Over this hectic week, as a break from preparing for midterms, I've noticed that I've been watching a massive amount of television on Netflix. Now that doesn't seem too out of the ordinary, but after reading Janice Radway's article I've realized that the various shows I've been watching on Netflix have become my version of a romance novel.
Like the women Radway writes about, I go about my day, accomplish all the tasks that need to be done, for instance, go to class, do homework, write paper, eat, do more homework, do laundry, etc. When I know a task is finished I reward myself with relaxation time, however, instead of reading romance novels I mass watch seasons of TV shows. At 20 minutes an episode it seems like a reasonable break to take some time off and refocus my attention, but like novels, and unlike television of the past, there are no longer any forced gaps. With entire seasons streaming instantly at my disposal, it's incredibly difficult to force myself to step away from the computer.
It was this that made me think about how we view television in the day and age. Does the television audience get a lesser viewing experience now with the ability to skip commercials and watch multiple episodes, seasons even, back to back? Did the gaps between episodes, or even commercial breaks, make the program more enjoyable? Or is instant gratification the wave of the future?
Although I think instant gratification is a great thing, I believe there is a richer viewing experience that comes with waiting for a new episode.
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