Revisiting the 80s with Kevin Smokler

Subjects covered

Kevin Smokler is an author and filmmaker. Kevin's documentary Vinyl Nation, is the study of the comeback of vinyl records in America over the last 12 years, the diversification of vinyl fans, and what it means for America in this divided time. Kevin explained that records have come back because we use music and its physical manifestation to seek human connection with others. When asked about the current state of some of the themes discussed his book, Brat Pack America, a Love Letter to 80s Teen Movies, Kevin explained that he was fascinated by how much pop culture from the 80s is a talking point for contemporary issues that are discussed more now than they were then, i.e., Molly Ringwald’s piece in The New Yorker about watching John Hughes in the era of #metoo. Kevin expressed his belief that it's important to submit things we grew up with (and might have loved) to a process of continual reexamination. Kevin is also the author of Practical Classics: 50 Reasons to Reread 50 Books You Haven’t Touched Since High School. Kevin shared some of the process of how the book came about and discussed what it means to designate a book as a classic. He also noted that the best books do two things: pull time forward and carry with them all of the children and grandchildren that they've birthed in the meantime.

Subjects covered

Kevin Smokler is an author and filmmaker. Kevin's documentary Vinyl Nation, is the study of the comeback of vinyl records in America over the last 12 years, the diversification of vinyl fans, and what it means for America in this divided time. Kevin explained that records have come back because we use music and its physical manifestation to seek human connection with others. When asked about the current state of some of the themes discussed his book, Brat Pack America, a Love Letter to 80s Teen Movies, Kevin explained that he was fascinated by how much pop culture from the 80s is a talking point for contemporary issues that are discussed more now than they were then, i.e., Molly Ringwald’s piece in The New Yorker about watching John Hughes in the era of #metoo. Kevin expressed his belief that it's important to submit things we grew up with (and might have loved) to a process of continual reexamination. Kevin is also the author of Practical Classics: 50 Reasons to Reread 50 Books You Haven’t Touched Since High School. Kevin shared some of the process of how the book came about and discussed what it means to designate a book as a classic. He also noted that the best books do two things: pull time forward and carry with them all of the children and grandchildren that they've birthed in the meantime.