The
evolution of modern media has taken insurmountable leaps and bounds since it
was first introduced. Through the vast technological advances, media is no
longer confined into audio and film. In today’s society media conglomerates aim
to sell their product as an entire lifestyle, one that can continue
storytelling through various platforms.
Henry
Jenkins describes transmedia stories as, “A story that unfolds across multiple
media platforms, with each new text making a distinctive contribution to th
whole.” He continues, “In the ideal form of transmedia storytelling, each
medium does what it does best-so that a story might be introduced in a film,
expanded through television, novels, and comics; its world might be explored
through game play or experienced as an amusement park attraction.” (98-99)
The
epitomic example of Jenkins’ description of transmedia storytelling is Matt
Groening’s wildly popular animated series, The
Simpsons. One dysfunctional family has been America’s favorite animated
family for over two decades. Originally airing in 1989, The Simpsons has since
transcended television and made its way into comics, films, videogames, apps,
amusement park attractions, and even online social communities.
The series
itself continues to live on as one of the longest running television series in
history. However, immediately seeing the potential for expansion, The Simpsons
took the leap into transmedia storytelling with the release of an arcade game
in 1991. This was followed up with many games that spanned all the latest
gaming systems. The latest of these is The Simpsons Tapped Out, which is
developed for smart phones and media devices like iPads and Kindles. The game
allows the user to build its own version of Springfield for free.
Capitalizing
on audience’s interest in the series, Matt Groening made a publishing deal with
Bongo comics in 1993 for a series of comic books. The comics allowed for more
in-depth engagement with the audience, and being able to give more storylines.
The conglomerate continued to gain popularity amongst viewers and readers
alike. This also is reflected in the introduction of merchandise.
Although tons of merchandise has
been produced since the series first aired, 2014 saw the company’s celebration
of its 25th year anniverdsary. As such, many prominent clothing
brands collaborated with the series. A Bathing Ape is one of the most popular
streetwear brands on the market today. The collaboration’s release included a
collection of varsity jackets, t-shirts, hats, and lifestyle products like a
beer mug, pillow, and bib for babies.
Finally, the online community’s
engagement with the show has been insane. Although a fictional show, Homer
Simpson’s official Twitter page boasts 1.96 million followers. There is also
the WikiSimpsons page, which provides all essential information and traces the
lineage of the franchise. Engagement with this social community also includes fan
voting for the TV show’s intro, its infamous couch gag.
The Simpsons has grown into a
massive empire due to the creator’s ability to adapt with the technology of the
time. This helped grow a simple animated television series into an entity that
is valued at hundreds of millions of dollars and helped to keep the show on the
air for over 25 years. Undoubtedly, The Simpsons is here to stay for an unforeseeable
time period to come.
Works Cited
Jenkins, Henry. Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York: New York and London. 2006.
WikiSimpsons. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.<https://simpsonswiki.com/wiki/Main_Page>.
Adrian Nunez
Convergence
11/13/2014
Post #3
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