Rec | PRESERVATION MATTERS (VHS AND DVDS TOO)

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Not only do we own our media when we collect it, but we are preserving it. There are some movies that you can’t stream, and without physical media to rent or even purchase, it’s become increasingly difficult to access movies and shows. A recent and resonant example is the film “28 Days Later”—there was a period about a year ago where it wasn’t streaming anywhere. Just poof 💨 gone. And physical copies of the movie are super hard to find. We are losing the recipes if we don’t collect, keep, and treasure our media. I got into the mix with VHS tapes and have also begun to rebuild my DVD collection. And my goodness, what a treat it is to watch the era-specific trailers when I pop a tape on. The whole viewing experience becomes an event. All of this is to say, renting my media digitally no longer works for me. I don’t trust media companies and big corporations to not fumble the bag with our art, our culture, our history. We owe it to ourselves to be the stewards of what we love and care about, because there’s no guarantee Spotify will have that song tomorrow. Addendum: As of last month, the oldest title on Netflix streaming is from 1973. Now imagine if Netflix was the only platform you used to stream, how would you even come into contact with something earlier than 1973? Where and how would you access earlier media?

@salad_valet

Mar 9, 2025

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@brooks

I cannot stand scrolling endlessly through streaming services which are geared for just never choosing anything to watch bc too many choices? and all the choices are pretty mediocre and/or ad-filled unless you're on kanopy (free- library!!) or criterion? it feels so much better to have a stack of dvds to choose from. to feel your vibe. I'm also a nerd so I like the DVD extras and commentaries. I also can't believe people pay for streaming/digital rentals when you can borrow dvds from the library for free. movies you can't find online anywhere. older movies. international. etc etc. ILL is amazing. the amount of people I hear now when I'm working at the library who tell their kids "we can't get that we don't have a DVD player "...😭 you're limiting yourself! I know I know, image/sound quality on old dvds is not always stellar but I also find it part of the experience. I'd rather have access, and just perusing the shelves to see what I find or feel like or what strikes me vs. these sites limiting my options and feeding me the same mediocre echo chamber shit over and over!

Mar 9, 2025

@salad_valet

@BROOKS decision fatigue is super real, and they know that when they gives us so many options. not to mention the disappearing art of the DVD menu + the special features. We got put DVD player at the thrift store for under $10 and it’s one of the best additions to the house. I love getting my movies from the ‘brary, picking up my holds is reminiscent of the OG mail-order Netflix (what a user-friendly and cool business model). Seen anything good you’d recommend?

Mar 9, 2025

@n_krishnan

You have a good point there, there’s a decent chunk of art just not picked up by the streaming service. And keeping it ourselves turns it into a nice event. That’s a really cool collection btw

Mar 9, 2025

@yagababa

my 28 days later vhs tape is def an appreciated item of mine after reading this i didn’t know it was so hard to find!

Mar 9, 2025

@salad_valet

@YAGABABA i look for it everytime I’m out perusing the racks!

Mar 9, 2025

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Own what you love

I have a fair amount of dvds and vhs tapes from when I was a kid. They rarely get used but every once and a while something has been taken down on streaming or I want to watch at the highest quality regardless of WiFi or otherwise. As the world moves more toward the internet, the temperature gets hotter, AI uses more and more water, and CEOs cancel or delete things for tax purposes it is important to OWN what you love and keep what you want to keep. Thrift shops and goodwills are great for regaining a collection of older movies you want to keep around and then try to buy the new ones as they come out. I think personally it’s not about a completely filled out collection of EVERYTHING just things you care about. And also rent stuff from the library! can’t keep it but if you don’t want to have streaming or anything. that’s how I used to binge watch tv shows in the summer when I was like 11.

@colinlrhoades

Jan 22, 2025

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a physical media collection

one day i want my kids to be able to watch so many different types of movies and tv shows and read comics, manga and books and listen to CD's... all without having to endlessly scroll. i myself want to be able to enjoy a library of curated media that i can take off of a shelf and open and enjoy fully without having to cypher through 10 different streaming platforms or purchase digitally until the company loses the rights and i can't access it anymore. i'm glad that so many are becoming enamored with this idea again. hope this trend only grows bigger and eventually we see video rental stores come back to popularity in the same way that book stores and record stores have in recent years.

@plantperalta

Jan 28, 2025

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physical media

Streaming is too convenient for its own good, except for all the ways in which it has become inconvenient. I have no idea where to find the stuff I want to watch, and when I do find it, I don't pay any attention to it because it's too easy to whack it on my second screen and just play Balatro instead. I watched seven episodes of The X Files last night and I can describe plot points from maybe 3 of them. I have decided to fix this because I miss actually having Opinions about things, doing close readings, and, most importantly - appreciating the fashion statements of my favourite characters. I made a list of shows I would really like to watch - or rewatch - and I've committed to collecting them all on either DVD or BluRay. When I want to watch something, I will put a DVD on with my Playstation 2, put my phone and laptop away, and just WATCH IT, no distractions. Maybe a notebook if I want to get Analytical about it. The first of the DVDs arrived today because I good deal on it, so today feels properly like the first step of this journey to take back my attention span. I am reinventing movie night for myself!!!!

@capybarareverie

Apr 7, 2025

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@salad_valet

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