ネイティブが教える英会話のジェムスクール☆Teachers☆

Hello everyone, Benson here. How is everyone’s January going so far? It’s still quite early in the month but I hope the fresh start has been nice. Today, I will talk about sunlight. Now, I am somewhat of a vampire but I do enjoy basking in the sunlight every now and then. Especially sunlight during the winter. There’s a special quality about it, contrasting with the crisp, cold air. I like it, does everyone else like winter sunlight? Do you also think I’m a vampire?

Winter sunlight has a special quality to it. In January, the light is often soft and golden, casting long shadows and creating a serene atmosphere. I love how the low sun glints off the snow, making everything sparkle. While the days are short, the few hours of sunlight feel precious, and I try to spend as much time outside as possible, soaking in the natural beauty of the season. There’s a certain stillness in the winter air that makes the sunlight even more striking, reminding me that even in the coldest months, there’s warmth and beauty to be found. I hope everyone has a great week ahead, take care.


  

Streaming services have drastically changed how we enjoy entertainment in the modern age compared to the media options of our ancestors. In the past, we were limited to watching whatever was on television at the time or whatever we could find at our local Blockbuster or Movie Gallery but now we have access to a vast library of movies and TV shows on demand (Lotz, 2017). Blockbuster and Movie Gallery are kind of like GEO, except they didn't have manga or comic books. Now, thanks to such services as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and Amazon Prime, we have a huge selection of movies and TV shows to watch whenever we want. This is super convenient, but it also has some important consequences for the entertainment world - there are concerns related to the entertainment industry as a whole due to the changes of this new phase of our media consumption.

One concern is that streaming services are contributing to the decline of traditional television and films. Just as the radio was killed by television, television is dying as more people "cut the cord" and switch to streaming services. Television networks are losing viewers and advertising revenue in record numbers, but they're not alone as some giants such as Netflix lose portions of their userbase as prices hike upwards (Cohen, 2022). This could lead to a decline in the quality of television programming, as networks may have less funding for production - there is already some concern that some public networks such as PBS (The Public Broadcasting Station) are going to have their funding cut with the advent of such people as Elon Musk meddling in the American government.

Another concern is that streaming services are controlled by a small number of large corporations (e.g., Netflix, Amazon, Disney) and this monopoly, as with all monopolies pose a myriad of issues (Wayne, 2021). This concentration of power could lead to a lack of diversity in the content that is available to viewers and these corporations could use their influence to shape public opinion and suppress dissent (Havens & Lotz, 2012).

Despite these concerns, streaming services have also had some positive effects on the entertainment industry. For example, they have made it easier for independent filmmakers to get their work seen by a wider audience (Lobato, 2019). Additionally, streaming services have produced some high-quality original programming that would not have been possible without their support such as 'Stranger Things' on Netflix or 'The Handmaid's Tale' on Hulu. As streaming services continue to evolve, it is important to be ever mindful of both the positive and negative implications of this technology. By understanding the potential impacts of streaming services, we can make informed decisions about how we use them and what the future of our entertainment industry may look like as these platforms and services continue to change.


Here's some key terms/vocabulary from my ranting, with extremely simplified definitions:


Vocabulary:

Streaming service: A platform that provides video and audio content over the internet. (e.g., Netflix, Hulu, Spotify)

Revolutionized: Changed something fundamentally.

Consume/Consumption: To use, eat or experience something.

On demand: Available whenever the user wants it.

Implication: A possible consequence, meaning or effect.

Decline: A decrease in quality or quantity.

"Cut the cord": To cancel a cable or satellite TV subscription.

Advertising revenue: Money earned from showing advertisements.

Monopoly: When one company or group controls most of a market.

Diversity: A range of different important meanings, but variety is the use here.

Suppress: To prevent something from being seen or expressed.

Dissent: Disagreement with a common opinion.

Independent filmmaker: A filmmaker who is not affiliated with a major studio.

Original programming: TV shows or movies made specifically for a streaming service.

Evolve: To change and develop gradually.

Mindful: Aware and conscious of something.



Here are sources and references used in the text I constructed, otherwise known as citations:

Cohen, J. (2022, April 21). Netflix is losing subscribers for the first time in a decade. Consumer Federation of America. https://www.cfpublic.org/2022-04-21/netflix-is-losing-subscribers-for-the-first-time-in-a-decade

Havens, T., & Lotz, A. D. (2012). Netflix nations: The geography of digital distribution. Rutgers University Press.

Lobato, R. (2019). Netflix nations: The geography of digital distribution. New York University Press.

Lotz, A. D. (2017). Portals: A treatise on internet-distributed television. Michigan Publishing.