The Mix Tape: A Dying Art

As a companion to my last entry, which addressed the proper selection of Valentine's Day viewing material, I would like to address the related issue of the proper selection of a Valentine's gift. The gift that I have chosen to feature may not be just the ideal Valentine's gift; it may in fact be the ideal gift for any and every possible situation. What is this magical object? The answer is none other than the mix tape. First off, I want to clear up any confusion regarding the mix tape's ontological status. A mix CD is not the same as a mix tape. They might seem like functional equivalents, however, as anyone who considers themselves a master of the mix tape craft will tell you, significant differences exist. Remember your Marshall McLuhan, kids: the medium is the message. Burning CDs is a fast and loose kind of process. Sure, you select the tracks and choose the order in which they'll play, but it's all over in a matter of minutes, and you don't have to listen to a single song that you've picked for your giftee. Now, dubbing a mix tape takes time, patience, and dedication, as you must not only select the songs, but cue them up and listen to them from start to finish, in real time, while the recording process takes place. It is this latter stage that keeps the dedicated coming back to the art that time is rapidly forgetting. Unlike burning a CD, or (the unthinkable) making an iPod playlist for your loved ones, making a mix tape involves taking the time to experience the musical memories that you wish to share with them. Indeed, by the time the tape's finished, you may even find yourself writing heartfelt liner notes inspired by the mix tape crafting process. Hopefully a few artisans will keep the mix tape alive in years to come. I suppose the real question is, will anyone still be able to play them? Oh well. It's the thought that counts, right?