It’s interesting to read the McPherson article in the
context of 2017. The article has a precognitive quality to it regarding the
melding of television and the internet (Netflix and Hulu), especially when
considering the concepts of the “scan-and-search” phenomenon.
McPherson suggests that the “scan-and-search” phenomenon is essentially
the result of FOMO, more specifically the fear out on “the next experience or
the next piece of data”. The result of this fear propels us across the internet
on an endless clicking rampage. What’s so interest about this is that McPherson
suggests that this is the same phenomenon that keeps viewers glued to specific
television channels out of fear that they will miss out of hidden treasures exclusive
the specific channel on the specific evening. The reason why this is
particularly interesting is because we can see how television and the internet
have hybridized to solve these fears/anxieties through steaming services such
as Netflix, Hulu etc. Television has evolved to stay relevant in the internet
age while still propagating the anxieties that keep it relevant. I think that
the anxiety has evolved some. It’s not so much the fear of missing out of the
episode, but rather the fear of spoilers which has become so prevalent in the
internet landscape. Every minute that you don’t catch up on your favorite show,
you risk robbing yourself of the surprise, enjoyment and suspense that is in
store for you.
Interesting point about spoilers being a result of FOMO. As the media landscape is becoming increasingly populated with shows, I wonder if we'll ever reach a point where spoilers becomes less of a concern. Of course, there are still programs that are "must-see" and therefore exhibit the most immediate response that brings with it the discussion of narrative content. But on the other hand, if viewership becomes increasingly fractured among a diverse assortment of programming, is it possible that the risk of spoilers will become limited?
ReplyDeleteI liked your reading of McPherson's article in relation to current viewing practices. I wonder if, in addition to us being motivated by spoilers, which creates new versions of anxiety, if we are similarly motivated by theories around shows. In addition to us being terrified of spoilers in the case of missing a show when it airs / when it releases, it seems to me that current fan culture surrounding a show also motivates us to "scan and search" the deep internet for potential theories of plot lines to come (here, I'm thinking about Game of Thrones and shows of the like).
ReplyDelete