A stunning blonde, hair highlighted to perfection (clearly the work of a triple digit stylist) catwalks down Park Avenue in an outfit that probably costs more than a year's worth of college tuition. She exchanges witty comments with her strong-jawed, artfully attired and downright sexy date, whose "bold gestures" throughout their relationship would make any girl swoon. The couple ends up at the swankiest and trendiest club in New York City, bypassing both lines and bouncers, and turning heads in the process. Headlines and gossip blogs scream the spotting of this pair - and television viewers across the country can keep their eyes glued to the fantastical world that is Gossip Girl.
Gossip Girl is just one of many ways in which television distorts reality. Any show about over-privileged 14- to 16-year-olds indulging themselves in dry martinis at "The Palace Hotel" instead of shotgunning the nearest Natty Ice in their friend's basement (quietly though, because their parents are upstairs) is completely absurd. In a startling representation of elite New York City teenagers, Gossip Girl is so extravagant and lavish that it struts into the territory of being gaudy and outlandish - trading in its Manolos for the latest pair of plastic Paylesses in the process.
In a scathing review of the show and its morals, children's author Lesley Blume points out that, "Gossip Girl represents nothing less than the soft death of youth culture and rebellion and self-determinism." She's right - it does. Through an inflated portrayal of a certain lifestyle, Gossip Girl's exaggerated and oftentimes silly portrayal of upper-class youth culture is, in fact, parallel with the characters it immortalizes: far-fetched, excessive and overdone. This show treats immature children like full-fledged adults, erases money of its value, obliterates any rules without consequence and regards wealth as a privilege that will open any door, no matter where it may lead. Despite the Gossip Girl producers' intricate ploy to make viewers believe this lifestyle is real, i's simply not. As New York magazine says, "the glory of Gossip Girl is in its implausibility."
2008 Woodie Awards
The DAILY encourages you to share your thoughts on this story. Please help us keep the discussion lively, but civil. Comments that are abusive to others, off-topic or vulgar, or comments that misrepresent someone's identity, will not be tolerated. We reserve the right to delete any comments in violation or to close comment threads on articles.
Please e-mail online@dailynorthwestern.com to flag a comment or for more information.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
J
posted 11/01/07 @ 3:21 PM CST
First thought on your story...duh? Of course Gossip Girl is distorting reality, its a fictional show.
I'm guessing you don't know too many rich teens? Being from New England and going to school in Boston, I have been friends with many teens that fit the Gossip Girl stereotype quite nicely. (Continued…)
a
posted 11/01/07 @ 6:00 PM CST
First thought on your post, j, DUH. The point of the article is not to say that lifestyles portrayed on gossip girl do not exist in such an exaggerated way (did you and your super elite friends, like "s" and "b," look like you had just sauntered out of a hair salon each morning?) but that they are the exception and others (not as lucky as you to be oh so well acquainted with a privileged lifestlye) are trying to emulate. (Continued…)
LC
posted 11/01/07 @ 8:27 PM CST
You have clearly never lived on the UES of Manhattan. That is exactly how they act; no distortion here.
J-Ro
posted 11/02/07 @ 7:05 AM CST
You've got to be kidding me. Another NU-er taking themselves way too seriously. Is this show (which is hilariously awful...yet strangely addictive) worth writing an editorial about? Get off your soapbox and go back to "keeping it real" since a little goofy escapism seems to be more than you can handle. (Continued…)
Kelly
posted 11/02/07 @ 5:45 PM CST
you people need to calm down. GG is just a show. you say that the author is serious but you guys are so serious about it too. and why diss a university that you probably never heard of before? thats a loser of a thing to do. (Continued…)
Lucy
posted 11/06/07 @ 6:38 PM CST
My, oh my, what a mess of hostility in the comments above!
I think that this article is spot-on. The point is that the GG girls are overly mature in the show, and not in a fun, delicious way at all. (Continued…)
hanah Van Borek
posted 11/11/08 @ 8:36 PM CST
I have to say watching shows like Gossip Girl is nauseating for me.. not because it might be completely unrealistic, or that it is setting a bad example but because it is another dissapointing show directed at youth that gives nothing to inspire or to think about beyond shoes, clothes, boys and parties-oh not to mention gossip which is just oh so thrilling!. (Continued…)
Post a Comment