I recently read a summary of studies of why people listen to music. Among the top reasons are (1) to manage emotion, (2) to provide background noise, (3) to reflect on the past, (4) as a distraction and (5) to encourage social interaction. While I was reading I realized that music has largely disappeared from my life over the past three years--mostly because when I came back from my mission it was too big of a project to move years-worth of my iTunes collection from my family account to my new personal computer. I just keep procrastinating it. But when I thought about when I would listen to music anyway, the only real time I have to just listen to something (since I cannot multi-task) would be while I exercise in the morning. And there is no way I would listen to music while I exercise because that is my "This American Life" time.
If you have never heard the podcast, "This American Life"...it is hard to describe. It is a radio show with a theme to each episode and stories along that theme. Sometimes, lucky times, there are essays or comedies added in. The show wanders in and out of these vaguely connected stories, delighting you all along the way, but the real beauty of it is how you feel connected to the people as you listen. You find yourself laughing because you know exactly the feeling they are describing, validated in your annoyance at rude strangers, or totally shocked that someone else could have been as completely geeky as you in middle school. It is an hour every week that reminds me just how much I am like all other humans--and I find that kinship delicious.
So I suppose my reasons for listening to "This American Life" are very similar to why others listen to music, such as to experience a wider range of emotions, to provide intellectually stimulating background noise, to feed my desires to be more cultural and sophisticated, etc. But mainly I just want to encourage social interaction between me and the millions of other humans out there who I may never meet, but whose existence really means a lot to me.
If you want to give it a try, subscribe to the "This American Life" podcast on your podcasts app for FREE, or go to their website, http://www.thisamericanlife.org/podcast. I seriously doubt you will be disappointed.
I love This American Life! My favorite series has been Serial. I couldn't get enough of it. I also love listening to Ted Talks on my way to school or while I'm getting ready in the morning. It makes you feel like you're actively participating in the media you're consuming.
ReplyDeleteThis is actually a great idea. I haven't been big in the podcast world but recently many have been recommended. I trust your opinion and recommendations. I'm going to go check it out. But I like what was said above about how you feel active about your media participation. You're wise beyond your years Rose. :)
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