[QuOP No. 28] Obscurity of Media + More

[Dedicated to the Facebook group Obscure and Lost Media Philippines (OLMPH)]

SEVEN YEARS AGO, I published an article about lost media.

Since then, archivists such as View on the 3rd – Jojo Bailon, Jacob Shelter, UndustFixation, have mushroomed over social media and others have expressed their interest, prompting the creation of a dedicated Facebook group.

As a result, the definition of obscure and lost media becomes blurred, but it can be classified in the same way that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies endangered species. This classification divides media content into categories based on scarcity, availability, and efforts to preserve or restore it. (Here’s r/lostmedia, for one.)

In this discussion, let’s talk about how media can be obscured and how our thinking (recall function) can be affected, especially as we start a new quarter of the year. Feel free to bring up other topics related to this in the comments section.

Media obscurity: Not just physical

When we talk about “media obscurity,” our minds often jump to those old-school storage formats like VHS tapes and CDs that seem so fragile that needs to be converted into digital formats urgently before it will be too corrupt to be do so and be considered lost.

But it’s not just about physical mediums; it also applies to the cyberspace, debunking the idea that everything posted online stays forever.

We saw this play out last year when PinoyExchange shut down, resulting in valuable information from their postings having to be reconstructed as they are dispersed across various forums such as Reddit and others.

Consider CNN Philippines, for example. When they stopped broadcasting in January, their entire online presence, including their website and social media pages, vanished as if they never existed. This devastating turn of events affects not only those who rely on high-quality journalism, but also those who are writing and polishing their theses, as well as Wikipedia editors.

This trend isn’t unique; global media outlets like Newshub from New Zealand and Vice News (especially the US edition) could also face a similar fate. It shows how precarious our digital footprints can be and how easily things can slip into media obscurity online.

Obscurity from Human Memory

I’m not a psychologist or a neurologist, but I understand that confusion is caused not only by the medium used, but also by our human and natural tendencies.

Obscurity related to brain functions refers to situations where it’s challenging to access or recall information or memories. This can occur due to various factors such as the complexity of neural networks, the way memories are stored and retrieved, and biases or filters in the brain’s information processing.

Speaking of bias (and that’s not about the presentation of news delivery)…

One factor contributing to obscurity is the brain’s bias algorithm. Similar to allowing the algorithm in YouTube or Netflix based on your recent searches, bias algorithms include mental shortcuts or filters that influence how information is processed, interpreted, and remembered. These biases can influence what information is easily remembered and what is pushed aside or lost.

For instance, confirmation bias leads people to seek and remember information that aligns with their existing beliefs, disregarding contradictory facts and pieces of evidence.

Here’s one example: Some die-hard GMA fans believe their network is morally upright and has not aired anything controversial since becoming the leading network in 2020. However, certain programs feature controversial exclusive talents (cough, Bong Revilla), making some people wonder if they are as clean as they claim.

Similarly, availability heuristic bias can contribute to obscurity by relying on easily remembered but not always accurate information.

For instance: A particular genre of drama receives a lot of airtime and promotions on multiple channels has made viewers believed that it dominate the TV landscape. It did happen in one moment in time but it will be different in another.

In summary, obscurity in brain functions is influenced by biases shaping what information is retained, recalled, or discarded during cognitive processes.

Age & TV Content Recall

People’s early memories of things they’ve watched on TV, like commercials or scenes from a show, can vary widely. Children typically start forming lasting memories around 3-4 years old, but these memories may not be very detailed at first.

Children’s thinking abilities, language skills, and attention improve as they progress through school, allowing them to recall specific details from TV shows or advertisements. By the age of five or six, many children can recall significant events and moments, including those related to television.

Several factors influence how well and quickly people recall TV information. These include how frequently they see it, how emotionally significant it is to them, and how engaged they are with the content. Furthermore, cultural and environmental factors, such as the accessibility and availability of TV shows, can influence what people remember. (Hence, the reason why South Triangle was dominating the industry.)

However, the recall function doesn’t last forever. It will be impaired through any of the following:

• Normal aging
• Neurological conditions (for example, Alzheimer’s and dementia)
• Brain trauma
• Stress or emotional factors
• A lack of reinforcement, and
• Environmental challenges

Neurotypicals’ and Neurodivergents’ POV

Fittingly for Autism Awareness Month, let’s talk about how neurodivergent people, like yours truly, remember things from TV shows and movies differently than neurotypical people.

Neurotypicals typically:

• Recall specific details like actors’ names, dialogue, and plot points
• Remember the sequence of events accurately with little effort
• Focus on the key ideas conveyed in the content
• Remember TV commercials, including jingles or slogans
• Quote lines easily from such content

For neurodivergents, things can be a little different:

• We might remember unusual details, but forget the main stuff.
• Sounds, colors, and visuals might stand out more than the plot.
• We can remember that one scene perfectly, but the rest is a blur.
• The intense emotions evoked by a show can influence what we remember.
• Sometimes, we watch a particular clip repeatedly for comfort.

However, neurodivergent individuals also have unique strengths, such as:

• Spotting tiny details that others might miss
• Recalling smaller, nuanced details or dialogue
• Detecting patterns that others might overlook
• Understanding underlying messages more easily

On Linear TV

Ignacia has realized that reverting to old methods is not an option, so they are rushing to preserve their archives before political factors disrupt them again, as happened in 2020. This urgency applies to everyone else in the industry, who should also take precautions to protect their archives.

• Do you remember GMA’s recently squashed noontime show, Tahanang Pinakamasaya? Despite that it went off the air nearly a month ago, the incident is still fresh in everyone’s minds. People remember every detail of what happened on the show, even if it wasn’t always cheerful and positive.
• From the 1970s to 1990s, IBC 13 produced and aired several intriguing shows as they were watchable at that time. However, come 2000s, the channel slowly became less popular. Even if archivists upload content from that channel into the cyberspace (right now), it gradually lost its prominence from the Filipino psyche. Many might have assumed they ceased to exist or weren’t significant due to prolonged government ownership, financial difficulties, and being viewed as a lesser version of PTV due to editorial policies (i.e. to defend the sitting President and their policies wholeheartedly) and financial struggles.
• ALLTV, the rebranded Channel 2, attempted to launch its own local shows in 2022, but the taping has been suspended in February last year. While previous episodes are still available online (proof), there is a lack of viewer interest, owing to skepticism about the network’s ownership and the original purpose for its creation.
• As an impetus of pushing their local content creation following the fall of Ignacia, TV5 is attempting to recapture their entertainment and current affairs vibes of the early 2010s:
  • Unfortunately, programs from the early 2020s such as Chika Besh, Lunch Out Loud, Sunday Noontime Live, Sunday ‘Kada, and a couple of VIVA-produced game shows have faded into obscurity with the rise of Ignacia shows.
  • As of this writing, Budol Alert, a current affairs program, aired on March 17. Willie Revillame will return, following the unsuccessful deal with government channels. Top 5 Mga Kwentong Marc Logan will premiere this Saturday (April 6), Senator Raffy Tulfo is planning a show there (the following day, April 7), with the same title as Jessica Soho’s program. Followed by APT Entertainment’s “Padyak Princess” starring Miles Ocampo. And then, there’s a Carlo J. Caparas’ Lumuhod ka Sa Lupa next Monday.
  • There is concern that once these shows have ended, they will fade into obscurity. In the next ten years, similar to what happened with the 2010s-era programming, it may become difficult to tell whether these shows ever existed, especially as AI technology can replicate their concepts.
• Like with TV5, the same can be said for NET25 with Happy Time and local content that they have finished.

What are the lessons to be learned here?

1. Preservation is key: If physical media and digital content are not actively preserved, they will both be lost. We should take steps to protect important information and support media archiving initiatives.
2. Memory is fallible: Our brains aren’t perfect recorders of information. Biases, time, and even how we engage with content can affect what we remember.
3. Documenting history matters: Lost media emphasizes the importance of documenting events and cultural touchstones. This provides a more complete record of the past (whether we like it or not).
4. Different perspectives are valuable: Neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals have unique ways of remembering media. Both perspectives contribute to a richer understanding of cultural impact.
5. Nothing lasts forever: Even popular shows and media can fade from memory over time.

In this QuOP, we encourage you to appreciate things in the present and consider how we can preserve them for future generations.

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If you have a follow-up to one of the previous posts, a new idea for a Turf post or something timely to write this new month, please fill out this Tally form. (P.S. Make sure it sounds sensible.)

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