like many of the other responses to this post, I think that having physical copies of media ensures that there is some enduring access. It’s archival.
I would also add that having the physical copies enhances engagement with the media. This is of course a privilege bc physical media is usually more expensive than digital, but I do think that consuming Digital media is often more passive. Idk. I love my phone too (and Spotify and the internet archive and Gutenberg project). But after I started collecting CDs and physical books I became very interested in getting as much as possible out of them. listening to the same album in its entirety for weeks at a time. rereading a book (Seriously, I would rarely reread a book before).
Also lending the copies to friends is the best thing in the world. Like being able to share and then discus- or even just the sharing. Whether or not you get it back it just becomes a gift. Which is nice.
Anyways to blabber on this last point: I don’t think that you always have to personally own and keep forever all of the physical media you accrue. just going to a library does a lot of the same good (supporting local archiving + engaging with stuff my tangibly + media becoming communal). learning that many libraries still have VHS, CDs, and DVDs available to check out changed my life. ya.
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I have a pretty decent vinyl / VHS / cassette collection and I think actually owning media is going to be really important in the coming years. I have lots of thoughts on this.
1) I think it's a misconception that everything is digitized. There are certain albums and movies (especially movies) that are nearly impossible to find on the internet. There are lots of shows and movies that have been "remastered" or now being "upscaled" with AI that are completely changing the look and feel of the original work. (ex. Star Wars)
2) Having a physical relationship with your media changes the way you interact with it. Physically moving your body and going over to the shelf and having a finite number of tapes/records to look through is a completely different experience than the decision paralysis one can get from having unlimited choices. You also will have to dive into full albums instead of taking the weekly playlist.
3) You don’t need the internet to access it. You buy it once and if you take care of it - you own it forever. I don’t want to assume that the internet / streaming services as we know it them will be around forever and I don’t like the idea of a paying for a perpetual service that I will never stop paying for. Not to mention that all of these services serve as massive corporate data collection agencies that are constantly spying on you and selling your information!
It’s fun to collect things and see that old technology still has utility and save it from the landfill. It can be a lot of work (moving is a nightmare), and take up a lot of space, and it might be completely impractical but I don’t think we are supposed to experience everything in life through a 2 dimensional screen for the sake of convenience.
Jan 22, 2025
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While cleaning up the shed, my parents and I found some old cd's and a cd rack. We kind of have this idea that whataver is put on the internet will stay there and although, yes things can come back from the deepest or most abandont parts, just like all other things it somewhat decays.
So as of now, I got some cd's again (mostly secondhand). I'm not the type who then starts collecting and consuming for no reason. I'll probably get just enough for the rack to be filled. So my rec would be to think of your favourite genres or specific albums (or with any other media) and then get only those in physical media. Now whatever happens, you'll have it, while also not overspending or consuming <3
Dec 7, 2024
there is something so poetic about physically owning the media that you love. it is YOURS.
not only does the collecting make for a great hobby, and playing on a turntable or radio just a more authentic listening experiencing, but it is an effective way to preserve and ENJOY media during an age when everything feels so fleeting.
pictured is the shoebox i keep in my car that i switch out with different cds as my heart pleases.
2d ago
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Bought this for cheap in Berlin and read this on the plane + train back to London. had to fight tears. Such a quick and beautiful read.
3d ago
views of Ghent/Gint were so beautiful from the top. The most accessible monument I’ve ever visited as well, it was really nice being able to see this with my partner.
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