BusbyMalone
First Man Falling
- Joined
- May 22, 2017
- Messages
- 10,362
Yeah, that's a part of it for sure. There's definitely a cultural bonding going on due to the fact that it's so easy to connect with others.It feels to me like commonality is a big part of the appeal (and subsequently something I often feel the exact opposite feeling to).
I didn't understand this really until I dated a girl who liked Marvel movies and once sat round a table with her friends while they were talking about it. I couldn't imagine there was much to talk about but they sure were prattling on.
It's the exact same situation with TV. Most people watch TV because it's fun to talk about it with people - look at this place for example. There's a big difference in quality for sure but the motivation is the same.
All this is of course magnified by some trillions in the always-on, ever-connected digital age.
Edit - I'm basically describing the Network Effect - https://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/network-effect.asp
Although that can also warp your perception of what is actually popular. We do underestimate the mainstream at times. I was reading about Breaking Bad, a show that obviously invited a lot of intense discussion and debate and seemed like it was watched by everyone, only to learn that it got fewer viewers per episode than Chicago Fire. A show that I don't hear ANYONE talk about or, quite frankly, a show that I didn't even know existed.