It is crazy how different the world is from a little over a decade ago. We have wireless earbuds that funnel music and videos into our eardrums expertly. With a tap, the song can be stopped or the next one started. You do not even need to look at the phone. We now have ten billion different streaming services vying for our attention like piranhas schooling for meat. Each presenting its limitless media content with a speed approaching that of light.
David Carr wrote about the increasing speed of content back in 2009 with his piece, “We Want It, and Waiting is no Option.” He writes about his reflections while in a store in Times Square. There were increasing amounts of people that seemed almost impatient. They wanted what they wanted, when and how they wanted it. Back then, it was still a little much to ask for that. The infrastructure was not quite in place, but it was getting there. Carr described a physical object that holds a finite number of songs as ‘quaint.’ Now it would seem prehistoric.
Carr’s article was enticing not only because of its forward-thinking nature, but also because of its presentation of the dichotomy as it was back then. He mentions the difference of clientele, of young souls rifling through content while older people consume more gingerly. It is a refreshing observation. Normally, we hear of how the tsunami of content will drown us in never ending waves. With Carr, it is looked at as evolution. The growth and improvement of technology has, rather simply, given people more choices. People can experience content in hundreds of different ways and in hundreds of different places. Embracing these options, this choice granted to people, was a bit difficult to accept. It was all still so different and new. However, Carr concludes with a slightly begrudging acceptance of these choices. It is interesting to see how that acceptance has led us to where we are today.
Of one final note, Carr writes of his nervousness regarding storytelling. He fears that the speed of content will hurt it. Luckily, his fears are disposed of rather quickly. This new choice that is given to people only serves to widen the available stories, not hurt the ones that are already available. As Carr was told, storytelling is cognitive, and without the minds to make it this technology becomes useless instantly.
Cheesecakeify My Opinion 
Keaton,
This is such an enjoyable post to read! This bit of it especially, “Normally, we hear of how the tsunami of content will drown us in never ending waves. With Carr, it is looked at as evolution. The growth and improvement of technology has, rather simply, given people more choices.” really captured my thoughts on the subject and Carr’s article. I think we often hear about how technology is changing our lives negatively, which in some instances are true, but more often than not it gives us options and choices we have never had before. When it comes down to the evolution of technology, in any form, I think it is more about using it than letting it use us.
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Really like your combined look at Carr’s writing and the rapidly changing music industry. Your third graph is really solid – good use of language.
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