As noted earlier this year, I’m keeping a media diary for 2016. These are my July findings:

• In July, I rated 16 films, 2 books, 2 plays, 8 seasons of television, and 11 albums.
• The average rating (out of 5) is 3.51, which is above average.
• By medium, TV (3.69) has the highest rating.
• The best of the month:
  • Film: The Looking Movie
  • Book: “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde
  • Music: “Blisters in the Pit of My Heart” by Martha
  • TV: Bojack Horseman, Season 3
  • Play: A Breakup is Swift

I’m surprised the ratings for July are so high. I gave my first zero-rating of the year (Hillary’s America, reviewed here). I saw some bad plays, and neither book I read left a strong impression. Still, there were several high-quality albums, films, and TV seasons that kept averages high. The lesson, I suppose, is not to let that the dregs are not enough to keep me down.

Year to date totals:

• 106 films, 19 books, 44 seasons of television, 73 albums, and 7 plays
• Total average: 3.46
• Averages by medium:
  • Films: 3.34
  • Books 3.38
  • Music: 3.51
  • TV: 3.66
  • Theater: 3.86