We have no bank holidays in mid-March, but March Madness is a media equivalent. The festivities tipped off today (go Georgetown), with 60% of respondents of an online MSN poll reporting that they would fill out a bracket. My first experience filling out a bracket was at Penn State in 2003. I finished near the…
Spring break has finally arrived (phew!), and I’m now working on the introduction to the media marathoning project. The current iteration of the introduction incorporates how content-delivery technologies have fueled changes in viewer/reader behaviors and media content. The essential argument is that our ability to stream and download has encouraged more immersive viewing/reading experiences…
Avid Media Marathoning blog reader (and behind-the-scenes contributor), Josh Perks, just sent me a CNET article that echoes last week’s “Beware the DVR” post. Writer Chris Matyszczyk provides further support that the time-shifting technologies are really time-eating technologies. He also seems to know the list of commonly marathoned texts quite well, referencing “quality TV” staples…
It’s again that time in the academic year where professors, staff, and students all feel that they are behind in their work. (In the restaurant world, we would be “in the weeds.”) I am not only behind on grading, conference paper writing, and lesson prep, but I am also behind on watching TV. I am…
In the last 24 hours, three friends have sent me Brian Stelter’s New York Times article about television marathoning. He and other journalists (e.g., John Jurgensen and Jim Pagels) have been writing about television marathoning and introducing the public to this popular viewing behavior. (Some use the term media bingeing, but I’m sticking with marathoning…
The winter television hiatus might also have you questioning whether or not you’ll return to a show. My students discussed their media breakups last semester and came up with a comprehensive list of what makes them want to leave a show. These are reasons a television show/viewer relationship may go stale: 1. No Carrot to…
After denuding a brussels sprout stalk, I banged it on the counter and barked at Josh, “You shall not pass!” when he tried to enter the kitchen. I was inspired to make this post after I realized how often Josh and I quote from our favorite marathoned texts. Marathoned texts do show up in…
family therapy freeministalli In a previous post I mentioned that Josh and I marathoned Downton Abbey. Although viewing Downton Abbey began for work-related purposes (taking notes on a commonly marathoned text), it quickly evolved into a pure, addiction-driven marathon. I think I was hooked at about the second episode when Matthew, the surprise new heir…
Post by Sarah Marshall: In our class discussions, we talk a lot about waiting anxiety, fan activity, and producer to fan relationships. For fans of television shows, waiting for the next season of their beloved series and be agitating. It can sometimes take more than a year for a new season to be released. During…
During the winter holidays the television networks like the fact that you’re off from work, often near food-coma status, and tired of hearing that same story your uncle tells you every year about the time he ran the Philadelphia marathon and had to drive himself the four hours home because his support person (your grandmother)…