Daily Marauder

GET RETRO: BE KIND REWIND

As defined by Wikipedia, retro translates to “backwards” or “in past times”. This implies a focus on the past rather than movement towards the future. Defined by Marauder, I see the retro as being the missing link in understanding the future. In our rush to understand new platforms and new forms of consumption, we forget how relatively recent our methods of consumption were completely different. Understanding our past helps understand our blaze towards the future and just how fleeting all of this chit chat about new platforms could turn out to be in the future.

In the spirit of keepin’ it real, I am bringing it retro in a 3-part series inspired by the upcoming film Be Kind Rewind, in theatres February 22^nd .

Part 1: VHS Love

Here’s some things I had forgotten about the VHS tape of my youth:

• Failure to rewind fees at the video store. Who has the time to painfully sit idyll while the VHS tape whirs to the beginning?
• Accidental erasure. I’m betting we have all had one of those holy shit moments after realizing that we’ve erased Karen’s birthday party. Sorry Karen.
• Tape degradation. After playing Dream a Little Dream 50 times as a youngin’, the Coreys didn’t quite look their best. Don’t hate. You know you loved the Coreys. . .

Thinking about all of these slightly less than positive qualities almost brought a tear to my eye. Ah, memories. . . As further evidence to the negative connotations associated with VHS, I present to you the following:

The Ring Trailer

The Ring: a story about a video tape that haunts the viewer setting in motion a host of events leading to death. Yup, just a wee bit negative.

In antithesis to the negative, the movie Be Kind Rewind reminds us of our past in a way that leaves the viewer smiling rather than cringing. The movie, directed by Michel Gondry and starring Jack Black and Mos Def, takes a look at the anti-new media world. After all of the VHS tapes in a video store have become demagnetized (and therefore erased), the employees take about the task of re-creating the classics, including Ghostbusters and Transformers to name a few.

Be Kind Rewind Trailer

Here’s the quick history lesson on VHS:

1976

• The VHS tape, short for Video Home System, is introduced and competes with Betamax. Many now compare the Beta/VHS wars to the current rival battle of Blu-Ray and HD DVD.

1997

• The DVD is released.

2002

• DVD sales outpace VHS sales.

2005

• The last movie in VHS format is released in the US (History of Violence).

All this aside, the VHS still inhabits many homes from coast to coast. The technology isn’t dead as much as it’s on its way out. For more information on the evolution of the VCR, click on the image below.

In essence, keep it real kids and don’t get too caught up in the news of the now. Every day, there are more and more viewing options but linked throughout all of these new platforms is the desire that has been the case since before before: instant gratification. We have always wanted it now. The only difference is that we can finally get it immediately. Now, all I can demagnetize is my credit card. Awesome.

This post has been heavily inspired by an intriguing article from the Sunday NYT by Dennis Lim: Instant Nostalgia? Let’s Go to the Videotape.

Get ready to salivate. Part 2: the talk box. Can you dig? More retro action next week.