Make up your mind MuchMusic

So I was watching MuchMusic today and saw an ad encouraging people to consume media critically. It would show half naked video ho-girls and then say "Sexy or sexist" and show 50 all blinged out and say "Success or excess" and all this stuff and then had some catchy phrases about thinking about what you watch. Which is nice in theory and all but come on. This shit is all MM shows. If they are going to acknowledge that it needs to be consumed mindfully because it's full of harmful messaging, stereotypes, and degrading imagery then they are basically saying "We are purveyors of damaging shit." They're better off not saying anything, IMO.

And sure, you could argue that it is not MM's fault that video content is what it is. And I would give you that. Except that when they choose their own programming, they still choose damaging shit. Case in point: the year end reviews included a MM special on their list of the most "do-able" girls of 2005. Not the most powerful women in music, not the women who received the most buzz, not the women who dominated the charts (deservedly so or not). No, they chose to name the show "Women who we would most like to fuck, 2005" (slight paraphrase). So they can just put away there little public messaging because its hypocritical bullshit. Just like the tobacco companies who spend millions on campaigns designed to keep children from smoking but the campaigns are so lame and lackluster that all they do is reinforce that not smoking is lame. It seems like they are doing one thing but they are actually doing another. Or like McDonald's selling salads. It seems like they have healthy options (but really who goes to McDonald's for salad?) but then when you actually eat one, it's like chewing on cardboard and vegetables so preserved as to be unrecognizable. Which makes the fries seem that much better.

So boooooo on you MuchMusic. Keep Video on Trial because it makes me laugh but get rid of your stupid metacommunications about media consumption. Admit what you are, cry freedom of speech, and artistic freedom as justification, and stop pretending you're selling deconstructionalist brilliance when you're selling lowest common denominator garbage. Except for Kardinal's latest. I like that video.