[How About This Book] People Who Fast-Forward Movies

An Era Where Content Consumption Is More Familiar Than Appreciating Art
Skipping and Fast-Forwarding Videos Are Common
Time Cost-Effectiveness and Simplified Dialogue and Subtitles Are the Causes

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] It is an era where the phrase ‘consuming content’ is more familiar than ‘appreciating works.’ Appreciation is an act with the purpose itself as the goal. It does not consider the effect gained according to the time spent, in other words, ‘efficiency.’ One fully absorbs emotional changes, relationships between characters, and the beauty of the scene according to the time direction set by the work. For example, it can be said that one enjoys the meal itself.

However, content consumption is different. The word content itself often implies a large quantity and is frequently interpreted as aiming for rapid consumption of a large amount of information and pleasure. It is more appropriate to say that one is taking essential nutrients rather than enjoying a meal.

What is the reason? Columnist Inada Toyoshi points to the cost-effectiveness of time as one cause in his book People Who Watch Movies on Fast Forward (Hyundai Intelligence). With the emergence of subscription-based video streaming services (OTT) like Netflix, a path opened to access a large amount of content cheaply. Previously, people tried not to ‘waste’ the content as much as the cost paid, and adjusting playback speed was not easy. However, since the advent of OTT services, the psychology of not wanting to waste time has increased. According to a survey conducted by the Japanese research company Cross Marketing in March last year, 49.1% of men and women in their 20s responded that they watch content on fast forward.

Skipping or fast viewing can also give a false sense of satiety. It provides a false feeling as if one has fully digested the content, giving psychological fullness. Some practical-minded people are satisfied just to get ‘topics’ to talk about with others. However, the author points out, “If a prop stays on the screen longer than necessary, it carries some meaning in the development,” and “Just watching is also the charm of video works. Like appreciating paintings or photographs, quietly observing the beautiful arrangement, composition, and colors in the video and thinking about what theme they metaphorically represent is a pleasure.”

Improved subtitles are also one of the causes. As subtitles or dialogue increasingly handle what viewers need to feel and understand, there is no longer a reason to watch works continuously. Even with fast viewing or skipping, subtitles reduce difficulties in understanding the content. A broadcasting station official interviewed by the author said, “Viewers change the channel when they don’t know what is happening,” and “To prevent such mishaps, it is better to always display subtitles even if it becomes excessive explanation.”

The author states, “Fast forwarding is an inevitable trend of the times... It meets almost all the conditions that can be an absolute definition in a capitalist economy that ‘maximizes profit with minimal resources,’” but still questions, “I wonder, how did it come to be that people watch movies on fast forward?”