The people around Bob Dylan have released what appears to be the official music video of his classic song “Like a Rolling Stone.” It’s a pretty neat technical feat and we here at Butter love interactive videos and have even posted about them before.
However I can’t help but feel grumpy about it. Here is why I’m grumpy:
Ultimately what are they trying to accomplish? The attempt at an artistic statement is made in this way: “I’m using the medium of television to look back right at us… you’re flipping yourself to death with switching channels [in real life].”
Seems cheesy enough and entirely original… sure but it seems they missed even that cheap shot at our for good-or-ill saturated pop-culture. Interlude’s final product implies that our televised mosaic is something to indulge in, not mediate. The participation of Pawn Stars, The Price is Right, and Property Brothers wouldn’t be the case if it was about moderation! These throwaway shows are built entirely around a production philosophy that encourages easily and voraciously consumed packets of disposable viewings.
Do I believe “Like a Rolling Stone” deserves better? Not really, I’ll love the song no matter what. Do I believe that we deserve better. Yes.