The effect of Netflix on shaping the modern canon

Check out this fascinating and thoughtful essay on "the Netflix effect." For most film school students today, films that aren't on Netflix Streaming service essentially cease to exist. Netflix thus shapes the canon of shows and movies that people are watching, from Breaking Bad (which is available on Netflix Streaming) to The Wire (which isn't).

I know that Netflix has really shaped my own viewing habits. It sounds terrible when you put it that plainly, but I have to agree: if something's not on Netflix Streaming, there is a 99.89% chance that I'm not watching it.

Image courtesy Flickr/rachellynnae