Total Entertainment Forever

Where we’re headed according to a nihilist.

Father John Misty used to annoy me. If you listen to his albums you’ll likely feel some existential dread and like a failure for things like taking out student loans, going to church or being in a relationship.

Then I realized J. Tillman’s cynicism is pretty accurate a lot of the time. Not always. I don’t want to be a cynic, because, what’s the point? However, the part of me that used to reject FJM’s lyrical disdain for almost everything now thinks, “Huh, that makes sense.”

Like the Dude said to Walter in The Big Lebowski, “You’re not wrong, Walter. You’re just an asshole.” And I think the character, Father John Misty, is an asshole. But he’s not wrong.

The song, “Total Entertainment Forever,” is a sad, dramatic reflection on society that begins with digital coitus (the physical act of making love, except via Oculus Rift) with Taylor Swift and ends with frozen smiles on dead faces. Entertainment at the expense of life itself. It’s a really depressing and really catchy jam.

I hate thinking about what technology is doing to us. I remember when AOL was the thing, like IN THE BEGINNING. I used to stick a CD into the drive and hear the weird connection sounds and then go into chat rooms with my friend, Ben. We were in 5th grade and would say outrageous…