MTV's Video Music Awards Sunday night demonstrated just how far the music industry has fallen the last 20 years. At the same time, it showed a new level in trash entertainment, courtesy of the self-serving corporate megalomaniacs at the inaptly named MTV.
Allow me to begin with the night's most obvious display of disrespect towards any semi-cognitive person. Kanye West is truly and completely an affront to decent people everywhere. Did Peter O'Toole ever stand up at the Academy Awards after not winning an Oscar, despite a record eight winless nominations? No, and in case it is not apparent to everyone else, allow me to elaborate. He, among many others present Sunday night, has no class.
This is simply one example of how the youth market continues to fuel tabloid-mongering "entertainers" who hope to achieve some popular cult of personality. By doing something unorthodox and controversial, he reaffirmed his status. Sure, some of his fans may be disappointed or upset with his childish behavior, but they sure as hell will continue paying for his music. Honesty, it will probably improve his sales because people love controversy. But let us continue.
Whoever writes the monologues and jokes for this societal travesty surely deserves some form of medieval torture involving the removal of the hands of those responsible. Poor dialogue when mixed with entertainers whose primary "talent" does not involve acting yields painfully forced conversations that are excruciating to witness. Even the street-savvy Eminem was reduced to a stuttering little boy when onstage with Tracy Morgan.
MTV brings out the worst in humanity. This "Music Television" no longer incorporates any real music into its programming. Instead, it spews forth mind-numbing drivel that rots the brains of young adults everywhere. The Video Music Awards is the one time each year where MTV remembers, "Oops, we should probably do something music-related."
Nowhere is this more evident than the atrocities that make up their program list. The Real World is anything but real. No self-respecting person lives like that, I promise you. Rather than elaborate on these social mockeries, I will simply list the names of a few more shows that round out the lineup and let their titles speak for themselves: 16 and Pregnant, Teen Cribs, Engaged & Underage, Bully Beatdown and Disaster Date. Somebody please tell me what these shows have to do with music.
It would be naive to think all the blame rests solely on the shoulders of the corporate jabberwockies and jet-setting fat cats, but this is not the case. They have power because we give them power. These morally remiss villains must be held accountable for their crimes against humanity, and we have the power to set right these injustices if we can free ourselves from the tyrannical possession of the wicked and the corrupt.
