Being a physical media nerd isn’t without its challenges. On the one hand, science is on our side. There are genuine, research-backed reasons to believe that physical media promotes greater engagement with a piece of content than streaming and digital downloads allow for.

On the other hand, if you try to explain to someone why they should ditch streaming and (re)embrace discs, records, and paper books like some kind of Luddite, you run the risk of sounding more than a little pretentious.

For example, one of the main benefits we physical media enthusiasts cite when arguing that movies should be watched on discs, books should be read on paper, and Spotify will never hold a candle to the warmth (pun mildly intended) of vinyl, is that physical media allows us to indulge in a ritual that makes the content we’re enjoying that much more… well, enjoyable.

The uninitiated might have some reason to scoff at this. However, that’s only because physical media fans take the ritual for granted. In fact, we do so to such a degree that even we forget to step back and think about what the ritual involves and how it contributes to our overall experience of a piece of media.

The ritual is very real. Although the specifics vary depending on whether you’re watching a movie, listening to music, or reading a book, when it’s broken down for you, it becomes impossible to deny that this element represents one of physical media’s key strengths.

Selecting and playing a piece of content involves deliberate steps

The physical media ritual can force you to slow down and engage with content

The ritual that we physical media fans like to talk about so much begins with the process of picking out a piece of content. On a streaming service or similar digital platform, this experience is almost indistinguishable from doomscrolling. With physical media, it involves browsing through actual, tangible items that you’ve perhaps arranged and displayed according to your own tastes.

This can already yield major benefits. For example, this type of browsing may cause you to pay more attention to the cover art than you normally would. Thus, you’re already having a more artistically rewarding and enriching experience. In addition, research shows that merely handling a piece of content physically can increase feelings of ownership and connection to a piece of media.

Once you’ve chosen something, the process of inserting it into a device that plays it can involve more steps than simply clicking on a streaming title. This deliberate process may cause you to slow down and actually focus on what you’re about to consume.

Consider the way a restaurant’s ambiance affects the overall quality of the meal. Everything from the lighting to the music may be designed to induce a state of appreciation that can influence your entire experience.

The same principle applies to consuming media. By consuming in a methodical, considered way, you might have a more pleasant experience.

The ritual of physical media involves actually experiencing content

Physical media’s ritual aspect can lead to greater focus

The ritual element of enjoying a piece of physical media doesn’t just involve the steps you take as you prepare to watch a movie, or sit down with a book, or relax while your favorite vinyl record plays. The ritual continues throughout the actual experience of consuming the media.

One of the issues with consuming content via streaming platforms is that it becomes abundantly easy to abandon a piece of content once it gets boring. Even if you don’t fully abandon what you’re watching or listening to, because there was no deliberate process involved in selecting it, you may be more inclined to waste time on your phone, only half-paying attention to what you’re supposedly enjoying.

This highlights another strength of physical media. The ritual aspect of it forces you to commit to what you’re choosing to devote your attention to. This means you may be more likely to finish the content you start, and more likely to actually focus on it.

The ritual can end with discussion

Physical media promotes reflecting on what you consumed

The ritual of engaging with a piece of content via a physical media format can extend even after the content is technically over. By making a point of choosing content intentionally and consuming it in a physical, mental, and emotional setting that promotes true engagement, you’re also setting yourself up to reflect on the content when you’re done with it. If you’re watching movies or listening to music with family or friends, this can involve direct discussion. If you’re reading, it might simply involve taking some time to think about what you’ve read. In either case, the result is likely to be a greater and deeper appreciation for the content you just experienced.

And it’s also worth noting that all this is essentially an oversimplification. The ritual process that physical media facilitates can be much more nuanced. Again, how it plays out can also depend somewhat on the exact physical format you’re working with. Regardless, the essential point is that the “ritual” isn’t a pretentious lie, but rather an inherent aspect of physical media that streaming services can’t deliver on.