MGMT - Time to Pretend

What this video is

Released in 2008 as the lead single from MGMT's debut album Oracular Spectacular, 'Time to Pretend' arrived at a cultural inflection point when indie psychedelia was re-entering mainstream consciousness via blog culture and early social media sharing. The song's satirical deconstruction of rockstar excess—juxtaposed against the video's playful post-apocalyptic tribalism—resonated with a generation of…

Why it matters

A landmark in the neo-psychedelic indie-pop renaissance of the late 2000s, 'Time to Pretend' demonstrated that psychedelic aesthetics, synth-pop structure, and lo-fi DIY visuals could achieve mainstream chart impact without compromising experimental sensibility. The video's intentionally crude…

The director

American director, screenwriter, and founding member of the Court 13 filmmaking collective. Graduated from Wesleyan University in 2006 with a film degree. Directed music videos for MGMT, Chairlift, The Killers, Arcade Fire, and Solange. Served as Aurochs and…