“The Hunger Games’ central protagonist, along with the likes of Harry Potter, Sookie Stackhouse, and Isabella Swan, have heated a market demographic to the degree that young-adult-fiction (YA) is a force driving the publishing industry. Based on their bottom line figures, it is hard to believe teens were once an underserved audience. Furthermore, in going from page to screen, YA has transcended the word to become image, exponentially increasing its market share within popular culture… No less pluralist than literature in general, YA encompasses a variety of genres that in addition to romance includes horror, fantasy and science fiction. With an expanding readership, publishers more than welcomed various permutations of its genres. Under these circumstances, the hybrid Teen Paranormal Romance practically served itself up.”

– Hamza Walker, Spells Like Teen Spirit

Within popular culture, expression given to adolescent drives has only intensified as the genre of teen romance has been distilled and repackaged as teen paranormal romance. This exhibition sampled artistic production in the wake of a zeitgeist that has rendered the unconscious a derelict playground home to weeds of surrealism.

Teen Paranormal Romance was first presented from March 9–April 13, 2014 at The Renaissance Society, an independent, non-collecting museum of contemporary art located on the campus of the University of Chicago. Founded in 1915 to encourage a greater understanding of culture—in the broad sense of the term “renaissance”—they present exhibitions, public programs, and publications that advance the ideas and expressions of our time.

This exhibition is organized by The Renaissance Society at The University of Chicago.

Tour Schedule:

The Renaissance Society, Chicago
March 9 – April 13, 2014
Curator: Hamza Walker

Atlanta Contemporary Art Center
October 25, 2014 – January 17, 2015
Organizing curator: Rachel Reese

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara
April 19 – July 5, 2015
Organizing curator: Brooke Kellaway