I recently overheard a conversation between two coworkers about Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black. When they asked if I had ever seen it, I replied in the negative. Their reaction was one of surprise.

“Really?! Oh, you really have to. You’d love it!”

I replied that I’m sure I would, but honestly — I probably won’t.

Now, this post is not to disparage Orange Is the New Black, which by all accounts really is a great show. However, I’ve come to accept a simple fact: there are many movies, TV shows, music, books, and video games out there that I have not seen, heard, read, or played. And I probably never will. You know what? I’m okay with that.

In our culture there exists a pantheon of great media, seen as almost required viewing by anyone half serious about being a “fan.” The thing is, there is only so much time in the day, and only so many days in my life. If I were to take the time to see all of the movies, let alone TV shows, that I haven’t, I wouldn’t do anything else.

I much prefer to take in the media that I am truly interested in, whether it’s seen as worthy or not. Beginning a book, show or video game is a big commitment, akin to going on a journey. I don’t want to take that trip unless I know it will be worth my while.

“But wait, Rob,” I hear you say “surely the investment will pay off when you get into it, and you’ll be glad you did!” 

Yeah, I don’t doubt that. But I don’t want to take in media just because I’m obligated by some cultural benchmark to do so. If something seems interesting, truly interesting to me, I make it a priority to check it out. As time goes on I get the opportunity to see movies here and there that fill in the great tapestry of cinema, and in those situations, I appreciate them and get much out of the viewing. At the same time, I’m not going to march down to Barnes & Noble and purchase Anna Karenina just because it’s considered a great work. What is my personal impetus to do so? I’d much rather finish Cixin Liu’s excellent Three Body Problem trilogy, a brilliant and realistic portrayal of extraterrestrial first contact. Why? Because it’s cool and explores humanity’s relationship with itself and the universe around it. I’m sure Tolstoy does the same, but hey – I like science fiction.

A friend has been struggling for months to make it through Don Quixote. He’s been putting off reading other books that he very much wants to read just because he committed to Quixote. The sentiment is respectable, but part of me just wants to say – why? Why force your way through something if you aren’t having fun? Isn’t that what media is ultimately about?

Several years ago I began reading Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises by chance. I crashed at a friend’s apartment after a night out and woke up early. I picked it off the bookshelf because I had nothing else to do, and became engrossed. I finished it that weekend. I’ve found that the most meaningful media has a tendency to come to you when it’s most needed. If you just follow your interests and desires you’ll appreciate it all the more. In that spirit, I’m going to keep on reading, watching, and playing just what I want to. So I may miss out on a few references here and there; but when I do choose to experience a piece of media, I’ll do it in my own time and in my own way. And that will make it all the better.