Comments on: I Am So Done Serving Coffee: Identity as Performance in Gossip Girl

By: shana's mom

shana's mom — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:39:58 +0000

I loved your Gossip Girl article. I am SO looking forward to reading it every Tuesday morning when I serve myself coffee.

By: Matthew Wrather

Matthew Wrather — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:51:05 +0000

The question of whether the show is good depends on what you mean by good. Aristotle would say that it isn’t good. But I think it’s extremely well written—the dialogue anyway, if not always the plotting—and I enjoy it a great deal for that reason.

I’m actually not very interested in what happens, per se: There will be romantic entanglements, cheating, scheming, jockeying for social position, lots of nubile young things in skimpy outfits,

I can’t judge its realism, not coming from that world myself, but I’d say that it’s a well-made thing irrespective of whether or not it’s entirely accurate. (Neither do I care whether Hamlet is an accurate portrayal of the social realities of Denmark.)

…and, if I had the choice, I’d go with Towncar rather than limousine. Seems easier to negotiate NYC traffic.

By: Matthew Belinkie

Matthew Belinkie — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:18:07 +0000

Nice to see you back on the Gossip horse! But I have two questions. Two and a half, really.

1. Is this a good show? Do you still enjoy it? Or do you only watch it because you’ve BEEN watching it, and you want to see what happens?

2. How realistic do you believe this is? I don’t know too much about how rich, stylish New Yorkers live. Or for that matter, how poor, stylish New Yorkers live. But I’m wondering if rich teenagers really ride around in limos – I always feel like limos are for prom kids and bachelorette parties.

2a. Is your enjoyment of the show at all dependant on believing this is how people really live? If it turned out the writers know almost nothing about real New York prep school kids, would that disappoint you?