I was obsessed with my parents’ cassette player when I was growing up. My Dad had piles of cassettes, some he had purchased himself, and others passed down to him after the death of my grandparents. My dad also made CD playlists with my favorite songs, since I didn’t have my first phone until I was 12 years old. We still have a five-story shelf filled with movie DVDs from the 80s all the way to the early 2000s. However, now at the age of 22, I can’t remember the last time I touched a CD, cassette, or DVD. Media is more easily accessible than ever before. I’ve become accustomed to apps like Spotify and Netflix for immediate content. The unsettling reliance on technology for art has become apparent to society with the growing use of AI. The future of physical media is dying out right under our noses. We need to promote the importance of supporting physical media and their creators. So, I wanted to present forms of physical media and the best way to use them for modern times.Â
DVD and DVD Players
When I was a child, both of my parents were working, leaving my grandma to look after me and my brother over the summer. My grandma had no internet. There was only one TV she used to watch her favorite shows. So, that only left us with toys.Later, my dad came up with the idea to buy used DVD players and movies to watch. My favorite movie to watch was Barbie Fairytopia. I took my players everywhere I went, from the living room, dining table, and even to my grandma’s backyard in the grass. I still believe DVD players are great for road trips and great, safe entertainment for kids. It also allows a more diverse selection of movies to watch without having to pay for multiple streaming services.Â
CDsÂ
I remember as a child, McDonald’s collaborated with Kidz Bop to give out CDs with Happy Meals. My mom would play the CDs in the car all the time for me to listen to. My parents weren’t huge fans of the radio and enjoyed the ability to listen to songs they wanted to hear instead.. I never realized I had this same preference until I got my first phone as a kid. At first, when I used streaming services to listen to music, I hated it. My parents did not want to pay to be able to skip songs. So, the majority of the time, I was forced to listen to songs I did not want to. Although today, my parents and I pay for a premium music streaming service. It is still insane to be forced to pay for the ability to listen to what you want. This inspired me to get back into buying CDs. I’m grateful that music artists still sell CDs, although they are not as profitable as before. CDs are resourceful and allow you to have more control over what you listen to. I also love mixed CD playlists for giving to loved ones. Â
Zines
When I was 19, I finally realized that I wanted to be a writer for the rest of my life. But I had no clue where to start and how to get my name out there. It wasn’t until scrolling on social media that I found out what Zines were when a creator I followed started her own. I submitted a poem to her zine. Then, to my surprise, my poem was chosen to be published. Zines give writers a great platform to promote their art. They supply great support to their local communities. They also bring forth new content for readers to enjoy in frugal ways. It’s a win-win situation for artists and consumers alike!Â