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societyJun 26, 202625:35pending

Will physical media take us back to the future?

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Is a return to analog the way to a better future?

While vinyls, DVDs, and CDs might be considered ‘vintage’ to some, for others it’s a way to fight against subscription fatigue. Price hikes, licensing battles, and storage issues can make music, films, TV shows - and even your own photos - inaccessible.  And sometimes without warning, your comfort watch might just vanish from all streaming platforms.

So what does agency look like for the modern consumer? And how has the expectation -- that you own what you pay for -- shifted so dramatically?

To answer that question, digital archivist K.D. Kemp and culture writer at The Cut, Cat Zhang, join the show to break down how physical media and buildable tech could empower us to envision a better future. 

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Will physical media take us back to the future?

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