Fans as part of a participatory culture

A participatory culture is a term coined by Henry Jenkins. It describes a media culture where audiences are not just passive consumers of media content, but also active contributors and participants.
In this culture, fans often go beyond merely consuming content; they actively interpret, analyse, and re-craft media texts to suit their own preferences and to engage with communities of fellow fans.
Video games are a prime example of this culture, with numerous fan communities engaging in activities like modding, game theory discussions, and fan art creation.

Fans act as interpreters of the media content: they decode the meanings of the game narrative, characters, gameplay mechanics, etc., often engaging in deep analytical discussions on fan forums.
They serve as creators, crafting fan art, fan fiction, and mods that extend the universe of the game or alter its gameplay. The popular game ‘Skyrim’ is known for its extensive fan-made mods.
Fans can also assume the role of promoters, spreading word about the game through their social circles, writing game reviews, or streaming gameplay on platforms like YouTube or Twitch.

Through fan-made content, the life and relevance of a game can be extended beyond its initial release. New mods, art, and fan theories can maintain interest in a game years after its launch.
Participatory culture encourages a deeper level of engagement with the game, as fans delve into the game’s lore and mechanics to create their content or interpret the game.
It creates a sense of community among fans, with shared interests and shared creative endeavours fostering connections and social interactions.

There can sometimes be conflicts between game developers and fans, particularly over issues of intellectual property rights when fans create mods or other content that alters the original game.
Not all members of the fan community may have equal access to the means of production, leading to inequalities in terms of who can participate in the fan culture.
Applied to video games, participatory culture both challenges and complements traditional notions of authorship and ownership. While game developers retain legal rights, fans gain a stake in the game’s world and characters through their creative endeavours.