COMMENTARY: Dr. Harding's Test

Or, how I learned to stop worrying and love the flashing lights.

There's been a lot of news this week about how the new Gnarls Barkley video "Run" has been "banned" by MTV due to something called the Harding Test.

Here's the deal...

Perhaps you remember all those stories from a few years back about kids going into seizures while watching Pokemon. That story was about as overblown as this one, but there is indeed a small chance (1 in 17,500 to be exact) of a child — especially one with epilepsy — experiencing a seizure due to photosensitivity.

The most notable effort to stem this problem in the U.S. was requiring video games to come with warnings about the epileptic risk. U.K. broadcasters have taken a stricter approach, requiring all televised content to be pre-screened to ensure that any flashing lights and repetitive patterns do not surpass certain thresholds that may make it more likely to induce seizures. The test most often used is called the HardingFPA Flash and Pattern Analyser.

Since many videos consist of flashing lights and patterns, it is not uncommon to have problems when submitting them to MTV UK and other English channels. The videos are not "banned," they just need to either be re-edited or have the strobe intensity toned down to pass this test. It's not a big deal, really.

So, the Gnarls Barkley video "Run" has not been "banned" by MTV or MTV UK. It did, however, reportedly fail a broadcast test that all UK channels run in order to minimize the chances of causing seizures among a very small percentage of viewers.

If you are a music video producer, here is what you need to know:

• If there is a chance the video will be on MTV UK, you should be somewhat cognizant that  excessive flashing lights and dizzying patterns may cause the video to fail the aforementioned Harding Test.
• If it does fail, you can either re-edit or do a color correction in order to minimize the intensity of the objectionable parts. (The Harding Test actually tells you the exact timecode and images that are in violation of the acceptable levels)

If you are a music video fan, here is what you need to know:

• Absolutely nothing. Sit back. Relax. Enjoy the pretty pictures and call a doctor if you start to feel funny.

If you are a manager or a publicist or a record executive, here is what you need to know:

• Applying the word "banned" and "MTV" is guaranteed news. So, the next time your video doesn't pass standards at MTV, don't just quietly re-edit. Leak out word that the video has been BANNED and watch the news and blog mentions roll in.