Fleur Johns
In the age of instant entertainment and easily attainable dopamine hits from apps like TikTok and Instagram, where information is fast coming and quickly forgotten, the appeal of reverting to the analogue age is evident. With the rise of AI, and the danger it poses to the creative industry, the need for authenticity within young people’s creative work is apparent not just for the sake of society, but to emphasise the importance of using one’s own mind and skills to create and be authentic to oneself. Fleur Johns tells us more…
Reverting within the digital age through the collection of vinyl, CDs, physical copies of magazines and books, as well as the use of film cameras and general arts and crafts, has been steadily growing more popular amongst young people. The appeal of owning physical copies of media, such as photographs, is increasing, not just for aesthetic reasons, but for distrust of phones – fear of flukes, losing all data – and the object impermanence that comes when they are only on a digital screen.
With the fear of the digital dark age, losing your phone after forgetting to back it up can seem like the end of the world. Having physical copies of books, music, and photographs physically preserves your history. Instead of leaving iCloud or private companies in charge of your data, having physical copies ensures that you have control over your past and ensures it lasts into the future.
Reverting to the analogue age allows us to be deeply involved with our art. Journaling, using film cameras and collecting vinyl or CDs help us to not be passive in our interests. This era forced people to be actively involved in their hobbies and art. We, as the youth of the 21st century, get to explore the best of both worlds: being passive viewers with TikTok and other social media apps and enjoying the aesthetic appeal of older versions of technology and media to preserve our own creative outlet and aesthetic appeal.
WAYS TO REVERT:
- Vinyl, CD, Record Player – try Rough Trade in Nottingham city centre.
- Print out photos, use digital and analogue cameras
- Buy books, magazines, journals, and paper planners.
Re-emergence of records and CDs
The rise of popularity for CDs and vinyl has increased noticeably throughout the last couple of years. With events like the pandemic and the trend of ‘slow living’ people have returned to a ‘less online’ form of music.
The appeal of taking time and effort to cultivate a physical collection of vinyl or CDs, going to charity shops and record stores to find new and intriguing albums – new or old – or finding a collector’s item of a beloved artist is not only a form of consumeristic satisfaction but allows us to take time to enjoy hobbies rather than using apps like Spotify and Apple Music to instantly gain access to music without the object permanence to prove that you listened to it after the fact. 
The aesthetic appeal of a physical copy of your own personalised music collection within your own space is a dopamine hit like no other.
The cultivation of record and CD collections has an aesthetic allure to it. Whilst apps on your phone are great on the go, collections can be seen as a form of indoor decoration. The aesthetic appeal of a physical copy of your own personalised music collection within your own space is a dopamine hit like no other.
Major world events like the pandemic and lockdown have forced people to slow down and take their time in life. People have taken up hobbies that take time to develop and refine. Ultimately, the reversal from the digital age to the analogue has allowed for creativity without constantly relying on phones or easily accessible dopamine hits. Using old forms of media can help us to be more involved with our art and hobbies, not just relying on phones to do it for us.
Fleur Johns
Featured image courtesy of Annie Williams via Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
In article image 1 courtesy of Moshe Schneider via Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
In article image 2 courtesy of Patti Black via Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
For more content including uni news, reviews, entertainment, lifestyle, features and so much more, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to get involved.
If you just can’t get enough of Lifestyle, like our Facebook as a reader or contributor.
