WEEK ONE November 28th, 2014

The Convenience Trap: What the changes at Netflix reveal about an insidious trend
http://www.avclub.com/article/the-convenience-trap-what-the-changes-at-netflix-r-59829

Adams, S. (2011, August 3). The convenience trap: What the changes at Netflix reveal about an insidious trend. Retrieved November 28, 2014, from http://www.avclub.com/article/the-convenience-trap-what-the-changes-at-netflix-r-59829

  "It increasingly seems like we’re moving toward a world in which the success of a given work of art is determined primarily by its ease of access." Nowadays, if people want to watch a certain movie, then they don't even have to get out of their seat, let alone leave their house. The convenience of Netflix and On Demand is taking the place of going out to see a movie. It has been going on for years now, and that phenomenon just keeps getting bigger. In today's society, most of us "rely on instantaneous access." Netflix offers "untold lifetimes' worth of content, enough to keep your eyes occupied." It is actually rare to find people going to the movie theater as often as people used to, before programs and websites like this existed. It's abundantly clear that our world is changing, as well as the simple act of watching a movie. It's different now. Almost anyone can gain access to many of the greatest films of all time, with just the push of a button. People would rather pay $8 a month to have full access to the movies available on Netflix, than $10 to see a single movie at the theater. All people care about is convenience. And that is completely changing our society.

  Even though I hate to say it, nowadays, people only care about what's convenient for themselves. And if they want to see a movie, then with just a push of a button, they're already watching it in high definition. I still love going to the movies, and supporting the art that is film. But unfortunately, most of the people living in today's society don't think the same way. Technological convergence plays a huge role, when it comes to viewing and listening to media. Netflix is a perfect example. Not only is Netflix available on computers, but it's also available on smartphones, tablets, you name it. It's changing the game. It's cheaper and it's more convenient. And just that alone can already convince people to go that route and sign up for a Netflix account.
  There are perks to it, though. Through the many choices of media outlets to view media with, it brings in many more viewers, or may I say "fans." Netflix is available to people of all ages, and because of this, a much larger demographic is being exposed to all different types of art, whether it's film or television. Even though things are not as simple as they used to be, movies find a way to be successful, no matter where or what they're viewed on. And that is definitely a good thing.