, Politics, Product and Markets: Exploring Political Consumerism Past and Present, Michelle Mitcheletti, Andreas Follesdal and Dietland Stolle (eds), Transation Publishers, New Jersey, pp. 127-142