Discussion Why do you consume sad art/media while also experiencing feelings of sadness?

[DaisiesRegrets]

Just a general question which I wanted to ask, something which I always found to be interesting and correlates with a paper I'm writing for one of my psychology classes. But generally for a lot of people, when we display feelings of sadness, we tend to consume media which would also generally be considered sad/depressing. I was just curious what everyone's reasoning is for why they do this, for me personally it's sort of a comfort thing. It's nice to know that there are other human beings which are also feeling as shit as I do. Another reason is also simply that some art says exactly what I'm thinking much better than what I could ever put into words. So with this being said, what are some of your reasons?

 

[Asahina]

I like sad media because its relatable and makes me feel less alone.

I know people who have lived far worse lives than me and was often told growing up that my emotions are invalid because I haven't suffered enough, and while objectively true, for some reason I feel like I'm always masking emotion while feeling empty and tired of life inside. Depressing media allows me to feel and relate with those dark feelings while happy media feels like ignoring the problem and keeping the mask on. At least when I'm enjoying media alone, or making music, I want to be able to put down the mask and be my unfiltered self.

 

[Hibiki]

i wouldn't say i tend to consume more negative, depressing media than happier media, but what i've noticed lately is that i can't really enjoy happier media as much as i used to; i find myself feeling envious and wishing i could have what the characters, narrator, etc. have. i guess that nowadays, positive media is a painful reminder of what i don't have, so i don't really have a choice but to consume other things

 

[Forever Sleep]

It's an interesting question. There are some films/ series I will only watch when I'm in a certain mood. Because, they are kind of devastating in a way. Requiem for a Dream, The Whale and, to a lessor extent, the HBO series, Chernobyl.

Even some endings in films, I can't stand to watch sometimes. Emotional deaths and especially mothers dying (mine did,) I don't always feel up to handling.

I think it's a mixture of reasons. I already know those films/ series are sad or disturbing so- I'll tend to need to be in a particularly sad mood to watch them again. A kind of- it can't get any worse type of thing.

Also- maybe for their cathartic effect- to kind of wring those emotions fully out sometimes. I'll do it with songs too- if I need a quick cry. Some songs are almost guaranteed to produce tears. So- I suppose it's a tool to get those emotions well and truly out and expressed.

I also have other things on in the background to oddly reassure me of my life choices. I have a fascination with true crime, which probably isn't all that healthy. But, I suppose in some regards, it makes me relieved my life isn't that bad. Or, that I didn't make the decisions that could have lead it to being that bad. Not to say all relationships are abusive but, hearing about some of the things that go on makes me pleased I'm single!

I watched some psychologist or something being interviewed about our fascination with true crime the other day. He was saying it's predominantly women who are interested. And he proposed that in part, we use it for educational purposes. We are trying to learn how not to become victims ourselves. I think there's truth in that.