Media & Tech: Cars (The Movie)

Look who’s back — back again. Today, I am here to “Write about a film, book, game, or TV show that has stayed with [me].”

The DVD currently resides in a bookshelf, where it enjoys the company of some 20-40 DVD roommates. It has long been a member of the MacArthur family, and its presence is at the very least mentally acknowledged when browsing through the many other DVDs on the DVD shelf.

I decided to investigate why the Cars DVD is on my bookshelf. When conducting interviews, I asked ChatGPT what it thought of the cars DVD. This was its response:

The presence of the “Cars” DVD on your family bookshelf for an extended period of time could be due to several reasons:

1. Nostalgia: “Cars” is a popular animated film produced by Disney and Pixar, and it may hold sentimental value for your family. You might keep it as a memento of a particular time or fond memories associated with watching the movie
2. Forgotten: Sometimes, DVDs end up on bookshelves and are simply forgotten about. If it’s been there for a while, it’s possible that no one in your family has thought to use or move it.
3. Lack of Interest: It’s also possible that nobody in your family has had a strong desire to watch the movie recently. People’s entertainment preferences can change over time, and if “Cars” is not a favorite or hasn’t been requested, it may remain untouched.
4. Streaming Services: Many families have transitioned to streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, etc., for their movie-watching needs. With the convenience of streaming, physical DVDs might be less frequently used.
5. Collectors’ Item: Some people collect DVDs as a hobby or for their aesthetic value. “Cars” might be part of a larger collection, or your family might simply enjoy having a physical copy of the movie.

ChatGPT

Out of these suggestions, I find explanation 5 to be the most likely. Our house may not be adorned with any other Cars memorabilia, but it sure seems important. We’ve had it for so long, after all! Then I asked Angelica for her thoughts, and she said something that changed my mind completely:

Y’know, the name can be quite deceiving: Despite it being called Cars, it’s not a car: You can’t drive it. Take my word for it.

Angelica

This completely changed how I think about the Cars DVD. We have it not because it is some worthwhile possession; rather, it is confined there on the DVD bookshelf as punishment. We have clearly been lied to and wronged too many times to count by the deceiving nature of Cars. And that’s when I realized: Why isn’t it in a cage? Why is this most-punished possession surrounded by so many innocent DVDs? Why would anyone do such a kind deed for the cruelest foe of all? No… No, it can’t be…

The DVD isn’t caged because it cannot be contained. Do you have any idea how expensive it would be to contain a car in a metal cage? Far too expensive. We haven’t watched the movie in years, either, so it makes perfect sense that hiding it among the innocent would be the best fate possible for all parties: A threat that cannot be contained must instead be kept placated.

You know, all things considered, I think it’s [A FANTASTIC THING] that the Cars DVD is still inside my house. [I FEEL SAFE], and honestly [HAVE NEVER FELT BETTER]. I think I will [KEEP WATCHING THE CARS DVD]. Have a great day!