a generation defined

News flashed last night that Director John Hughes died of a heart attack at the age of 59 in New York City. The first thought that came to my mind was how much of his films had influenced and 'defined' me growing up the 80's and 90's. He validated the teenage angst in me and amongst a generation of teenagers. He's the first and only director, in my opinion who created a genre that gave voice and legitimacy to the lives and worlds of young people. Most of all, he defined 'teenage angst' on the big screen and made us understand the developmental and fundamental belief of who we are. A partial list of his films included:

Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Pretty in Pink
The Breakfast Club (my favorite!)
Weird Science
Home Alone
Vacation
and many more....

Below is a clip from MTV about John Hughes:


Also, I read this morning on the Associated Press that says, 'so there's nothing wrong with wallowing in some unabashed '80s nostalgia upon the passing of John Hughes. As Ferris Bueller himself might have said at a time like this, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." That quote never left me after all these years and for so many teenagers of my generation.

This is the song from 'The Breakfas Club' which is a classic hit and one of the first songs I loaded on my ipod. Everything about this song is nostalgic. Rest in Peace John Hughes and thank you for your gifts.