Technology breaks the world into bits. It’s not just pixels, or 1s and 0s, it’s culture. And we let it happen. I was thinking this when I should’ve been watching a movie. I don’t have much time for films, nor do I have money to see everything in a theater. Or even to pay on a streaming service so that I can watch without commercials. So like any zombie, I just let it happen. Recently I was watching a movie—it’s here on this blog someplace—that was uncommonly unified by mood. Edgar Allan Poe was of the opinion, and I think he was right, that short stories should be brief enough to finish in a single sitting. Poe opined that such a reading allowed for the continuation of a mood set by the writer. He was a master at doing this himself. Breaking up movies with commercials reminds us of his wisdom.
Photo by Ramon Kagie on Unsplash
So I was watching a film where the dread builds up slowly. The shadows, the music, the unspooling plot—try this new toothpaste! Here’s a silly television show that you can watch on our network! What was the mood I was in? It was shattered by people pushing stuff I’ll never buy. (I’ve got sensitive teeth, Mr. Commercial, and my dentist has recommended a brand that keeps me from gnawing my tongue off. And that television show, Ms. Commercial, has no appeal to me. I won’t watch it.) Back to the mood you were trying to enjoy. This isn’t anything new, of course. I grew up watching Saturday afternoon monster movies and they were constantly interrupted by commercials. You have to endure the sermon if you want the fun of coffee hour. But still, but still…
Yes, I know the rules. Subscribe to a service (I use two) and you can watch what we’ve got. Only some of it will be interrupted by commercials. Companies as large as ours didn’t get this way by accident, you know. We had to show the average person what market research indicates they want—whiter teeth, more entertainment. Forget what you’re watching at the moment. Isn’t that mood just a little intense? Don’t you need a little break just about now? I don’t know how you see these posts, but I pay extra not to have advertising on my website. I do hope that’s the case, if you see it from a device other than mine. Besides
