On Judging Books (and Other Media) by their cover

Yesterday, I watched a movie called "I Want Your Sex" from director Gregg Araki. I thoroughly enjoyed it and thought its discussion on Gen Z’s attitudes towards sex was interesting (although, maybe a bit misinformed). While watching, though, I had an epiphany. Well, epiphany might be too strong a word, it was more like I had come to a realization: I wasn’t bored. On the surface, that really isn’t profound, but I think there’s some context I need to give.

See, a few days earlier I had tried to watch the movie "12 Monkeys" from director… Well, I don’t know who directed it, and, frankly, I don’t care. What’s important is that I tried watching it. Emphasis on the word tried because I couldn’t finish it. In fact, I fell asleep within the first 10 minutes of watching it. This reinforced something that I noticed about myself a long time ago; I tend to judge books by their cover. Like, all the time. 

You see, when "12 Monkeys" came up on the random movie picker I use, and I saw the poster, I already had a gut feeling that I wouldn’t like it. And, well, I didn’t really like it. When I saw the movie poster for "I Want Your Sex", I already had a feeling that I would enjoy it. And I did! 

I think I first realized that I do this right after I had finished the book "Infinity Son" by Adam Silvera. I remember purchasing the book specifically because I thought that the cover looked interesting. I enjoyed the book and after I finished reading it I decided to rate it on one of those book-logging apps. When I searched it up, the app used the book’s previous cover as its image. I remember seeing the old cover and thinking to myself, “Yeah, I would not have given this book a chance if it had that cover.” 

Although I had that experience, which really should have taught me to not judge books and other media solely on their covers, I can’t help but to continue doing it because I’m just so good at it. For most of the media I consume, I decide whether its worth my time from mainly the cover, and for most media that I consume, I end up really enjoying it!

And why should I stop? Isn’t the whole point of the cover to be the thing that captures your eye? It’s supposed to tell you something intriguing about the piece before you’ve even consumed it. I guess what I’m saying is that the whole point of a cover is for you to judge it. It’s supposed to get you interested so that you’ll want to know more. And so, in a way, I’m actually showing honor to book covers, movie posters, and tv show thumbnails by judging them first. 

Yeah, I like this conclusion.