Problematise 

When researching my media niche I uncovered several different advantages and disadvantages it can have on an individual and how my particular media niche can impact someones mental health and well being. As my media niche is something that can be considered an act of laziness or a waste of time to others who might not understand why someone must watch a television show all the way to the end or why they like to rewatch the same television show over and over again. 

My first thought when asked how to problematise my media niche is to wipe out any stereotypes that people may have towards binge watching certain television shows whether that may be for someones own enjoyment or they have their own reason why. I want to express the idea that binge watching television shows can impact your mental health positively and can also be fun for those who want to do something in there spare time. 

While researching my media niche of ‘binge watching television shows’, I came across an article called ‘What happens to your brain when you binge-watch a TV series’ By Danielle Paige. This article expresses what happens to your brain when you are binging watching a television show, that by binge watching a television show can relive stress and anxiety and also goes into detail on what happens to your brain once the binge watching has finally stopped. Danielle states ‘A binge can work like a steel door that blocks our brains from thinking about those constant stressors that force themselves into our thoughts.’ Which explains the connection someone may feel towards a certain television show and also expresses how we can easily distract our brains with certain activities. 

I then stumbled across another article which explained the ‘pros and cons of binge watching television shows’, by Philip Bates. This articles goes into detail with the different aspects associated with Binge Watching television shows and if this certain media niche is either ruining your life or making it better. I was very interested with this article as I was able to learn more about my media niche and the effects it can have on an individually either positively or negatively. Throughout the article Bates states different pros such as ‘You can get shows over with quickly’, ‘binge-watching helps you see the small things’, ‘Binge watching is fun’, and ‘you can avoid spoilers by Binge watching’. There are also several cons such as; ‘Binge watching dulls your emotions’, ‘Binge watching makes you less social’, and ‘binge watching is bad for your health’

Another article in which I found while researching my media nice is written by Brian Gasparek, called ‘Great news, everyone: Binge Watching TV is good for you’. This article talks about a recent study in ‘Psychology of Aesthetics, creativity and the arts’ which talks about different television shows in which people have binge watched and have explained how they may react or think after the binge is over. 

Throughout my research I have realised that people think binge watching a television show can impact your life negatively, however, I want to prove that by spending your time sitting down and relaxing while watching your favourite television show can have positive impacts on your mental health and your life in general. Before this semester and before I researched my media niche, I believed that every time I rewatched my favourite series over and over again, I was just wasting time. However, I have now realised the positive impact my media niche has had on my mental health. So throughout my research, I would like to spread knowledge to those who do not believe that this media niche is not just a form of laziness and that this activity has a different impact on each individual. 

Research plan

Throughout this semester, I will be researching my media niche on several different streaming websites and platforms, for example, Netflix and Stan, and I will also be researching my media niche with different individuals as well, by asking different questions to uncover more information and perspectives on this particular media niche. I am hoping to observe different individuals and how they feel before and after they binge watch their favourite television show. 

I am wanting to use the different methods of observation and autoenthnography to research my media niche, and I am going to use these different methods to analyse my own experience with my media niche. By focusing on the certain platforms such as Netflix, stand and Disney+, I will be able to understand peoples mental health and how their life either improves or declines after they watch a certain television show and how they act before and after they binge watch their favourite television show.  

My research plan will involve different streaming platforms, different individuals and their mental health. I am wanting to dive deeper and explore the true impacts that my media niche can have on a person and their life. 

I will be recovering my field notes by conducting interviews with other university students, and then creating an observation of their mental health when introducing this activity of binge watching television shows within their lives. I am also wanting to research my own perspective when it comes to my media niche and how my life is impacted by it. 

Schedule of research 

Throughout this semester I will be focusing each week with a different aspect of my ethnography research, by gathering information from different streaming websites and platforms and also by conducting different interviews, polls and surveys to gain qualitative and quantitative data, and collecting physical data from individuals and their own opinions on this particular media niche. 

I have created a grants chart to showcase my process of research throughout this semester. 

Wish me luck….

Charlotte 🙂

REFERENCES

1. Danielle Page, Nov. 5, 2017, ‘What happens to your brain when you binge-watch a TV series’, https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/what-happens-your-brain-when-you-binge-watch-tv-series-ncna816991 , viewed one 21/08/2020
2. PHILIP BATES, March 26th 2020, ‘The Pros and Cons of Binge-Watching Television’, https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/pros-cons-binge-watching-television/ , viewed on 21/08/2020
3. BRIAN GASPAREK, October 3rd, ‘Great news, everyone: Binge-watching TV is good for you‘, https://www.theloop.ca/good-news-binge-watching-tv-is-good-for-you/ , viewed on 21/08/2020