It can be said that people were prosumers by nature, hunting dragons and trolls and then consuming them for meat and materials to make weapons out of (citation needed) but the industrial age separated prosumers into producers and consumers (Ritzer, 2010 p14).
But this blog isn't about people in general, it is about me.
How am I a prosumer?
Well, I'm glad you asked. Take a seat.
What do you see? Is it a blog? I produced that.
If you read the first paragraph you will notice that I got some information from a journal. I didn't produce the journal, but I ate the knowledge out of it and regurgitated it into something I produced. If I am consuming one thing and applying it to something else that makes me a prosumer.
If you read the first paragraph you will notice that I got some information from a journal. I didn't produce the journal, but I ate the knowledge out of it and regurgitated it into something I produced. If I am consuming one thing and applying it to something else that makes me a prosumer.
Something I do in my spare time (never) is upload Let's Play videos to YouTube with a buddy of mine.
Like, Comment & Subscribe
We consume videogames, but because we film it, commentate and upload it to YouTube we become prosumers.
By responding to a text, in this case a videogame, we are providing feedback and information about the game that may contribute to a consumer's purchase of the game. A viewer of a YouTube show can contribute to the channel by commenting on it or even by liking it. More importantly, just by viewing a video you are promoting it. You don't even need an account, by watching the video you are saved as some statistics, including the amount of times you viewed the video and how long you held retention watching the video. If 100 people watched an entire video the 'Retention' statistic will increase and YouTube will advertise your video more.
It is actually scary. I know how many people have viewed this blog. You can leave this page now; I will already know that someone has been here. By viewing this blog you have been an active prosumer, so thank you and prosume some more by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.
References
Jurgenson, N & Ritzer, G 2010, 'Production, Consumption, Prosumption: The nature of capitalism in the age of the digital 'prosumer'', Journal of Consumer Culture, Vol. 10, Issue 1, pp. 13-36.
You use some interesting examples in your blog to discuss what it means to be a prosumer in the Internet Age. I agree that increasingly prosumption occurs without us even realizing, something especially evident in our everyday use of social media such as blog sites. The amount of data we generate simply by navigating the Internet is quite frightening when you consider the lack of transparency surrounding how that information is used. You also recognise the growing connections between the platforms used for prosumption, such as the ability to ‘like’ YouTube videos. The World Wide Web appears to be getting even more tangled.
ReplyDeleteHey Kris,
ReplyDeleteI think that it was very effective relating your topic to the blog itself in the conclusion, as it really sums up what you think of prosumerism as a concept. It was interesting to hear your thoughts on how you feel you yourself are a prosumer. As an avid YouTuber myself, i had previously never considered actions as simple as watching Youtube videos as prosumption. Relating to Stephanie's comment, and considering just how popular programs like Youtube are, it is frightening just how much online consumers are producing without even knowing! It would be interesting to consider how this behaviour would translate in the 'offline' world. I wonder if people were more aware of their activity as prosumers, if they would be more cautious with their actions.
Hi Kris
ReplyDeleteAs you demand, so I shall prosume.. Sorry, got caught up by the videogame – Well played. I tried it once and I loved it!
You are right about blogging and all your other examples. To think we are willing to use all these hours entertaining others! We sometimes do not even know if they would like to see or use our production. As Ritzer and Jurgensom puts it: ‘prosumers seem to enjoy, even love, what they are doing and are willing to devote long hours to it for no pay’ (2010:22). Are we crazy happy to entertain others or are we looking for attention?
Well the social media in Africa is used to share the truth about governments, as their printed media is not always true. (Narnia et. al. 2011:1) In this way presuming is fantastic!
Thank you for an amusing blog post, I think I will play some videogames now.
Silja
Ref:
Jurgenson, N & Ritzer, G 2010, 'Production, Consumption, Prosumption: The nature of capitalism in the age of the digital 'prosumer’', Journal of Consumer Culture, Vol. 10, Issue 1,
Narnia et. al. 2011, ‘Policy Brief :The potential of social media to influence socio-political change on the African Continent’ AFRICA INSTITUTE OF SOUTH AFRICA, no. 46 ,South Africa
Kris, you begin your blog by demonstrating how you had just prosumed your information to create your blog post which provides readers with an easy and clear example of what you will be discussing. I love how you give readers an insight into your personal life and display how you are a prosumer through your participation in the famous website ‘YouTube’. You also discussed how your YouTube videos are a form of advertising for the game you are showing which further demonstrates presumption. Your blog is very informative and gives great yet simple and easy to comprehend examples of how readers are prosumers. Your conclusion leaves readers feeling involved and as if they are part of the post which is innovative and engaging.
ReplyDeleteKris, you begin your blog by demonstrating how you had just prosumed your information to create your blog post which provides readers with an easy and clear example of what you will be discussing. I love how you give readers an insight into your personal life and display how you are a prosumer through your participation in the famous website ‘YouTube’. You also discussed how your YouTube videos are a form of advertising for the game you are showing which further demonstrates presumption. Your blog is very informative and gives great yet simple and easy to comprehend examples of how readers are prosumers. Your conclusion leaves readers feeling involved and as if they are part of the post which is innovative and engaging.
ReplyDeleteHey Kris,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy reading all your blogs and this one was no different. You raise some very interesting points regarding the idea of 'prosumers'. I also like the way you give an insight into your personal life and use your own personal experiences to develop your point. The youtube video that was attached to the blog suited the topic perfectly and supported the rest of your blog. Another well written blog of yours Kris. Good Job
Hi Kris,
ReplyDeleteYour writing for this blog post has been very creative. The way you ask the reader questions related to the blog post, engages the reader on a cognitive level, and makes the reader more engaged in the post. I like the way you have included your own produced content as an example, and the embedding of the YouTube-video works really well as a ‘break’ in the post. After the video your post has a change of character, which works out really well and you sum up some relevant things regarding the subject, which again, makes the reader think about the subject on a deeper level.
Hello Kris,
ReplyDeleteI like the way you started this post; in my perspective, I actually think that human is absoulutely a kind of prosumer because they produce something out and to consume them themselves. Moreover you reminded me with the example of Youtube: when people are viewing videos, the publisher can earn more by advertising during their videos. Through this example, I finally understood that prosuming is everywhere in the world. Here is one more example: working produces something, and get paid, And when you get paid, you consume foods and all the other thing to live --- so I would say prosumerism is the way of life indeed.