What is Convergence Culture?

            The reading that probably spoke the most to me was Henry Jenkins’ article What is Convergence Culture?.  In this article Jenkins introduces Dino Ignacio, a Filipino-American high school student whose story had “circulated in the fall of 2001” (Jenkins, 703). Ignacio had created a collage, using Photoshop™, of Sesame Street’s character Bert. Ignacio’s collage suggests that Bert had formed and was maintaining a connection with past terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden. The response to Ignacio’s behavior, needless to say, was not very peaceful. In fact, his collage was the cause of much controversy. People (specifically Americans) were shocked and “outraged” to see Sesame Street characters used and represented in such a disrespectful and misconstrued manner. Not only did his collage affect how people from other nations view Americans and their forms of entertainment, it also did most likely affect what people view the message of Sesame Street to be. If I saw his collage, I know that I would be furious. Something that I enjoyed as child used in such a manner repulses me!

On a side note, when a person uses and changes things to make a specific statement, oftentimes his actions and decisions heavily impact others more than he can imagine.