Streaming services such as Netflix have changed the way that everyone views films and different content from the comfort of their homes and on their own devices. Since the start of Netflix, television and cinema have undergone a dramatic shift. The biggest examples was ‘Squid Game’ a South Korean series that became Netflix’s most-watched show in 2021. Binge watching has drastically prevailed as consumers no longer have to leave their homes to watch films in cinemas.

Netflix has ‘reinvented television’ by allowing us to consume media continuously (Jenner, 2018). With Squid Game, consumers were able to either wait for all episodes to release before viewing the entire series in its full rather or wait each week for a new episode. This dramatic shift from traditional media means that the foundation of storytelling has had to be altered to keep up with the new phenomenon of binge watching. Shows are forced to keep audiences engaged for extended periods.

Another important factor of Netflix, is its ability to distribute content easily and globally. Amanda Lotz states, Netflix has “redefined television by blending production and consumption practices across the globe” (Lotz, 2017). Squid Game’s success shows how Netflix’ is a global platform where international stories can be shared quickly and then discussed by everyone across the world.

Although a Netflix series, Squid Game showed the importance of different social inequalities and representation and shined a light on social norms that might critique class systems and societal pressures. This is crucial for film directors and producers as they can see Netflix’s model provides new possibilities for “representation in global television,” offering voices and stories and or experiences that would not have been given a platform in the traditional TV ecosystem (Jenner, 2018).

Overall, Squid Game and Netflix have paved the way for both binge watching and shining lights on social issues. By having non-linear storytelling, new opportunities arise for diverse representation and more complex storytelling compared to traditional form media.

Bibliography:

Jenner, M. (2018) ‘Introduction: Netflix and the Reinvention of Television’, Netflix and the Reinvention of Television, pp. 1-31, 109-118.

Lotz, A. D. (2017) ‘Theorizing the Nonlinear Distinction of Internet-Distributed Television’, Portals: A Treatise on Internet-Distributed Television. Available at: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/maize/mpub9699689/

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