Surrealism: David Bowie’s Young Americans

Alllll night, she wants the Young Americans

Young Americans, young Americans, she wants the young Americans

This is a new series I am working on. I call it David Bowie’s Young Americans. Bowie is one of my all time favorite musicians. I had the vision of this painting while tripping and listening to Young Americans. Thats how it got the title.

So far I have done this image in watercolor and as an oil painting. I may adapt the same idea into other media if the inspiration strikes. Maybe I can work it into a comic, who knows?

David Bowie’s Young Americans 2, Oil on canvas, 30″x15″

Do you remember, your president Nixon?

Do you remember, the bills you have to pay, or even yesterday?

I think of the song Young Americans as a darkly cynical take on the shallowness and falsely upbeat fake success of American life. The song’s characters are acting out the roles that America provides to them while desperately struggling for a glimpse of some larger meaning. The genius of the song is in the contrast between the upbeat sound and the cynical lyrics.

People want to know: what does this painting mean? You can interperet the piece however you want. All art is open to multiple interpretations. Here are my personal thoughts:

Its a metaphor for life in the social media age. We present an idealized view of ourselves, while filtering out the imput from the outside world. Devices provide a comforting, but ultimately unsatisfying simulation of a social life. All the while we desperately try to maintain forward momentum in jobs and relationships to give ourselves the illusion of progress. Ultimately, we become fake shell people, never exposing our true interior selves to the harsh reality of real life. It’s easier to be fake than it is to expose yourself to the possibility of social exclusion.

Still with me? I may have gone off the rails there. Keep it together Samwise.

Whether you love social media or hate it, it’s here to stay. The point of this painting is clear. It’s just saying, you should probably follow SCLeccentric on Instagram 😄😄

Thanks for reading,

Sam