Pop Culture Ennui

For the last couple weeks, I’ve been in the dreaded doldrums of cultural boredom. I’m still in them to be honest. My side tables are covered in piles of books that I keep thinking I’ll start reading and then set aside. I haven’t even opened Netflix in a week or so because there is nothing I feel like watching. I have pop culture ennui. 

Part of this is probably the paralysis that comes from having too many options. I own 900 books. On the one hand, how is there nothing in there that I want to read? On the other, that is a huge selection to choose from. And regarding other mediums, we live in peak TV, both in terms of what is being created and what you can access online. Personally, I have both Amazon Prime video and Netflix. Add to the recommendations, from podcasts, the internet, and friends, choice isn’t exactly easy. And also, sometimes just nothing seems appealing. For absolutely no reason. 

I can’t be the only person who feels this way. Everyone hits ennui at some point, both with life and with the entertainment they consume, be it books or movies, or music. Sometimes, it seems like nothing hits the spot. So what to do? Well, I can’t tell you how to get out of the cultural doldrums - I’m still in them after all! But here are some ways to cope with it and hopefully find provides metaphorical winds to get you back towards enjoying pop culture.

Don’t Force It

You can’t. Or maybe you can, but I’ve never managed to brute force my way out of pop culture ennui. And more to the point, why would you want to? Unless it is literally your job and your livelihood depends on consuming media, there is no reason to do so. Entertainment is meant to entertain. It’s not homework. And life is hard and busy enough without making relaxation into a de facto chore. So if you don’t want to watch that show everyone says to watch cause you just aren’t feeling it, then don’t. The pop culture gods will not smite you. 

Return to an Old Favorite

This is the one I do the most. For the past few months, whenever I’ve hit this point I’ve reread and reread one of my favorite Harry Potter fanfics (actually a series 4 novel-length ones, the first one is Innocent). But we all have our favorites, and they can be a good thing to revisit when you are in a rut, either to get you out of a rut, or to get you through it.

Try Something Radically Different

Mostly I do this when I’m bored on plane rides, but it’s always an option in normal life too. Last time I was bored on a plane (despite my phone, podcasts, and two books) I started watching Chopped. It was the exact right amount of engaging and so I watched it for the rest of the flight. If none of your go-tos are working, why not try something entirely out of the box?

Do Something Else

If there is nothing you feel like watching or reading, do something else. Go out to a bar or coffee shop and chill. Or meet up with a friend. If you’re an introvert, maybe do a jigsaw puzzle. My thing when I want to relax and no form of media seems interesting is listening to music while playing solitaire on my computer. 

There is no foolproof way out of the doldrums - I still don’t have anything in particular that I want to read in my library. But I’ve unexpectedly heard live music when I’ve been out twice in the past week and that’s been pretty cool. I’m sure my ennui will eventually resolve itself, it always has. But in the meantime, at least I can make the doldrums less dreary.