When we had nights out, we Instagrammed our cocktails and our mates. When we had holidays, we posted pictures of our toes in the sand and the views from our balconies. And now that we’re all staying home by law... well, we’re sharing pictures of the telly. What else is there to look at?
Yes, social media is awash with snaps that capture what we’re watching. A couple of years ago it wouldn’t have occurred to us to document this low-key moment but, frankly, it’s now all we’ve got. Not only that, but lots of Instagrammers are giving it an aspirational twist by styling up their living rooms, bedsides and bath tubs to provide the perfect backdrop to their viewing: let’s call it ‘culturescaping’.
A laptop showing Emily In Paris might be snapped next to a plate of macarons and an espresso, for example, or The Queen’s Gambit photographed with a vodka and a chessboard; consider these matchy-matchy culturescapes, themed from top to bottom.
But it doesn’t have to be quite so premeditated; if you’ve ever posted a freeze-frame of The Crown, with your fluffy slippers and a glass of wine in the foreground, you’re more of a casual culturescaper. If you’ve propped your iPad on a bath tray alongside an espresso martini, and taken a quick photo before settling in to watch A Teacher – you’re a reckless culturescaper. And if you’re sharing a shot of Bridgerton alongside cashmere socks, artfully arranged flowers and a £48 candle – well, you might be a basic culturescaper, but Grazia isn’t here to judge.
Though at first glance it might seem a bit silly, there’s more to these posts than meets the eye. Why are we sharing our viewing set-up? Because TV is what we all have in common – it’s a way to invite conversation and connect our own lives with everyone else’s, without leaving our four walls. ‘We need more shared experiences, because that’s what we’re used to,’ points out clinical psychologist Linda Blair. ‘Normally, we share a commute, a school run, we meet people on the grocery shop! All these things, which we never realised made such a difference, are in fact paramount. And TV offers a shared experience.’
This craving might explain the success of Strictly in 2020 – the final attracted more than 13 million of us, making it the most watched in eight years, possibly because we drew comfort from enjoying something as a nation. The clap for carers had a similar impact, says Linda: ‘How uplifting it is to see people doing the same thing as you! We feel so alone in this pandemic, and we need to feel united.’
Beyond that, our culturescapes reflect much-needed self-care – all those bubble baths, herbal teas, scented candles and TV shows are no doubt doing us good during an otherwise difficult time. Linda thinks the cosy pics reflect our urge to care, too ‘We want to nurture other people, and we can’t right now. I think what we’re trying to say with these pictures is, “I hope you like this – I hope this will help you.” It’s an outpouring of generosity.’
A final tip, for culturescaping? For the sake of our sanity, don’t post a snapshot of the news.