Discussing
Binge-watching TV and seasons of the church

Bethany Keeley-Jonker

Bethany Keeley-Jonker
May 15, 2014

In both church seasons and television seasons, there is a place for rhythm and anticipation (even if we also enjoy the occasional binge-watch).

Jonathan Downie
May 19, 2014

I wonder if actually, what Netflix and the quest for TV at our convenience has done is break-down the kind of "imagined communities" that Benedict Anderson said was made by, for instance, the quasi-religious institution of reading the morning paper or going to the same festivals. As well as giving us something to expect, perhaps the seasons of the church also create something we need: a community of people walking the same road together.

Of course, you mentioned that in passing in your article but I think it might be worth a piece in its own right. In an increasingly individualised world, where the emphasis is on the person over the community (I even saw a recent cartoon calling partners "someone to be alone with"), having seasons, whether it be of TV or in the church, creates bonds that might otherwise be lost.

Now we have Netflix (or iPlayer, here in the UK), will anyone ever get to have conversations about where they were when X happened?

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