Do Our Preferences Change Over Time?
Have you ever noticed how some of our preferences change over time? I suppose it has to do with maturity and life experience.
I don't know about you, but when I was younger, I loved happily ever after stories where nothing too bad happened and the characters were perfect. Books, TV shows, movies, it didn't matter. I wanted fairy tales.
I think it's because I wasn't the happiest child in the world. Nobody's fault. It's just the way it was. I mean, on the surface I had it all. Comfortably middle class. A loving family. I even had all four grandparents until I was 19.
The problem was with me. I was painfully shy, very introverted, socially awkward, and afraid of everything. Luckily, I outgrew it. But it took time.
In the meantime, I would often escape into books, movies and TV shows. For the most part, I liked them sappy. I liked romance and comedy. I liked escapism with little resemblance to reality.
But as I've gotten older and wiser (or, at least more experienced and confident) I've realized that escapism entertainment can be kind of boring. At least to me. I guess now that I'm happy in my real life, I don't need to escape from it anymore. (Well, maybe if it's a really bad day.)
These days, I like to watch shows and read books that I can relate to. That engage my mind and emotions, and give me new insights.
My favorite books and shows no longer have to have romance. But if they do it has to be more substantial than "He loves me, he loves me not?". Give me seasoned characters with real issues.
I also like suspense where I don't know what's going to happen. I like mysteries where I can try to figure out who did it and why. I like flawed characters who are real, like me and people I know. But they have to be somewhat likeable too. If I can't root for someone, I lose interest.
I still like it when the "good guys" win and the "bad guys" are punished. I have a strong sense of justice that must be satisfied. (You go, Jack Reacher!) But I also like entertainment that explores the gray areas of life, rather than provides easy black and white answers.
Happy endings are preferable, but not required. Ambiguous ones are okay too. If done right. (No unresolved cliffhangers, thank you very much.)
I also like recurring characters in books and shows. Especially if they evolve over time, rather than just keep saying and doing the same stuff over and over again.
This could be why my new favorite TV show and book series is Slow Horses (TV) or Slough House (books) by Mick Herron.
It meets all my new criteria. It's a spy series, but not of the James Bond variety. Not that I have anything against James Bond movies. They're fun too. And Daniel Craig's version was a bit more human (flawed) than the previous Bonds. But the characters in Slow Horses are a bunch of very flawed misfits. Much more relatable.
Jackson Lamb (played by Gary Oldman in the Apple TV show) is an ex-spy now based in London, in charge of a bunch of MI5 rejects. He's a disgusting human being when it comes to his personal habits and comments. But he's hilariously funny as he insults everyone he comes in contact with.
He's also brilliant and almost always several steps ahead of everyone else. And even though he treats his people terribly, he's very protective of them. If anyone else tries to harm them, they will pay.
Those under his supervision have their own issues. And the author isn't squeamish about killing off main characters either, which adds to the suspense. The TV show follows the books pretty closely, with some minor variations. Enough that the book readers get some surprises too.
Just like my travel destinations evolved into more exotic locations the more I traveled, I find my taste in shows and books has evolved over time as well. I try not to limit myself these days. I'll try anything once. But if it doesn't grab me in the first episode or chapter, I move on.
Part of this "expanding my horizons" process also involves reading a lot of nonfiction these days. On a variety of topics. I don't just read (or watch TV) to be entertained anymore. Sometimes I want to learn new things too.
That said, everybody's escapism is personal to them. You may like watching/reading the same things over and over again. Or, you may have your own criteria that needs to be met. And there's nothing wrong with that. Whatever works for you.
I still revisit old favorites too. Like comfort food. I just find it interesting to reflect on how my preferences have changed over time (and how they haven't). It makes me wonder if you have experienced the same thing?
What do you think? Have your preferences changed? And if so, how?