Take The Money From The Hippy

It’s my contention that artists born in New England from the late 70s to the early 80s exhibit a distinctive comic aesthetic. At once the tongue is stuck in-cheek and out of the mouth. Sarcasm is combined with seriousness in various proportions, as is silliness with surrealism. (Note: no study has brought me to this conclusion. I rely on my own infallible intuition as Massachusetts resident of the same generation.)

In an earlier post I wrote about Carson Cistulli, a New Hampshire native of this age, generation, and aesthetic. This week I’m highlighting video artists Sean O’Keefe (MA) and Dave Pereira (CT). Take a YouTube look at the pair’s approximation of a late night advertisement for a ringtone, “Kiss the Cat,” starring Portuguese rapper Lil’ Face.

One detects the trademark Northeastern sarcasm in the parody–but, well, what do you think about Young Bananas? It’s that turn in the video–from front seat to backseat, from parody to bananas that I’m drawn to. And underneath it all, the ringtone sounds its nonsensical and catchy imperative: “Kiss the cat–take the money from the hippy. Kiss the cat–don’t be scared of the hippy.”

Now, take a minute and watch Fight in the Woods, a short film also by Pereira and O’Keefe.

Again, a parody–this time of an adventure romance. Classic Rick, hero, kills the bad guys and gets the girl. But as with “Kiss the Cat,” the comedy takes illogical turns. When the incredulous Cathy asks Rick if he’s killed people, he is evasive at first, but then, inexplicably, direct: “Let’s just say I’ve been in a lot of fights“and I’ve killed lots of kids.” The incongruity of the two statements is key, as it adds an absurdity to the humor.