I’ve always made the same excuse, I’ll watch it later. This has been my go to when a friend asks me to watch a new piece of media. This includes movies, television shows, a request I’m sure you have also received before. Now why would I be so hesitant to watch something? The reasoning isn’t because I’d hate to watch it with others, it’s been the desire to have the intended viewing. Most recently I hosted some friends at my apartment, my particular friend brought over Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue. I had been meaning to watch this for an eternity, and being a fan of his work how could I pass this up? However, I initially refused. My idea is to buy my own copy and indulge in the film in my own way. This includes tweaking the sound system, adjusting picture quality, procuring the right alcohol, and being in the right headspace. Well after a few drinks and good times I gave in and watched the film. I enjoyed it. The next day a couple of friends invited me over to watch Over the Garden Wall. This came with the same statements I have made before. Again though I gave in, and I also enjoyed this series as well.
The idea of a perfect experience is not just limited to movies or television, especially given my hobbies. Listening to records a certain way, playing games a certain way, or even reading in certain situations. These all come with their own caveates, some unique to myself, and others you may have experienced. Consider this a jumping off point for future works, as I consistently have new experiences relating to this subject. And what better jumping off point, than where many of these nuisances began.
The Sound of Music
I’ve been buying music since I was in highschool, everything from mp3s to cds. As I got older I gravitated more towards the physical side of the medium since they included tangible items, more specifically the lyric booklet. I was notorious around my group of friends for having a fairly impressive collection, and though my music wasn’t always to their taste, it felt good to be acknowledged. I wasn’t much into pirating compared to others, much for the reasons listed above. I only used it as a last resort when money was tight, or it was something especially rare. This all changed in the twenty tens thanks to vinyl. The format that died and came back with avengence became my way of buying music. Since a good deal of records came with digital download codes, I could listen on the go and get more intimate with the music with my turntable at home. This still continues to this day, as I try to purchase the records I absolutely must have on that format. Twenty fourteen though changed everything with one platform, Spotify. Being a student at the time it was hard to always keep buying records and since they also offered a special discount I was able to get millions of songs for only five bucks a month. This changed not only the amount of music I listened to, but the types. Not being held down by multiple purchases my ears were free to roam the open fields only being held down by the hours in the day. A whole new assortment of sounds came into my life, and one that rose above all was Loveless by My Bloody Valentine. A record that entered my favorite records of all time list, and thanks to streaming I was able to listen anywhere anytime. Does this lessen the experience though is the question at hand? I own the cd and have it saved on my profile so the two major ways I listen are through my old 2001 Buick and headphones of varying quality. While the car stereo should go as a no brainer when it comes to quality (not good) the streaming platform definitely plays a more interesting direction. The sound quality is downgraded a bit from the original, but unless you have decently trained ears you more than likely won’t notice. The reason I bring this record up in particular is not just because it’s one of my favorites, but because it is a good example of ample listening. While you could enjoy the record in the other formats, many will swear by the record issued vinyl. While the originals go for hundreds and the repress a few years ago is out of print (dammit) I have yet to listen to it this way. This also goes even further based on the equipment you have for listening, is your turntable shite or is a mid range or is it one of those two-thousand dollar ones someone restored and posted about on r/vinyl. I can say with certainty that I still love the record, despite the non optimal setups. I’ve had euphoric moments driving through fall landscapes, cold nights through cities and much more playing such a wonderful record through my old car stereo. Same can be said from my time in college, writing papers, listening with my headphones in the library, still connected with me the same way many people describe who have different listening parameters.
Turn off the lights- I’m watching Back to the Future PT.2
Here comes that iconic scene, the one you’ve heard so much from online forums and what your friend wouldn’t shut up about. During this moment your wifi starts to give out and the picture degrade in quality. You watch the blu ray and your neighbor conveniently starts stomping around above you, the sound goes up but another knocks on your door asking to turn it down. When I was younger and living at home it would be hard to get invested into a film since I worried more about my mother walking in while I watched a film than catching me spanking the monkey. Even before Covid, I only sometimes went to the cinema. It would be hard to find friends to see movies with, and my one buddy always saw films before I did! He would later purchase them and I could play catchup at his place. This inspired me to have a modest setup at home, with a sizable screen and good sound system. Not the movie quality experience, but one that has worked within my budget for multiple purposes. Even with these additions, many of my favorite moving pictures have however been consumed in less than desirable ways. Anime for one was relegated to my laptop for many years, From there I watched many of my favorite shows. With headphones on, watching my 15 inch screen I was taken to many new worlds that would later be upgraded to the big screen across my room of 32 inches. This did help me in experiencing so many new pieces of art that otherwise, would have passed me by. Hell I even just purchased Ghost in the Shell because of avoiding the perfect viewing, and even though the price was right, I heard there are some imperfections. Even something such as changing the end credits song makes me feel maybe my experience may be sullied.
Random Access Thoughts
We only have so much time on this planet, in that time we all choose to experience different things in differing ways. I saw an ad recently for that alexa device. It starts with a medieval setting, a character is dying in another’s arms, we are then snapped to reality with a guy in his bathrobe ironing clothes stating “Oh that person died, can we rewind?” This angered me (showing where my priorities lie) is that we are all choosing nowadays to consume media. Doing menial tasks and not being fully invested in what is before us. How can I judge, perhaps that person is becoming a huge fan, maybe they rewatch the series over and over sometimes giving their undivided attention, and others while doing those menial tasks. I can’t say I don’t do the same, I’ve watched countless comedy shows in the background while cooking, cleaning and much more. Though my counterpoint is that I have already seen these shows many times previously and also given them my fullest attention on the first watch. Perhaps some shows just require a bit more attention than others, for fear of getting lost. Even then though When I see people recommending tons of shows at once, I always wonder if they truly got anything out of it? I can watch a film and say it’s good, but if your attention isn’t solely on it how are you getting more than just a surface level experience. I thought X Movie was good, that’s excellent, why? Maybe now I’m just turning into an asshole who hates the common movie viewer, or the type that hates the snob who has the means to buy all the 4k editions of films and everything Criterion puts out. In all likelihood, it’s the fear that my one experience at watching something fresh may be sullied in any matter, and this causes discourse in my mind.
Discourse just to Discourse
I’ve waited to put this piece of writing out for quite some time now, and the list of reasons continues to pile on. During that time I have read works from other writers and feel as though mine doesn’t measure up. Their way with words just conveys a bit more elegance, intelligence or some other ance word. All the meanwhile I use grammarly as a crutch, hoping to cover up my mistakes. That feeling of inferiority is something I have struggled with, most severely during my twenties, and I fear it will continue into my thirties. This notion of perfect everything doesn’t exist, so why do I try and attain it? What started out as me lamenting on missed out opportunities to experience ideal conditions in which to consume media, has turned into a reflection on how I make excuses for not getting things done. For fear of becoming long winded, let’s call it quits at this part.
Read the line, Wrap it Up
After our slight detour it’s about time we wrap up. This piece wasn’t meant to criticize the way you personally consume media. With everything that goes on in the world and what you personally might be going through, any sort of happiness or enjoyment you can attain through these mediums should be welcomed. Maybe tonight I’ll finally get off my ass and watch Gunbuster, on some illegal website with porno ads painitng the borders, whiskey in hand. If the content is good, that should speak for itself.
FIN
Author’s note: I did get off my ass and watch Gunbuster. Good show, would recommend.
RuminationsForMiles 