Giulietta: Beh ultimamente parlano sempre della guerra, fanno vedere le scene di guerra.
Se guardi un telegiornale [sicuramente parlano di guerra, o con un servizio oppure]
intervistano qualcuno al riguardo.
Interviewer: Per esempio, quando c’é stata la pandemia, voi guardavate la televisione per informarvi sulla situazione, per sapere cosa fare, … Era uno strumento attraverso cui vi informavate?
Cesare: No, perché sapevamo che dicono quello che interessa a loro.
Interviewer: E quindi come vi informavate sul Covid?
Cesare: Cercavamo di capire, però nessuno [capiva davvero cosa stesse accadendo].
Giulietta: Dalla televisione ci si informa, penso che uno la guardi per quello.
Interviewer: Voi la guardavate per quello, o no?
Giulietta: No, io la televisione la guardo sempre.
Interviewer: Okay, però se durante il Covid non vi fidavate di quello che diceva la televisione, come vi informavate al riguardo?
Giulietta: Beh o leggi il giornale o guardi la televisione.
Cesare: Leggevamo il giornale e guardavamo qualche telegiornale in più del solito [per confrontare notizie da fonti diverse] ma non ricevevamo comunque grandi informazioni.
Giulietta: Segui quello che ti dicono, [non puoi fare altro]; poi un certo telegiornale magari ne parla in continuazione, un altro telegiornale dà le notizie in modo più breve, perché magari ha un tono più politico o semplicemente diverso.
Interviewer: Do you consider yourself a television viewer?
Marge: Uhm, [it] depends on the definition of television.
Interviewer: That is up to you.
Marge: In that case, yes.
Interviewer: Okay. Why, what do you mean with “in that case yes”?
Marge: Because traditional television- to me watching television still implies watching tv programs, scheduled programs on “the [national] network”: I don’t really do that a lot, I never do it unless someone else is doing it and I am watching it with them. Or, to be fair, I do watch one thing- there are things that I watch on television but I also don't watch them on a tv [set] and that is because I think [that] television as the traditional object differs from country to country so much. For example, I think British tv is so entertaining and even watching it as it has been scheduled [so watching the programs broadcasted on linear British tv] is an entertaining experience, while I think that television here or in Germany isn’t [as entertaining]… They have different- Every country has different networks, so… But I mainly watch Netflix.
Location interview P.C. Hoofthuis canteen, Spuistraat 134, Amsterdam
Duration interview 31:52 minutes
Age respondent 23
Gender respondent Female
Sexual orientation Straight Class background Upper class
Residence Amsterdam
Composition of household Lives alone National identification
British (but has lived for long periods of time in Germany with her family and in The Netherlands by herself)
Political preference /
Work, study Communication student
Way of living/lifestyle /
Remarks /
Interviewer: Do you consider that to be television? Because you answered that you feel like a television viewer, [and since you mainly watch Netflix I then assume you consider Netflix a form of television].
Marge: I think that… Now when people refer to television, most of the time that [Netflix] is what they mean, [so] in that sense I do consider it television. But if I think about it, I don't think that is watching television.
Interviewer: Okay, but then in what sense do you consider yourself a television viewer? In the sense that you watch Netflix, or because you used to watch more television when you were… ?
Marge: Yes, yes, in the sense that I watch Netflix.
Interviewer: Okay, perfect. And how much television - whatever is the definition you want to use - do you watch?
Marge: A week, or…?
Interviewer: A day, or a week.
Marge: Okay, a week maybe… Oh God, that’s embarrassing… maybe 20 hours a week [laughs].
Interviewer: It’s fine, I also watch a lot of television! [Laughs].
Marge: And that is not a joke, realistically I think I watch at least 2 hours everyday before I go to sleep I always have to watch something and then if I am binge watching something it will probably be a bit more than two hours. So on average it’s maybe- Yes, let’s do 20 hours.
Interviewer: Okay, okay, it is not that much! Where do you watch it? Both from which devices and in a physical sense.
Marge: I watch it from my bed, for sure that is the most comfortable [place]. And I usually watch it from my laptop or my iPad. I don’t own a screen, like a tv screen.
Interviewer: You don’t own a tv set? Okay. And when do you watch it during the day?
Marge: Primarily before I go to sleep, which is bad, and in the weekends in the morning.
Or in the background when I am doing work.
Interviewer: You mentioned on Netflix, but do you have other streaming platforms other than that one?
Marge: I don’t pay for that, but I use my family’s Amazon Prime. I use a VPN to watch British tv programs and I do stream, occasionally.
Interviewer: Okay, so on average do you watch more linear television or television from streaming platforms?
Marge: From streaming platforms.
Interviewer: Even when you were in the UK?
Marge: No, then I would watch linear TV. Also when I am with my family or when I am on holiday, I [tend to] turn the actual TV on… Not all day, but still.
Interviewer: Because they watch linear television so you watch it together?
Marge: Yes.
Interviewer: Also, little biography question: when did you move from the UK to Germany?
So when did you stop watching that much linear television [in favour of streaming platforms]?
Marge: Even when I lived in Germany we had UK tv, so I watched it still I moved to The Netherlands.
Interviewer: Okay, perfect, and that happened 4 years ago, right?
Marge: Yes.
Interviewer: Okay. Because what I am trying to calculate is that before then streaming platforms weren't even that common per sé.
Marge: I would say [that] before having my own household, 25% of what I would watch would be “actual television”, and the rest would be streaming.
Interviewer: Okay, so that was already a lot of streaming.
Marge: Yes, yes. I switched to streaming very early, before Netflix was even here because I was living in a non-English speaking country at the time and I wanted to watch English or American things, so the majority of my television consumption has been streaming since I was maybe 16.
Interviewer: Okay, perfect. Do you prefer television or movies? And why?
Marge: No films for me, I don’t like films.
Interviewer: You don’t like films, why?
Marge: Uhm… It’s too much commitment, you have to pay too much attention, and I don’t like getting invested in something and then it being over.
Interviewer: Okay, so I assume you only watch tv series on Netflix?
Marge: Yes. I maybe watch 5 movies a year.
Interviewer: Okay, but then why do you like- I mean, tv series are also a very big commitment, even for a longer time.
Marge: Yes, but I feel like the commitment is worth it because I get more out of it [the content, the story], whereas the movie, I can enjoy it but then it’s over and…
Interviewer: Yes, you are left with nothing [pretty soon].
Marge: Yes.
Interviewer: Okay. Do you prefer television or social networks? And why?
Marge: I think that for escapism I prefer watching tv, I think that with tv you can go all in and [end up thinking] “Oh my Goodness, that was such a good show!”, whereas social networks are also a way to distract yourself, especially for how we use them today. So yes, if I had to choose one I would prefer the professionally produced content, not social media.
Interviewer: What do you generally look for when you switch on your television, or any other device you use?
Marge: I think I am a huge filling-the-silence person, I’ve watched Modern Family before going to bed every single night for the past 3 years, it’s my white noise machine; literally, I haven’t done that like 3 nights in the past year, even when I was with my ex I would put it [the laptop] under the pillow so he would not hear- that was really bad [laughs]. So for sure to fill the silence, also to relax and wind down.
Interviewer: Okay. In which moments of the day do you use it to fill the silence, besides the ones you explained before?
Marge: When I am cleaning: I would not do the dishes without having something going on in the background. It could be a podcast or music, but usually it is something [on tv]. When I am cooking, when I… uhm… when I am doing “boring work”, like citations for University [assignments]. Or when I was working from home it was always on in the background, I would probably watch television for six hours a day. I really love just having it on in the background.
Interviewer: Yes. What are your favourite tv programs? Or genres?
Marge: I do quite enjoy reality TV, always have. And then other than that… It’s hard to say a genre, I guess drama?
Interviewer: Okay, also for tv series?
Marge: Yes, I don’t know what the… Can I maybe just say the names?
Interviewer: Yes! Just tell me some titles.
Marge: My favourite [tv series] ever is Modern Family; then right now I really like Succession, it’s so good, I love it. Let me think… I really like miniseries, I have been enjoying them both from Netflix and the BBC. Uhm, [about the genre, I like the] kind of crime-ish, drama… like The Undoing, that kind of stuff.
Interviewer: So actually [you like] a lot of different genres.
Marge: Yes. And then [there are the] trashy tv shows, like Selling Sunset or The Real Housewives.
Interviewer: Okay, and what are some reality tv [shows] you watch?
Marge: Yes, The Real Housewives, specifically the Beverly Hills and the Miami ones and Selling Sunset… The trash American ones, not the European ones.
Interviewer: Okay, not like Geordie Shore?
Marge: No, no!
Interviewer: Because if I think of UK reality tv, that's Geordie Shore for me.
Marge: No, no, to be fair… sorry I have to make a correction! That is not true [that I don’t watch European reality tv]! I love Bake Off, The Antiques Roadshow, the more… not high level, but a little bit more high level, or otherwise the American ones.
Interviewer: Okay! Do you watch different kinds of programs when you are with your friends and family compared to when you are by yourself?
Marge: I don't like watching stuff with people other than the news or movies. But I would not watch a movie on my own.
Interviewer: Okay, and when you are with your family, what do you watch together?
Marge: Okay, reality TV, that kind of stuff…
Interviewer: Whatever comes on.
Marge: Yes, whatever comes on, and the news, because my family religiously watches the news.
Interviewer: Which actually is what everybody should do, but I’ve noticed our generator doesn’t, we just skip them.
Marge: That is genuinely what I would watch on TV, to be fair. I mean, if I had a tv I would use it to watch the news.
Interviewer: Okay, then [when you are] with your family there is no “tv series moment”? I’m just asking because, for example, when I go back to my family in Italy, if I don't go out in the evening that is when we all watch Netflix together.
Marge: Oh no, because everybody watches series at different speeds. I am a binge watcher, so… [laughs].
Interviewer: Okay [laughs]. Do you usually talk with friends about tv programs, what you're watching, suggestions about what to watch, …? Is it a conversation topic?
Marge: Not really.
Interviewer: Do you ever feel “peer pressured” to watch certain programs or genres?
Marge: No.
Interviewer: Not really to be part of the conversation? You know, [for example] there was the “Euphoria moment”, or…
Marge: No, no. I feel like with shows like Euphoria or Game of Thrones, no… I couldn’t be bothered.
Interviewer: Okay [laughs]. Do you think television is a collective or individual experience?
Marge: Uhm, I think both, but for me it is more an individual experience. I guess it is both, it is individual but on the grand scheme it is collective, but… I think that, because we are watching more stuff, it is less collective because there is always something new and by the time someone is watching something [others] have probably already started something new, so you are not really taking part into the conversation that much. But obviously I think that [for example] the Euphoria thing, that is more of a collective experience.
Interviewer: Okay, you explained it perfectly. Do you think television is progressive or conservative?
Marge: I mean, it is definitely progressive! [Laughs].
Interviewer: Okay, why?
Marge: No, I guess it depends, but in recent years it has become less and less conservative. And it depends on the genre and the network.
Interviewer: Can you make some examples of programs that you think are progressive?
Marge: I think Netflix is very progressive.
Interviewer: Okay, but [do you mean] content-wise, or maybe in the way the programs are shoot, or as a political idea…? Like, what are you talking about, exactly?
Marge: I guess it depends on aspects- there are new things that are definitely progressive, for example nudity. Like full-on frontal nudity on Netflix, it almost looks like the have to…
“We need a frontal male shot: checked!”, you know, even though it is completely
unnecessary. Also they are clearly trying to bring more progressive topics into most Netflix shows, to the point it almost feel forced.
Interviewer: So you mean it on a, let’s say, political level?
Marge: On a, like, social level…
Interviewer: Okay, so not on the… how can I say it, production level? It's only that they try to fit in as many progressive stances as possible.
Marge: Yes, but I guess- I am not really into cinematography, so I cannot reason in terms of production. It is not like it has suddenly become super artsy or something, so for me it is still conservative [in the sense that] it is like it has always been.
Interviewer: And do you feel the same way about linear tv programs? Are they progressive, as well?
Marge: Yes.
Interviewer: Do you think tv programs can have a concrete impact on the real world?
Marge: Yes, definitely. Especially now, and especially things from reality tv, they… I forgot the term, I should know this [laughs]! When [a program] isn’t only in one place but also expands on social media etc.
Interviewer: Convergency, transmediality?
Marge: Yes, yes, that’s it. And I think that has a huge- if we look at people like the Kardashians or even, again, I don’t watch it, but the whole Euphoria thing, I think they really, significantly impact society.
Interviewer: So how do they have an impact?
Marge: Starting from trends, to ideals to… An example would be that I have a neighbour, who is from Greece and he is very conservative, very traditional and he used to be- he was not homophobic but he wasn't very open, he didn’t know much about [the matter]. But he has been watching shows that are very inclusive, lgbtq+ friendly and I can see that over the years… I can definitely say that they completely changed him, for sure they made him more openminded. [It must have been it because] they were the only exposure he had to that topic, so I think that things like that can definitely normalise things on tv, [which in turn]
can normalise things for people [in real life, too].
Interviewer: Has it ever happened to you? I mean, not this exact same thing, but maybe after watching something you realised you were thinking or behaving in a new way because of that?
Marge: No, not really… I guess that if it had worked well, I wouldn’t have noticed. But I think for me, when people kept saying “It’s important to have representation”, I used to think “Okay”, but not really believing them - but now, thinking back at it… I’m not white, and growing up in Germany most people on television didn’t look like me, and I’ve never seen it as a negative thing but then I remember that back in the days I was watching a Disney Channel show with Zendaya and I remember being so subconsciously excited that there was someone like me on tv… and not being white wasn’t part of her character, and that for me- I think back at it a lot, because at the time I did not realise that actually this is so important, it just gave me confidence.
Interviewer: Okay, perfect. Does television ever teach you new things? Is it educational?
Marge: I think so.
Interviewer: Okay. How is it educational in your experience?
Marge: Uhm, I mean, the news… I wouldn’t say [tv] is too educational and also we have to be aware of what sources we read from, so obviously I’m not gonna believe- for example, tv shows about professions, like Suits… A lot of people want to become lawyers after watching Suits; I don’t think that is [a truthful and informative representation about how this job’s] reality looks like. So I would say… Not really. It depends, it depends.
Interviewer: Okay. If you could take part in a tv program, would you like to do that? And what kind of program would it be?
Marge: Yes, I’ve always wanted to be in… I’ve always loved reality tv, but [programs] like Come Dine With Me or, I don’t know if it is still running, but it is called Ready, Steady, Cook! I would love to be on Come Dine With Me, it has always be one of my dreams.
Interviewer: But what is Come Dine With Me about?
Marge: Four or five people are put together and then each of them hosts a dinner at their house and the others rate it out of ten… That’s always been my dream.
Interviewer: Are there periods during which you watch more television? And why? Or periods of your life during which you have watched more or less television than now?
Marge: I definitely watch more television now because it is more available, and back in the days I wasn’t allowed to watch tv all day [laughs]. I definitely watch more in winter and also when I am stressed or [when I am] struggling.
Interviewer: So when you are stressed you watch television to unwind?
Marge: Yes, to escape.
Interviewer: Okay. Do you watch the same kind of television you used to in your home country?
Marge: I don’t think it has changed, because I kept watching British television.
Interviewer: Okay. What are some differences you have notice in the tv programs here compared to the ones from your home country?
Marge: Uhm, I don’t really watch any local tv, so I can’t really say. Uhm… Yes, I can’t really say. Again, I think British tv is quite… There’s nothing quite like it. I don’t know how to explain but there are so many ridiculous shows [laughs]. There is this one television show where you have to end words… I don’t know how to explain, but there is like “scrubbledy, pubbledy, mabbledy” and then you have to guess what that means… Anyway, there are very random shows and reality tv shows. I guess reality tv can be a bit more trashy here.
Interviewer: Oh really, is it more trashy here?
Marge: I think so, and I think that, for example, in Germany there is a lot of “fake reality tv”:
they are really popular, they are shows that are supposed to be realities but they aren’t, they are completely scripted.
Interviewer: But does everyone know, or…?
Marge: Yes, everyone knows. But- I mean, I think that a lot of people who watch daytime tv don’t know, they think it’s real, but it is really bad acted, they are… Not even
mockumentaries, because they are filmed as reality tv programs, but they are not. And there are a bunch of them, while I’ve never come across one of them in the UK.
Interviewer: Okay. Do you consider the tv programs you watch to be high or low quality, and why?
Marge: Uhm… I'm not too sensitive to quality, I think they are a good mix.
Interviewer: Okay, and what is an high quality program that you watch? And a low quality one?
Marge: Oh my God, low quality would be… The Real Housewives, although I guess it depends on the genre. And for high quality… For example, I think that a lot of the miniseries on BBC are quite good quality. I would say that some of the miniseries that I watch are good quality, and then sometimes you would have something random on Netflix that is low quality.
Interviewer: But what makes you determine what is high and what is low quality?
Marge: I think the quality of the acting, like you can tell what the budget was… When can tell that there was a low budget [the show is low quality to me].
Interviewer: Okay, okay. Do you consider television offering, so not only what you watch but what is broadcasted on television, to be mostly qualitatively valid?
Marge: I don't know, because again I am not really familiar with cinematography, but I would hypothesise that it has been decreasing in quality because they are pumping stuff out so much faster [than before]. But I don’t know.
Interviewer: Do you think that television is a top-down or bottom-up media?
Marge: I think it’s both, it’s probably both, because it is such a big industry and there are so many different… I am also not familiar with all the “Marvel”- I dint know the difference between Marvel and whatever the other one is, all these stuff… I think it’s both; because of
the [media] landscape now, the bottom up [option] is probably more possible [to achieve than before], so I think it is both.
Interviewer: Okay. What is the last “big event” you watched on television? Do you think television portrayed/explained it well?
Marge: An event?
Interviewer: “An event” can be whatever, it can be an important sporting event, it can be the first newscasts you’ve seen about the war-
Marge: Yes, it was that, it was that. It would've been a debate, like a “debating show”- not with politicians [only], but with some politicians and some experts. Yes, something like that, about Ukraine.
Interviewer: From which national television did you watch it?
Marge: It was in Germany.
Interviewer: Okay, and do you think that they explained it well, that they gave a good service…?
Marge: Yes, yes. At least for me, that is still one of the best forms of information on these kinds of topics.
Interviewer: Do you mean television or talk shows?
Marge: Yes, traditional television and talk shows.
Interviewer: Okay, why do you think so?
Marge: I think that the I guess “quality” is the wrong word, but I guess that quality-wise… I don’t know, maybe it is wrong [to think this way] but because it is a traditional form of informing yourself it feels a bit more… Like, if I were to stick to watch these kinds of things three times a week at night, I would be way more informed than I am by picking out my own information, even though I depend on reliable news sources and I have news apps and everything; I just feel like this is a side of tv that would make me feel like “Uhm, maybe I do want to watch live tv, after all”.