Memorializing Media
I've come to realize something about the internet and my use of it lately. Neocities and much of my Youtube algorithm seems to be prone to love letters and retrospectives on old media. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it led me to think about this sort of "meta-media" surrounding source media/IPs. Wikis, fandoms, videos, fanfics, and discussions show how easy it is to gush about what we enjoy, rather than enjoying the actual thing!
I'm certainly guilty of this. For example, I recently watched a video about the making of classic SpongeBob, when I could have been just watching the damn show. Clearly the internet is polluted with this cheaper, spin-off content. You may be saying "no harm in that, right?". But to me, it invokes a sense of cultural death. Memorializing things from the past, as if they were gone, inaccessible forever -- just a memory. And those things were so good! Too bad they don't make them like they used to, right?
What can we do to combat this grave mindset? Sidestep that ocean of meta media and dust off those old video games or go through your "must watch" list. See where your taste takes you! Use the internet as it was once imagined: As a giant library to access anything you want. Just get your movies, your video games, etc and be on your way!
last updated: 8/13/2026 | first posted: 8/13/2026