GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL 2020 - I Want My MTV
GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL 2020
Directed by Tyler Measom (known for An Honest Liar) and Patrick Waldrop, I want my MTV (a.k.a. Biography: I want my MTV) is a conventional and formally risk-averse ‘info dump’ documentary about the genesis of the world’s foremost music television channel that seems geared to accomplish one or both of the following: to send its middle-aged viewership on a nostalgia trip back to their salad days and/or introduce today’s youth to an utterly outlandish cultural phenomenon that involved sitting in front of a TV at strictly prescribed times to watch music videos over which the viewer had absolutely no control whatsoever.
In fact, the sole notion of adorning the experience of rock radio with a visual component, which inadvertently compels the listener to pay attention to the screen — thus removing any possibility of using it as background noise to perform other tasks with — may be just as alien to contemporary teenagers as the idea of using an old-fashioned rotary phone. Hence, the simple fact that technology has gone so far in such a short span of time is a good enough reason for this movie to exist, just as it may be fundamentally interesting to learn about how the invention of the telephone evolved over time into a pocket-sized computer with access to the world’s entire body of knowledge and historical records.
The filmmakers seemed perfectly aware that the detailed history of MTV may be obscure to some people, which prompted them to assume an overwhelmingly educational tone. Although a subsection of the viewership — for whom MTV is associated with memories of their formative years — might be somewhat opposed to the idea of being lectured about a subject matter to which they have a strong personal bond, Measom and Waldrop’s extremely wide access to many key figures, such as the founders, producers, VJs and artists may be enough to win them over and give the film some much needed credibility.
While its formulaic structure of editing together talking head interviews archival footage to the tune of 80s hits is nothing to write home about, the sheer parade of names and faces all piling onto the figurative bonfire of reverential praise is what ultimately saves this movie. This is not an experimental piece of filmmaking one should watch for its artistry and craft, but a hybrid between a trip down memory lane and an entertaining and easily accessible video essay cobbled together by people who grew up co-parented by MTV and wanted its legacy to be celebrated.
However, as a by-product of its fundamental deference to the somewhat legendary status of its subject matter, I want my MTV, lacks an angle. Due to its structure and mission statement, it is difficult to see this movie as a story with an arc — much like one should not expect a Wikipedia article to have a three-act narrative. Only towards the end do the filmmakers dare to make some brief observations about MTV’s cultural legacy, which includes remarking on the channels transition from a radio-on-the-TV operation towards embracing reality TV, involving its audience in the programming and also perhaps succumbing to the capitalist pursuit of ratings and sustainable growth. Next to recounting the historical facts of the utterly bizarre process through which MTV came to exist in the first place, this could have been the most interesting aspect of the film, as it wouldn’t take much mental gymnastics to connect the evolutionary dots between MTV becoming a beacon for the youth of its time, the emergence of reality TV and user-created content, which has come to define the pop-cultural experience of today. Sadly, the credits roll before the filmmakers can formulate any statements the viewer could take home to reflect upon.
In the end, the near complete focus on accessibility of I want my MTV may come at a price of its short retention time within the current cultural consciousness. Its aspirations are confined to capitalising on nostalgia and providing formulaic entertainment as opposed to having a thesis that’s compelling or provocative enough to facilitate a discussion afterwards. Although the educational values and access to a vast body of interviewees are enough for it to look competent, I want my MTV just doesn’t have a voice of its own which could make it stand out from the crowd. It’s entertaining, but almost completely disposable.
