Simultaneously, the MTV era has brought unexpected side effects.

Joe and his colleagues have been retooled for the MTV era, too: slick hair styles, chic sunglasses and acid-washed denim jackets.

At the Academy, he was apparently trying to update himself for the MTV era, and getting about as contemporary as 1990.

In our MTV era, many kids get more information from images than words.

They wouldn't have needed any coaching for the MTV era, although back in the 1960's, performers allowed themselves to be seen sweating.

Growing up in the MTV era, Larsen was fascinated by music from a very early age, and he began taking piano lessons at the age of five.

"We just want to get into the MTV era," said Mike Tranghese, the conference commissioner.

CBS even produced a music video for "Sweetheart Like You," Dylan's first in the MTV era.

The band became icons of the 1980s MTV era and have had widespread commercial success.

The MTV era has also brought a new kind of artifact that straddles reality and fantasy: video props and costumes, objects made solely for image-building.