This week millions of people will have tuned into Netflix and other streaming services to binge their favourite shows, including the (much-anticipated) second part of Bridgerton season three. Login or signup to continue reading Streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, Stan and Prime Video have habituated us to the "all at once" series drop. And even as some services try to find ways to break the binge model, many commentators have bid farewell to the "the good old days" of appointment viewing.
Meanwhile, experts have highlighted the health concerns associated with "problematic bingeing", including increased anxiety and depression. But there's an important detail missing in these conversations. And that is the fact bingeing - the act of unrestrained and excessive indulgence - is nothing new.
In fact, it exemplifies an age-old human desire to be completely immersed in story. Far from being a new behaviour spawned by the digital age, bingeing is rooted in human history. Much like you might binge Baby Reindeer , Eric or The Walking Dead today, humans have always sought absorbing narrative experiences.
Before writing emerged, ancient oral storytelling captivated people across cultures , providing entertainment, knowledge transmission and cultural education. Research published last year suggests Palawa Aboriginal stories from Tasmania can be traced back to events that happened 12,000 years ago, which means they may be among the oldest recorded oral stories in the world. Stories.