Cover Songs

Cover Songs, Cover Songs (Back to School) 2018-2020, oil on canvas.

Teen culture reached its height in the 1980’s. Comedy in film was stemming from the influences of the late 1970’s. With television shows like Saturday Night Live, movies from directors like John Hughes, Harold Ramis, and John Landis as well as the birth of MTV, kids in the 1980’s had entertainment that was just for them. No other group of youth got to benefit so much from such a rich array of pop culture and music from previous decades.

For better or worse, the comedy films from the 1980’s shaped much of my character and sense of humor. Not being a teenager in the 80’s but having an older brother who was, I was introduced to teen culture early on. High school seemed magical to me as a kid. A place and time when I would discover everything about myself and experience everything life had to offer. As a boy I looked forward to this mysterious and liberating time very much.

These tv shows and films have a special place in pop culture. They bond those that appreciate them in a unique way. It is similar to the bond that siblings or childhood friends share. An inside joke that can be summed up with a goofy catch phrase.