The Surge for Wanting Physical Media
If you interact with content related to movies, you likely recognize the famous location pictured above. Even if you don't specifically follow filmmaking media, you might still have seen a video of your favorite movie star talking about their favorite films in this gigantic collection of DVD's. This iconic location is the Criterion Closet, a collection of "essential and classic" films spanning generations of filmmaking history. Since 1984, this company has prioritized building this collection to encourage the deeper appreciation of film and the restoration of movies. But why is this such an iconic thing for celebrities and film lovers alike to be able to do? In other words, why should we care about owning physical DVD's when we can turn on Netflix and stream through there? The answer lies in the rise in restoration and preservation in the filmmaking and music industries, and why, after years of streaming services, we still strive to appreciate physical media forms like this.
Aside from a resurgence of interest in owning physical DVDs, there has also been a rise in the number of young adults seeking physical media such as records, CDs, and even cassette tapes. It seems that these "obsolete" forms of consuming media have, over the course of the 21st century, been sought out more than ever before.
To start to explain this, we have to explore the addictive feeling of "nostalgia." Nostalgia can take many forms, but is most notably a desire or reminder of something from the past. The confusing thing about this is that young people today never experienced the original age of physical media, so why do they want to own CDs or DVDs? It seems that young people today feel that they missed out on this era of media ownership, where owning a collection of records was important. In a world where streaming services (whether for music or television) are the quickest way to access media, people still strive to own something physical rather than a subscription to one of these services.
When looking at the physical ownership of something like a DVD, it can be a display of your interests and who you are as a person. When you collect something over time, it builds a curated selection of what you enjoy. It doesn't necessarily need to be physical media, but even collecting things such as crystals or books can reveal what makes you happy and what you strive to have in your life. The reason we see celebrities so excited to visit places like the Criterion Closet is that they want to talk about movies they like that have inspired them to do what they do. It is easy to talk about what has inspired you, but holding a physical representation of it is a different kind of satisfaction.
It is hard to know whether or not the popularity of owning physical media will be a long-term or short-term trend. Certainly, there will always be some people willing to spend their money on these forms, but it isn't certain if we will always want to collect this kind of media.
In short, it is not a cheap hobby; building a media collection requires a devoted effort of time and money to reach what you want to own. There is a sort of consumerist element to owning these forms of media. The question that lingers is whether it is worth purchasing individual DVDs when you can subscribe online to access many movies. Celebrities can visit these physical media locations, and do not have to worry about spending money. However, the regular young adult does not necessarily have this luxury. Since owning physical media has become so popular, companies that sell them have raised their prices astronomically to increase profits. Many can argue that the price point for items such as records or CDs is not worth it when they are accessible for free elsewhere.
Although this is a valid conclusion, the value of collecting physical media (however much that may be) varies from person to person. By shopping at places like used record stores or even thrift stores, you can find a lot of really good physical media for cheaper than new. Since not everyone has this hobby, it is common for older people to be willing to give away their old collections,
allowing for the ability to collect such media to be not as costly as expected. If you are the type of person who wants to buy strictly new, that is okay too; it just depends on what you are willing to invest in for your collection, and that is the beauty of it. As someone who grew up around people who were into music, I was able to expand my collection through my parents, who also valued collecting records. Now that I am older, I still find myself buying records and CDs from time to time, but I also plan to build a DVD collection someday, too.
The importance of owning physical media may seem obsolete to the greater population, but I feel that there are still a number of people who continue to collect. Despite time passing and technology advancing, society continues to find solace in past entertainment forms, and physical media is only one example. I hope to continue to see people finding love in preserving creative forms such as music, art, and film, and it is sometimes the only form of comfort in this harsh world we live in.
Stay unique, and don't be embarrassed to drop $100 at your local video store.
Until next time,
Between Scenes (Cassidy)
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