KQED's Forum Are We in An Analog Revival?
Aug 22, 2025
Joining the discussion are Jeff Rauseo, a writer focused on physical media, Jacob Gaboury, a film and media professor at UC Berkeley, and Joe Pickett, co-founder of the Found Footage Festival. They dive into the rising trend of nostalgia for physical media like VHS and CDs as streaming fatigue sets in. The guests share personal stories and reflect on the emotional connections to tangible collections. They also explore the implications of digital ownership, the charm of physical formats, and the community aspects tied to these cherished artifacts.
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Algorithms Narrow What We See
- Streaming's algorithmic production and recommendation systems limit availability and visibility of many films.
- Jacob Gaboury argues collectors turn to physical media to ensure long-term access to works algorithms neglect.
Digital 'Ownership' Is Often A License
- Digital purchases are often licenses, not ownership, so streaming or platform changes can remove or alter media.
- Jeff Rauseo and callers fear censorship or edits make physical copies the only immutable version.
McDonald's Training Tape Story
- Joe Pickett discovered McDonald's training tape culture via thrift-store finds and made it a recurring show favorite.
- He tracked down the trainee from the tape and became friends with him after pandemic-era research.
