Spotify wants us to remix our music. Netflix wanted us to choose our endings. Whatever happened to just sitting down and enjoying something?
Apparently, enjoying entertainment isn’t enough anymore.
Now we’re supposed to help make it.
Which is interesting, because I was under the impression that the whole point of entertainment was to take a break from doing things.
This week on Entertainment Is Broken, Richard Crouse, Sarah Hanlon, and I are asking a fairly simple question:
Does giving audiences more control make entertainment better ... or does it just give us more homework?
Spotify reportedly has plans to let subscribers use AI to remix songs. Netflix tried letting viewers choose how stories unfold. And now Choose Your Own Adventure is getting into classic literature.
Because apparently what Pride and Prejudice was missing was the opportunity for us to make some terrible decisions on behalf of Elizabeth Bennet.
And look ... choice is good.
But do we really need to rewrite our favourite songs? Choose every ending? Decide what happens next?
Could someone who knows what they’re doing please just make us a good sandwich?
Also in this week’s episode...
Sarah has some thoughts about You’ve Got Mail.
Richard makes the case for keeping actual human beings involved in the creative process.
And we wonder whether the explosion of AI-generated content is making it harder to recognize genuinely impressive art.
Because when everything looks extraordinary, does anything?
Richard Says / Sarah Says
We’ve also got recommendations for things actually worth your time, including The Devils, the Reel Asian Film Festival, and a Love Is Blind reunion that might make you question not just the contestants’ choices ... but your own decision to watch.
It’s an episode about creativity, control, technology, and whether entertainment is becoming one more thing we’re expected to work at.
Have a listen.
And let us know in the comments...
Would you pay extra to change a song or a movie’s ending?
Or would you rather let the artists cook?
Personally, I’d just like someone to make the sandwich.
