Brooklyn introduces a Montague/Capulet-sized divide between the characters of Gossip Girl, and the show’s treatment of the borough is having a similar effect on its viewers.
The CW’s hit drama is notorious for cutting to Brooklyn when they want to take a break from the debutante-ball-obsessed, whiskey-sipping, fundraiser-attending Upper East Side. Characters seek refuge in Brooklyn, taking in the fresh air as they wander down its cobblestone streets.
But the neighborhood has its permanent fixtures as well, like the Humphrey family, whose members live a “stereotypical” Brooklyn existence. Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley) writes, wears leather jackets, and questions the vapid tendencies of his classmates. His dad, Rufus (Matthew Settle), owns an art gallery, and his sister, Jenny (Taylor Momsen), designs punk rock fashions. To round out the group, Dan’s best friend Vanessa (Jessica Szohr) shoots documentaries in Brooklyn, exposing Upper East Side culture through her art.
Then there’s the loft in which the Humphreys reside, which is an exposed brick oasis located in what’s presumably a generic Williamsburg. Yes, if you can believe it, the Humphreys live in a loft—a term which each of the characters seem to reference at least once an episode. Rufus and Dan say it proudly, with a hint of self-righteousness. The Upper East Siders would likely say it with disdain.
Although they are looked down upon, Gossip Girl’s Brooklynites actually seem capable of encroaching on the Upper East Side’s cultural property. Dan’s Moleskine scribblings have landed him in Yale’s Class of 2013, the school that well-connected Blair hoped to attend but could not. Jenny’s fashions caught the eye of Blair’s mom, a well-known designer. Rufus is now the object of Serena’s mother’s affection—and their marriage would put Rufus into a whole new income bracket.
In a way, Gossip Girl wants Brooklyn to be everything. It’s uncharted territory in one moment and a hop, skip, and a jump from Park Avenue the next. It’s socially paralyzing, but even that wears off.
Perhaps it’s this culturally confused treatment that is beating the life out of a borough that used to represent to real people what it does to Gossip Girl’s sanctuary-seeking fictional cast.
When considering what MTV’s Real World did to Brooklyn—portraying it as nothing more than a slightly more spacious jumping-off point to Manhattan’s downtown bars—this borough may really be in trouble. Because if life precedes art, then art is certainly also screwing with life.
Gossip Girl airs on Mondays at 8 p.m. on The CW.
Comments
We're looking for comments that are interesting and substantial. If your comments are excessively self-promotional or obnoxious you will be banned from commenting. Consult the comment FAQ and legal terms.