The CW broadcasts Gossip Girl every Monday night at 7:00 and I have to admit that I’m addicted. This show focuses on the lives of “Manhattan’s elite” as they are referred to. These are the roughly twenty year-olds living on the Upper East Side in penthouses and occasionally showing up to class at one of the Ivies. The culture demonstrated is so foreign to me that the show is extremely fascinating. They are people with privileges that I cannot even imagine. The reality that they live in exists for almost no one-if anyone; this is part of the draw to the program. Signs of this can be seen everywhere, even within a single episode. They are above any rule- they are frequently shown sitting at a bar ordering a drink even in the early episodes where they were juniors in high school. Should they ever be caught for anything they did, their parents will of course pay some one off so that it will all disappear. No, these kids do not get cars that cost as much as my house on their sixteenth birthdays. In fact, they do not even get their driver’s licenses. Instead they have limos with drivers who are at their service whenever they could need them. While many of their parents barely ever go to work, they have personal housekeepers, one of which frequently accompanies her while she shops. God forbid she would have to hold her own bag. The subjects of this culture closely follow the stereotype of entitled east coast kids, making it impossible to not recognize their wealth and position. They are well dressed, never repeat an outfit, and may hold a job for a single episode- not for the money, simply to occupy their time.
The cultural work of this show is to remind us that we do not live this life. This is the life that we should all desire and when watching the show we are asked to simply sit in awe of what could never be for us. My body’s reaction to the show, sadly, is just that. While yes, I enjoy my own life and am grateful for what I have; it is easy to get swept up in this alternate reality. These characters may not be real and I do not really know whether this show is an accurate portrayal of the lives of rich New Yorkers, but in some way I believe that everyone secretly- or not so secretly- lusts after this lifestyle. After all, who would pass up never ending trust funds and no responsibility? When watching the show, however, it is easily noticed that there is very rarely anyone featured who is not of European descent. This reinforces the media’s portrayal of minorities as being somewhat “less than” their white neighbors. Once again, white is seen as neutral and empowered. The same cannot be said for class boundaries on the show. It is made very clear by all of the characters that those from Brooklyn are in fact very beneath them and are not to be recognized in any other way. All of this truly makes this show a “guilty pleasure”
In case the picture (once again) does not work- it’s a picture of the cast in expensive looking clothes sitting on/in/around a black car.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKG6ZucW5IA
I have recently began to watch this show, and as you said it is addicting! No matter how happy and content I am with my own life I still find my body being pulled into the show wanting the clothes and the glam and no responsibility but to have fun. I have only seen the last couple episodes but even within the trailer you can clearly see the "classes" in which people are a part of. From what I've seen even characters within the show have a longing for something more just like those of us who don't have this all. As you also stated even if this is not what actually New-Yorkers are like, this is what many many people will think they are like because of the show. It is part of the big circle we talked about the other day in class. Even though it may be a twisted truth we are eating it up, and the producers or whoever will keep feeding it to us in anyway they can.
ReplyDeleteThat's a LONG trailer, and CW is breaking new ground (rules) on sex. But I think Beth nails the real issue with class. They all have 'creaky voice.' And we look at them and their world with longing--and hatred.
ReplyDeleteDoes this CRITIQUE class injustice, or maybe keep it in place by allowing us to look and go 'god, I'm glad I'm not a rich pretty idiot'?