Filler is all around us. It’s the ingredients in processed foods. It’s in our everyday speech in colloquial conversations. People find it in trash dumps and bottom of ocean shores. You see it in construction sites and littered parks. You watch it everyday when tuning into content on social media and digital platforms. Filler is ubiquitous.
Some opine that filler is needed to keep viewers tuning into media programs or when there’s a need to lighten up the mood in all kinds of scenarios. Filler has its place in our hyper-commercialized, technologically-evolving realities. It brings us in and keeps us attuned. Filler is what adds 100 pages to that bookstore novel just purchased. Filler is that extra 20 minutes to that television show that needs extra plots and twists for major and minor characters. Filler is story development oftentimes long extended. Filler is the additional space to fill in on 24-hour news networks.
Filler can be expensive and cheap. Filler can be disposed of as well as recycled. Filler can be deleted or saved. Filler has its place and yet can be removed. Filler fills up a lot of spaces in entertainment–music, TV, film, news, blogs and social media.
But just when does filler take away from potential? When does filler actually get in the way of progress and quality? How does filler stifle what could be in terms of greatness? Filler to fill in time for time sake is mediocre. Filler that is used as a disposable extra in creative work is underachieving. While subjective in its usage and utility, filler in many ways is–as objective in empirical analysis and social outlooks. Filler is meant to stretch time. Advertisers would love to add filler if it means not turning viewers away. Filler in the media world is to meant to keep the viewer engaged on branded content.
Creatives seeking their voice for expression need to stave off filler no matter how easily it can move in the creative process. Content creators turning out daily and weekly content for viable platforms for new and growing audiences should be discouraged from filler in all it’s temptations to be added. Artists should red flag filler at every corner, in every disguise.
Filler can come with a price tag. The price tag for relevant audiences which, in turn, accrues profit. The price tag for relevancy in movements, trends, and new tendencies. The price tag for sacrifice in order to reach greatness and the spectacular.
Filler do we want it? Filler do we need it? It keeps us glued and tuned in. It won't let us leave our couch. It plugs us on our phones. What would the world look like without filler? Perhaps, a bit more concise and to the point. Places and societies without any BS. A world of honesty, integrity and passion. Be weary of filler Be mindful of the effects of filler Be conscious to the reality of filler Be on the lookout for filler in its many forms Be one without filler Give no excuse for filler