Look what they've done to my song, Ma...

MTV. It seems that at first mention of it the only thing that most people I know can say is to copmplain that they "don't play music videos anymore". First of all, if they want to see the videos they might want to change their schedule. I have seen videos on MTV, just not in prime time. Besides, if you want to see videos, there are other channels that show them. MTV has simply evolved to the demands of their market, or maybe devolved.

My issue with MTV is less superficial. I believe MTV has done more harm to music as a whole than any other influence in our society. Before MTV, the music was the product. It didn't matter the appearance of the artist so much as their talent. Not so today. With the music video came the artist as an image. Style now comes before substance.

It didn't start this way. The early videos were commercials for the music. They starred existing artists and were built around the music. Some of those videos were very creative. Some were basically short films with an artistic value all their own, still with the music at heart.

Soon, however, the 'artist' became the commodity. The video producers and performers became lazy and just started showing concert footage. Eventually the stars became more interested in the image they were putting out. Why are gold teeth, 22 inch wheels and pants virtually falling down with every step popular? It certainly isn't due to convenience or any functional value. It is simple idol worship.

Way back when, when I was is high school, the only people who tried to emulate the styles of their favorite musicians were the punk rock fans. How ironic that the kids who would claim to favor anarchy and individuality were the most eager conformists. Especially since they would be rallying against just that.

Sure there were some bad trends in those days coming from popular artists. There were some of the girls who dressed in the style of Madonna. I don't recall anyone dressing like Devo or Huey Lewis though. Worse, not only the clothing is copied but the kids try to emulate the attitudes they see on the videos. I see it in the younger guys in the workplace. One would hope that by the time a man is in his twenties he might grow up a little,but I know a few who are well into their second decade and are still trying to pull off the Hip-Hop thug persona. Do they hope to ever gain any real respect from anyone other than their thug buddies?

There are still a few true artists still out there producing but the industry has gotten lazy. Why go out looking for talent when it is easier to just pick up some kid off the street and throw together some standard loops, steal some samples and sell it as a hit. It is a shame really. I have seen many very talented bands struggle and fail to get a contract. They had something to say and some real musical talent but couldn't get a foot in the door.

It isn't just the recording industry doing this either. MTV moved on to destroying the quality of TV programming when they came up with the Real World series. No writing, no actors, low production costs (and corresponding production value). The networks soon discovered how lucrative it was to throw some of this schlock together to fill airtime. They are just soap operas without a plot.

The major studios are just as lazy. They have become addicted to remakes of old movies, old TV shows and making movies from comic books and even old cartoons. "Rocky and Bullwinkle" and Dudley Doright" were entertaining shows for kids but didn't translate well to live action silver screen events. Hollywood is simply running out of ideas. Some of the superhero films work well because they have a well-developed story line.

Maybe the worst thing to come out of all of this is itself an old story being retold. As long as there have been sports, especially professional sports, there have been idols. Fans around the world live vicariously through them, somehow feeling their lives enriched by their team or athlete winning a big contest. It seems odd to hear an unfit middle-ager say "We're going to the Superbowl!" What position was HE playing? A lot of people seem to get into the reality tv shows with a similar zeal.

I am certainly guilty of this to some degree. I definitely watch too much TV. I don't really get much out of it other than as a siple diversion. Maybe that is why I find it less and less interesting as time goes on. I really need to find the off switch....

ME