Max Headroom in Today's Media Environment

How would a short-lived remnant of 1980s pop culture -- and his alter ego -- fit in the current media landscape?

Max Headroom was an element of 1980s pop culture that had a brief stay. The character gained notoriety on MTV and Coca-Cola commercials (specifically, the "New Coke" campaign) but had his roots on British music video shows, before finding his way into a short-lived British television series titled "Max Headroom" that critiqued mass media.

The Headroom character was the computerized conscience of television reporter Edison Carter. As the plot went, Carter had a severe brain injury in a motorcycle crash and those pursuing him downloaded his memories onto a computer, then left Carter for dead.

But Carter survived and continued his pursuit for truth on Network 23, while his digitized alter ego found his way onto Network 23 and delivered his own pursuit for truth. The difference was that, while Carter tried to maintain a degree of professionalism (even as he would get angry and frustrated), Headroom had no qualms in telling people exactly what he thought.

In the 1980s, Carter would be compared to the reporter with the working-class background who was distrustful of those with power, while Headroom would be the brash personality who will say outrageous things that draw people's attention.

In today's environment, though, it's hard to imagine somebody like Carter getting a job at a major media network, given his willingness to challenge anyone in power. Though the storylines often showed him pushing back against corporate influence, his pushback might be more in line with how someone on the economic left might see things. Today, though, with many on the left embracing the culture war and even aligning themselves with corporations to push their views, it's fair to ask if Carter would have a job for long.

Meanwhile, Max Headroom would likely be described as a populist. He minces no words to get his point across, he shows no regard for decorum, and he is all too aware of his popularity on the air waves. Headroom is not the type who will engage in spin but tells you exactly what he thinks. In today's environment, some might call him a brasher version of Tucker Carlson.

Furthermore, the two sometimes found themselves at odds with one another, but in the end, they learned to come together to solve problems. In today's environment, though, it's not hard to see them coming together more often, given that both distrust people in power and raise questions about it, even as they go about in different ways.

I reviewed the show a few years ago on my author website and found that, while the show has aged in some respects, it still holds up in others. Technology, for example, has changed a lot since the show aired (for example, Carter lugs around a bulky camera on the show and an updated version would likely have him using a device resembling a smartphone). However, many of the themes are still relevant today.

The show predicted that a number of television networks would dominate the landscape — not far from how the media evolved into multiple cable news stations that have dominated our discourse for a period of time (though that is starting to change). Max Headroom's rise to prominence is similar to the rise of multiple personalities in the media landscape today.

Furthermore, many of the themes the show explored in its 14-episode run are still relevant today. Advertising, propaganda, access to personal information, logic versus emotion and determining what is truth are among the topics explored.

Over time, I'll be sharing my original reviews of the Max Headroom series on my Substack. I received the DVD set as a gift a few years ago and the set is still available to purchase. The show is also available to watch on Amazon or Vudu.

Again, while the series does show its age in certain aspects, much of the material holds up. And it does raise the question about the role of media today, particularly how many of those who dominate media are willing to pursue the truth, versus those who just want to toe the line.

But regardless of how Edison Carter and Max Headroom expressed themselves, I can't imagine either of them would be interested in toeing the line.