Every song ever made, for $9.99/month. At the touch of a button, every video or movie you could imagine. A perfect high definition camera in your pocket. These are just some of the conveniences afforded by modern technology. Yet, there are some who still choose to painstakingly develop film, softly lower a record needle onto a vinyl, put a Blu-ray into a video player, or just write down their thoughts in a notepad. To some, this may seem like a completely pointless affair, but to others there are benefits.
“I use vinyls, mostly to collect music I like,” senior Zach Carruba said. “Sometimes if I go out to vinyl stores I’ll be on the look for cheap vinyls and bands with names that sound interesting, and in genres that I already kind of like. It’s an easy way for me to discover new things.”
The reasons that younger generations adopt older technology are usually more abstract than practical. On apps like Instagram and Pinterest, there’s a growing movement towards authenticity, mood boards and cultivated posts created through “real” methods.
“I use physical cameras because they’re more aesthetic,” senior Tas Tiwary said. “Phone cameras are better quality but the vintage energy is better. The physical camera’s energy is unmatched.”
Even without considering one’s online presence, some would claim that physical media feels more tangible. In the current digital landscape, online content is often at the mercy of intellectual property deals and licensed brands that users have no say in.
“I think we’ve lost a bit of physical ownership,” Carruba said. “With Netflix, sometimes they’ll take tv shows off their platform when their contracts run out. It’s very nice to know I’ll have a copy of that show or music as long as I take good care of the copy I have.”
Objectively speaking, these mediums are timeless in terms of ownership. But in popular culture, there’s also a certain familiarity to them, an iconography that is instantly understandable.
“I really like to read in my free time,” Tiwary said. “I also really like listening to vinyl, because that’s how me and my dad have bonded. For people older than us, it’s something they’ve grown up with. Going on a phone, that’s new to them.”
With how rapidly the media landscape is changing, there have been many questions raised over what it is we truly want. The generational debate that has persisted will continue to be on if more convenience of entertainment is always a good thing.
“It is a little inconvenient to use [physical media],” Carruba said. “But I think having a piece of media that you can hold in your hands, and that you have physical control over just makes it feel more powerful.”
