Omo wrote a very interesting entry, quite stimulating. In my path of anime, I went from fan to consumer and slowly getting back to the fanatic roots, specifically, savoring the media. What changed me to being a consumer? Plain and simple, it was seasonal viewing. Sensible notion right?
Now I’m not sure where this aspect lies with fandom, but perhaps there is a variance among fans who consume and fans who savor. I would say they are both valid forms of fandom, and I wonder if creators have a preferable type? An answer doesn’t fall one way or the other, and should not have anything to do with money [though likely]. Surely, I do not love the version of myself which consumes endlessly; gluttony is not becoming.
Omo makes a great statement about HD video, 5.1 audio, and 101% attention enhancing the experience. I do believe production quality enhances experience, but attention and cadence are more integral, and in a savoring manner, they will also enhance the quality of an experience.
Episodic Task List
Part of the trouble with trying to savor media is the stepping task list associated with episodes, chapters, volumes, seasons, etc. It should not be become a task list, as viewing should not be a task. Tasks are usually less appreciated then say fulfilling wishes. I had this verbal trouble when I created melative Wish and called items wishes, when objectively it is a task list. I didn’t want it to be a task list, because it leads to a consuming state of mind, where we shift objective from the experience to the check mark. Let me give a related scenario.
Casablanca and two viewers
Viewer 1 watches Casablanca to see what the fuss is about, but pays no mind to it after The End.
Viewer 2 experience the film, and falls innocently in love with the presentation; it is appreciated, and looked upon.
Viewer 1 watched Casablanca while doing sudoku and chatting with friends.
Viewer 2 experienced the film in one-sitting silence, on a simple, breezy afternoon.
Viewer 1 moves onto something new.
Viewer 2 is inspired, learns more of the film, its cast, and production.
By the time Viewer 2 has experience one of AFI’s 100 Greatest lists, Viewer 1 is back to blockbusters and out of ammo. Viewer 2 is like the sniper, and Viewer 1 is the frontline machine-gunner. Yes, Viewer 2 is similar to Akari and Mizunashi-mode, but this savoring attitude has yielded a greater experience in the same about of time on the same title as Viewer 1. I’m not implying sniper’s are beautiful, but slightly more rich in existence.
Necessity and Judgement
Is that experience really necessary? No, absolutely not, personally, I know plenty of anime series that wouldn’t change my experience if savored or not. Some series are better unsavored (ie R2, Ninomiya-kun), hell. It comes down to judgment of when to savor a series, and when to gorge consume. May be it doesn’t matter in this media rich period, but I will still acknowledge the fact that brilliant experiences are more rare than some may believe.
Bring back the single-tasking media!
self-note: wut about marathons? Yes, marathons are more savory than not.
