One of the first things people discover when they get to know me is that I enjoy collecting things. 

The walls of my room are plastered with an assortment of posters, flyers, and photos. My shelves are stocked to the brim with vinyl, cassette tapes, and CDs. Even my window sills haven’t been spared, and are lined with a combination of books, DVDs, figurines, and general knickknacks. 

I have a deep appreciation for maximalism. I am no interior designer, but I think there is something special about creating a space that truly embodies the essence of who you are at your core. Perhaps it’s just my own inclination towards sentimentality, but possessions– even the mundane– should bring joy. 

I’ve grown up during a somewhat transitional period to a completely digitized world. I remember when streaming platforms like Netflix really began to take off, which would quickly render video rental stores and services like Redbox obsolete. I remember when my elementary school first unveiled the concept of assigned laptops that students could take home – what luxury! Thinking back, it’s hard to imagine what life during the COVID-19 pandemic would have been like if we didn’t have the convenience of school-assigned Chromebooks. 

And really, that’s what it comes down to. Convenience. Digital media is triumphant because of its ease of use, low cost, and above all, accessibility. Nearly any movie, album, or book is a mere click away. The digital age has opened doors to endless amounts of knowledge and opportunity. 

On the other hand, physical media is limited– short and simple. A cartridge, cassette, DVD, or VHS tape is only capable of so much, and with technology constantly improving and evolving, modern alternatives appear to be the obvious choice. So, why even bother? 

In the digital age, physical media remains important and valuable. The dynamic, ever-changing quality of technology will always be a great thing, but it does have its caveats. Over the last decade or so, the number of streaming platforms on the market has grown from a handful of prominent services to hundreds of sites available globally. 

Each service has unique policies, pricing points, and features. Complications with the licensing rights to movies and shows often lead to content getting taken off of one platform and moving to another, or getting completely removed from all platforms for long periods of time. 

I’m sure others are all too familiar with the frustration of trying to find your favorite movie, only to discover that it had recently been wiped from Netflix. After a quick google search, you learn that it’s no longer streamable anywhere and your only option is to rent it – which frankly can get pricey at around $4.99.

Of course, you can always digitally purchase the movie for double (sometimes triple) the cost to rent it, but consumers should be informed that buying a movie digitally does not mean they own it. Instead, they are purchasing a license to view the content, and in the situation that the content becomes unavailable or is removed by the content provider, tough luck. 

Physical media offers a level of reliability and permanence that your average streaming service cannot. A well cared for DVD or Blu-ray disc can last many decades, and some estimate that the discs could even have a shelf life of over 100 years. Furthermore, you have full possession and control over a physical copy. 

Through abandoning physical media, I believe that we may be sacrificing our ability to intimately connect and appreciate the content, too. I’ve always hated e-books. They’re vastly cheaper and more convenient than their physical counterparts, but scrolling through a book on my screen felt empty. The genuinity and realness of holding a book and turning its page is not something that can be substituted or replaced. 

I love opening up a new album I just purchased and looking through its cover art, or pulling out the pamphlet in a CD case to see what’s inside. I love the surprise posters that sometimes come inside CDs, cassettes, and vinyls. I love the little special features on DVDs and Blu-rays that I can’t find anywhere else. 

Most of all, I love being the curator of my own library, stocked full of all of my favorite content and tangible pieces of media.