On putting your thoughts out there
This blog post is slightly piggybacking on Aliisa’s latest post about creation over consumption, but in the spirit of engaging with the content we consume, I’ll also share my two cents on the topic. As Aliisa pointed out in her blog post, most of us spend hours upon hours consuming various forms of content on the daily. This habit often reaches a point where the content no longer registers – it’s simply demoted to background noise. Think about the podcast you listen to while cooking, the show you’re watching (or half-watching) at the gym, and the list goes on.
However, when I think about the kind of content that has actually made a lasting impact on me, it’s often tv shows, books and movies I’ve fully dedicated my attention to and actively engaged with. Reflecting on this topic brought back memories of high school English class, where we dissected plays and poems line by line, delving into every intricate detail. That process, although meticulous at times, allowed me to understand and appreciate the texts on a whole new level.
Other examples include some of the books and shows I read and watched during my younger days. When I think about iconic book series like Percy Jackson or angsty teen TV shows like The Vampire Diaries, I don’t just think of the original works, I think of all the content and discussion surrounding them. I vividly remember the fan theories, wikis and all the other content that sprang from the original material.
For me, engaging more actively with the content we consume and participating in the conversations around it is something I’d like to have more of in my life. Every time I finish a book or movie, without exception, I reach for the reviews, whether that’s on Goodreads or good old YouTube. I hope Narratiivi proves to be a low-threshold platform for us to share our thoughts on the content we consume and engage in the conversation surrounding it in a meaningful way. Maybe one day, it could be something others turn to as well.
PS. With that being said, I do believe there’s also a place for mind-numbing content. Some days, we might not feel like critically engaging with the YA dragon-slaying romance book we’re reading — and that’s more than okay.
