This actually sounds incredible and I'm wondering why I have never heard of this before. It really does feel as though this is potentially something I've been needing in my life, to help slow down from over consuming fast paced rubbish that leaves you feeling empty and drained. In a way, it makes me think about gamers who live stream, especially when it is within the cosy gaming category, which that in itself also feels like a form of slow paced gaming. I would rather watch Slow TV that could happily play in the background, like watching someone else play a game that I can't play because I have work to do, or someone painting/creating. Sometimes it's about the conversation, the background noise, the learning, or just slowing down. This feels to be the future of content, and I can understand the demand for it!
It is obvious that when something becomes extreme, people feel the need for a reset. It is proven that media has become faster and faster, in response to attention span of people. I mean, one could argue that the media giants could be responsible for the shift in attention span by increasing the speed and intensity of all forms of content, plus with the power of social media making moments instant and "live" you can see where it all spiralled. The favourite example is comparing the James Bond movies from the early days with those the most recent and it's incredibly clear how times have changed. Short form content has seen a rise, thanks to the time limitations to Instagram reels for example. The short form content can see a high number of clips squeezed into anywhere between 30 seconds and a minute. Anything longer can suddenly feel too long and slow, which could result in losing a potential customer if it is a product of some kind that you are promoting.
It's interesting that though, isn't it. When it comes to selling something, it has to be engaging, it has to be punchy, it's how loud can your marketing be in a noisy world. You have seconds to hook a customer, what can you do in this short window? Slow TV seems less about pushing a product on to you but in fact reconnecting you with what you have. It rebels against the notion of constantly racing through your day, over consuming and being lost in a marketing black hole. Perhaps the rise in Slow TV is down to the very fact of everything is about selling something, adverts are taking over the internet, where ever you look. Where social media used to be about seeing what your friends are doing, or following people you are interested in, it is now suggestions and adverts. You find yourself scrolling through feeds even quicker now, just to skip these constant adverts.
What might also be interesting when considering Slow TV, is that anyone can create it. It doesn't require editing, a team of people, fancy equipment etc. The point is to film things in real time. This for me is what would appeal to me most about this genre. To know that it didn't come from a big production which, although seems to be real time, could still be scripted which feels less honest.
Comments