On media backlogs, or how to ruin fun
I’m assuming everyone agrees that we are spoiled with an overabundance of media. Between streaming movies and TV, music, eBook subscriptions, game passes, social media, and blogs (wink wink), we are never without entertainment/time sinks. At some point, it became too much and no longer enjoyable; keeping up with the latest started to resemble homework and chores.
The solution I thought I had found was unplugging from the stream, trying to be more deliberate about the content I was consuming. The plan went like this; stop relying on anything streaming or all-you-can-eat. I was already a vinyl collector, but I’ve recently amassed a bit of a CD collection. This also appeases the wannabe hi-fi-head in me, a nice side-effect. A recent PlayStation 5 purchase allows me to view UHD Blu-Rays, meaning I could rewatch my favorites in 4K with minimal compression (once you notice banding, you can never unsee it).
Regarding the PS5, I’ve decided to revert to buying physical games whenever possible. With the Switch, I had been entirely digital, as the convenience of not switching carts lent itself to the portable nature of the system. An unforeseen result was that I simply forgot about game purchases simply because I didn’t have a physical reminder of what I’ve yet to beat or even play! I had a similar problem with my Xbox One, where GamePass, while a fantastic value, caused me to de-value games since they were simply part of the all-you-can-play service. All that choice but no skin in the game. Too easy to bounce from game to game without giving them a fair shake. Nobody’s favorite dinner is the buffet.
But this hasn’t completely cured my strange relationship with entertainment. Even with buying physical media, which can be loads of fun and very affordable in Japan (used, of course), I was once again drowning in a sea of choices. My to-read pile of magazines had grown to toddler size. The blue cases near my PS5 grew to the point where sorting and categorization were needed. I’ve had to invest in CD storage, which I’ve already outgrown.
The main problem: What do I read/play/watch/listen to next?
I’m a big proponent of lists. Getting Things Done wasn’t a tactic; it was a mantra. Organizing my life into actionable activities is how I got through university (the second time around). I have set reminders for what I need to pay, pick up, clean, replace, and update. Lists help make my life work. So, it stands to reason that I should adapt my list habits to the media I ‘mean’ to consume. Lists of what I’m consuming, what’s next, what I must seek, and what’s ‘must-watch/read/play’.
Here lies the problem that thinking; art and entertainment are best appreciated when it’s what we long for or what we least expect. A to-do list for media turns entertainment into homework.
When I first sat down to watch Into The Spider-Verse, it was without seeing any previews or hearing any of the buzz (easy to do in Japan). What followed was the most surprising and thrilling theater experience I’ve ever had. That was an example of a piece of media I let come to me by chance. My recent weekly solo pilgrimages to a local cafe which features a jazz night, have forced me to listen more intently to a genre of music I’m deeply interested in. This is an example of purpose and aware consumption, which can lead to greater appreciation and enjoyment.
To hell with sites like How Long To Beat and Goodreads. I’ll know I’m done with a piece of media when I no longer am reaping any benefits from it.