I though it wouldn’t be difficult to write something for my fifth and final obstruction. There was complete freedom to write about anything movie related, but I had a hard time thinking about a subject. The thing is that I usually write something immediately after I get the idea and for this obstruction none seemed to be coming. That was until I was playing Grand Theft Auto 5 yesterday. If you had to describe it as a movie it would probably be one of those movies which falls in several genres. It would be a crime/heist movie, but it would also be a comedy, with very dark humour. This post isn’t about that game however, but the game did get me thinking.
It is an awesome game and even though I have been playing it for weeks I still have the feeling I haven’t seen so much the game has to offer. Reason for this is that my time is limited and whatever time I spend playing can’t be used for movie watching, blogging or other things I like to do in my spare time. It made me think about the current media landscape. Games, movies and TV series are all things I enjoy and having to make choices amongst the vast supply of these forms of entertainment can be frustrating sometimes.
There are tons of TV shows I would like to check out (Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Dexter, Oz to name only a few), but I realise it would be a huge investment of time. It is the reason I’ve stuck mostly to movies as they are relatively short and offer me a chance to blog about them. Having watched House of Cards recently it reminded me though how much more a TV series can offer when compared to a movie.
I realise I might be rambling a bit, but I want to go somewhere with this. My point is basically that I wonder if there is too much entertainment produced for us to consume? The enormous availability will always give you the feeling you might be missing out on something. Even if you would quit your job and spend all your time on movies, tv shows and games you would probably still have that feeling. Should we maybe limit ourselves a bit more? Sticking with only one form of entertainment and only moving on to something else after we have finished it and stop ‘binge consuming’ everything which is new just to keep up with the latest? Part of me wished I could (I only need to look at the stacks of unopened DVDs and games), just being able to focus on one thing, but the internet and social media have transformed us into beings always looking for instant gratification, quickly switching between tasks and it looks that the future will not change anything in that regard. Will I change? I have to admit that I probably won’t but part of me wish I could.
What is your opinion about the sheer amount of available forms of entertainment available to us?
There is a lot of stuff, and the reality for me is I have to pick my battles. Most of my movie watching happens in the theatre. I make it an event, and I make the time for it. But generally, if I miss it in the theatre I miss it all together. As for TV shows, my viewing has dropped significantly. Unless it is a show both Edwin & I watch, shows that are generally “Victor” shows get dropped eventually from my DVR queue–I just can’t make the time for it. The one exception being “American Horror Story”. The TV viewing drop is tied directly to the recent increase of my comic book reading on the iPad. I got back into them and there is only so much time in the day.
But the reality is now there are options for everyone. My Mom can watch HGTV all day if she wanted to, my sister would have a breakdown if given that choice. To each their own, and we each have our options.
It is true that you do have to pick your battles, but sometimes it is very hard to pick which ones as a lot of them are extremely enjoyable 🙂
You seem to have it figured out though 🙂
I have this same thought constantly! There is just so much to see, hear, read, watch…whatever, and never enough time in the day. I have to work, I have a family, take care of kids, spend time with friends…go to church. It is never ending and yet there are so many movies I want to see and so many bands I want to get to know (I found myself downloading NME’s top 100 albums of 2012 and so far I’ve listened to two of them) and forget about television. I haven’t watched a series since The Sopranos ended. I just don’t have the time to invest myself into it.
It can get annoying sometimes right? It is the reason I now love going to work with the train instead of driving, because it gives me an extra hour and a half each day to watch a movie 😉
Yeah, I have the same issue with music as well….although I might check out a couple of albums each year, I am not up to speed as much as I was when I was younger…
Try picking stuff to watch with two small children running about – time management is crucial, and critical. I usually find myself limited to watching movies (mainly the mainstream, major ones) and about four TV shows which I usually grab as full season DVDs. I have to say though, finding the time to keep up with watching everything AND blogging about it is tough, so I have to pick and choose carefully. I generally watch Grey’s Anatomy (don’t laugh, enjoyed it since season 1), Vampire Diaries (wife’s guilty pleasure), Game of Thrones and True Blood. Haven’t watched Breaking Bad at all but I’m hoping I can start soon enough. Wanted to watch Dexter but only got to season three before I had to stop.
And the only music I listen to is on the radio in the car on the way to/from work. So I don’t even know what’s current, really.
We have three kids around the house, one is still small, the other two in their teens, but it means there is now less time in the evening as well as the two older ones also want to watch TV and they are not of an age yet that I can throw on any movie 🙂
Seems the older you get the more difficult it is to keep up, even if you wanted to time just doesn’t always allow it.
I understand this feeling completely, and living in the current age not only we are bombarded by entertainment options, but everything in general is like an implosion to me. I found myself often overwhelmed by these options. But in the very end, i just choose to do/watch/read/etc whatever compelled me at that time..
I still watch 22-mins sitcom because they help me unwind and relax, if i wanted to watch Game of Thrones or Dexter i usually wait till the season end so i can have a 2 day marathon to finished them on a weekend. I always have a printed book or ebook on my ipad with me because i usually have spare time during commute. I watched film on the theater except ones that did not get released and i watched them at home. I watched my YouTube subscription and randomly listen to new music from artist featured on a tv show or a film if they catch my attention, but i mainly stick to my old options.
So in the end its all about what i do with those option i guess.. I think the vast range of choices and our *almost* unlimited access to them is a good thing when we don;t let ourselves be overruled by what other people dictate us to watch/read/hear/etc…
I prefer watching TV shows as well once they are out on DVD, don’t want to be forced to sit for the tv each week at the same time. Doing it at your own pace is good, great to have that freedom.
Recently I have been trying to read and do logic puzzles a bit more to get away from all the screens 🙂
You make a fair point…it should not overrule us, as long as that doesn’t happen it should be fine.