Publication date:
12 November 2014Length of book:
206 pagesPublisher
Lexington BooksISBN-13: 9780739184813
Gossip Girl: A Critical Understanding provides a critical analysis of The CW’s hit teen television drama Gossip Girl. Lori Bindig analyzes episodes as a set of media texts that blur the boundaries between hegemonic and counter-hegemonic content. Using political economy, textual and audience analyses, Bindig dissects how the show presents ideological content in regard to gender, race, class, sexuality, and consumerism, ultimately unearthing potential ramifications of Gossip Girl and other popular media texts. In addition, Bindig examines the expansive fan community and its engagement with the show through online forums and YouTube. Gossip Girl: A Critical Understanding will appeal to scholars of media, audience studies, and popular culture.
Bindig insightfully shows how media conglomerates’ and advertisers’ concerted efforts to narrowly define demographics is primarily based on a recognition of the increase in both the American youth population’s spending power...coupled with their influence on household purchases.... Strongest of all, her exploration of how
Gossip Girldissolves the difference between the constructs of race and class...rightfully takes the show to task and seriously challenges the myth and legacy of the so-called ‘American Dream’.
Gossip Girldissolves the difference between the constructs of race and class...rightfully takes the show to task and seriously challenges the myth and legacy of the so-called ‘American Dream’.