Core Response #5: Julia

In this week's readings on post-TV, I was interested in further considering the expansive definition of "media convergence" in the digital TV context that Lisa Parks puts forward. Specifically, in her discussion of converging technologies engendering a tension between mainstream hegemony and an expansion of media with greater representation. Especially when considering the rhetoric put forward in the Christian piece, it is hard to grapple with the seeming struggle for television in both its content and production to offer a space for all people who want to take part in the creative process and see themselves represented. 

Of course, the collaborative nature of television does feel more encouraging in this regard, definitely more so than in the feature realm. But at the end of the day, the production of television is still hyper-regulated by creators who are primarily cis-gendered and white. Having worked in this space for some time, I often felt disheartened by some of the ways in which decisions were being made surrounding content approval in the television production process. I also think we should strive, as Christian discusses, to dismantle the way in which people are treated in the real of TV development and production, and I am not sure this can be done while maintaining the framework of television as we know it. On the other hand, there is also new evidence of creator burnout on platforms like Youtube and Twitch that also pose problems for the imagination of a fully convergent world of digital television.

Ultimately, I have to admit that I struggle with Park's adamant refusal to "kill your television". It is difficult to fight over the future of television, as she claims possible for the future generations. Television production is very much reliant on funding and hierarchies that are inherently exclusive to most creators. Open-source platforms online that elevated everyday voices feel more appropriate for the kinds of discourse we are trying to build. Unlike Parks, I am not sure these two formats are compatible in their convergence, but I genuinely do hope they can be.