With a new ‘post-network’ era in which television has indeed been revolutionized (Lotz, 2017), we have arguably entered another phase of television, referred to by Mareike Jenner as ‘TVIV’ or the fourth stage of television(Jenner, 2023), in which new generation of content distributors like Netflix and Amazon now take the lead. By abandoning the model of the weekly episode release (even if viewers were already stockpiling television for binge-viewing sessions), Netflix pioneered a model of “season dump,” which indicates making an entire season available for immediate viewing. To delve deeper into this trend, analyze an exemplary digital audiovisual media: “Beef.”

In the Netflix series “Beef,” Danny Cho, played by actor Steven Yeun, is a struggling handyman in Los Angeles who accidentally becomes embroiled in a road rage incident with Amy Lau, a wealthy entrepreneur played by Ali Wong. Over the first ten episodes, their simmering hatred fueled an escalating series of poor decisions, setting off a bizarre chain of retribution, including but not limited to robbery, vandalism, catfishing, and bad Yelp reviews(Ito, 2023).

“Beef” makes good use of the techniques of nonlinear and multi-line narrative, making the plot more complex and fascinating. Multiple storylines are woven together, picturing a development and conflict of events; rich perspectives of different characters are presented over the period. What is notable here is that “Beef” fully uses advanced digital technology to demonstrate efficient production in both pre-preparation and post-production. Application of digital camera technology and virtual special effects makes the series more delicate and real in terms of visual effects.

Moreover, as an original series on Netflix, “Beef” takes full advantage of the streaming platform. Viewers can watch the episodes anytime, anywhere as long as devices are Internet assessed, and this is very flexible and adapts to the fast pace of modern life. The proliferation of streaming platforms has allowed high-quality content to spread quickly and reach a global audience. Meanwhile, Netflix has adopted a full-season rollout strategy, which means viewers are allowed to watch entire seasons at once. This on-demand viewing model satisfies audience to a large extent, even they want to indulge themselves into the show. They are allowed to be immerse in the plot and enjoy the entire story in one sitting. This consumption pattern not only enhances the audience’s experience but also changes traditional viewing habits. Netflix has also adopted a full-season rollout strategy, allowing viewers to watch the entire season at once. This on-demand viewing model meets the needs of viewers for binge-watching (Jenner, 2023), enabling them to immerse themselves in the plot and watch the entire story in one sitting. This pattern of consumption alters traditional viewing habits, bringing a better experience for audience.

To conclude, being a Netflix series, “Beef” fully demonstrates new production practices and new patterns of consuming in film and television industry. Meanwhile, the popularity of streaming media platforms and personalized consumption patterns enable audiences to enjoy high-quality content more conveniently and experience a viewing experience that is completely different from traditional films and television. Changes powered by digital technology and the Internet have made film and television production more efficient and diverse and changed audiences’ consumption habits and expectations. The aesthetics of cinema are on full display in “Beef,” which combines exemplary emotional depiction and visual effects to create an entertaining and deep work.

Reference

Jenner, M. (2023). Introduction: Netflix and the Re-invention of Television. In Netflix and the Re-invention of Television (pp. 21-52). Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Ito, R. (2023). In ‘Beef,’Road Rage Is Only the Beginning. The New York Times (Digital Edition), NA-NA.

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

By: Tianyu Zhang