3 ms·

Why is a shared entertainment media experience important? It's not as real as your own lived story, and it rarely says anything of import about the world.

• sliverstorm 13y ago
  It's a medium for social exchange when you have no other shared topics. Similar to how alcohol is social lubricant.
• Einstalbert 13y ago
  Agreed. I find that merely experiencing it (books, movies, video games, any media) is enough to form some bond with people later on down the road. "Did you watch X?" conjures up memories and emotions, enough to start a conversation to add your own thoughts to "X", so why do you have to have, "Remember that time we all watched X?" instead?
• maaaats 13y ago
  > Why is a shared entertainment media experience important? Just some thoughts: When I was younger and Lord of the Rings made a comback, most of my friends read the books in a hurry, discussed some big events, played with sticks and that was it. With Harry Potter we had to wait in between each book. We spent hours discussing the books, re-reading them looking for clues. I can't really watch a series alone, I have to "share" the experience with someone.
• protomyth 13y ago
  We are social creatures who still sit around the campfire and discuss our shared experiences. What we shared has changed and where and what the campfire is has changed, but that is humanity. We connect over the common events in our lives to the point that we have events that whole generations remember, refer to, and sometimes measure time since.
  • munificent 13y ago
    Right, but a TV show isn't an experience, it's a campfire story. If all you do is sit around the campfire and listen to TV producers tell you stories, you aren't having any experiences at all.
    • protomyth 13y ago
      "TV show isn't an experience" I would say that isn't true. Entertainment be it sports, gladiators, bards, plays, movies, or TV are experiences. I think you misinterpret what I mean by the campfire. The experience happened (in this case viewing of the TV show) before people sat down and either told what happened or discussed what happened. There is a joy in discussing life and entertainment that has been around a long time.
• lmartel 13y ago
  > it rarely says anything of import about the world That's a pretty bold statement to make. Do you feel the same way about books? Movies? Stage plays? If you're trying to say that "[art] says nothing of import" I think many would passionately disagree. If you're only talking about television... I still think you're wrong.