Why you should watch movies!
I recently got a Netflix account and have not looked back. I absolutely love it and can’t believe that I haven’t tried this earlier. When I wanted to watch a movie before I would have to rent it for like 5 or 6 dollars and physically go purchase it and return it. Well not anymore thanks to Netflix! With the convergence of movies and the internet we are able to get movies that we want through our computers and our television’s as well as any game consoles. They also will send you movies via mail for no cost. This is a good example of the technological shift from analog to digital because now we no longer have to go and physically buy the movies. Netflix is now advertised everywhere you can buy a television and some TV’s now come with Netflix already built in and all you have to do is sign up which can be done right from your TV. Netflix has completely taken over the way we watch movies. The way they advertise themselves in commercials includes tons of persuasive techniques like repetition of the low monthly price, testimonial of people who love and use it, and humor. Movies are such an important thing in our society these days because they provide a release from our everyday activities and allow for a rest of our neocortex and for our limbic brain to get a little more activity. One thing that I did find with Netflix is that they are very protective of their movies and do not want you to access them without having bought the service or a device in which to watch them with. If you try to hook up your computer directly to the television to watch these movies you most likely will not be able to access them. This is a direct issue of ownership and who exactly gets to decide how we use and what we use to watch our already purchased service. Like the book Media Society touched upon, when large Media companies are in control of their product or distribution, it is called vertical integration (pg44). Although I do believe you should have to pay for the service, you still should be able to use it on any device.
When I first signed up for Netflix I was unsure how to use it but the site was helpful and gave you step by step instructions. Any movies that I wanted to view on my television (which had blue ray capabilities) I had to put on my instant que and putting tons of movies on my instant que I decided to see if there was an app for my I phone that would allow me to watch these movies right from my phone from anywhere!!! This was by far the best way to enjoy new and old movies whenever I wanted. The first movie I started watching on my I phone and didn’t finish then when I went to watch another movie from my television there was the movie I was watching and I could resume it at the exact spot I left off from my phone. I was so excited and knew that this was the new way in which i would be watching movies.
Movies on your smartphone!
