IDEA DECONSTRUCTION : GOSSIP GIRL

 IDEA DECONSTRUCTION 

 - GOSSIP GIRL - 

Deconstruction in media is basically breaking down a piece of media to understand it better ; The  deconstruction of media can produce more informed consumers. The deconstruction of a film or T.V show can be done by breaking down it's elements, considering the target audience and thinking about the context of the film/T.V show. 

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This show revolves around the lives of wealthy teenagers on the Upper East Side of New York.  It explores how social status, wealth, class and privilege impact their lives, relationships, and opportunities. The characters in "Gossip Girl" are hyper-focused on image and reputation. The show hinges on the anonymous blogger "Gossip Girl" who spreads rumours, leaking information/details about people's personal lives. Gossip is used as a weapon and is shown to manipulate people's lives. The core group of people in "Gossip Girl" constantly navigate complex friendships and relationships with secrets, jealousy, and backstabbing. 

There is a multitude of media theories explored in this T.V show ; one of the major ones being the cultivation theory. This theory suggests that the more time people spend consuming a type of media, the more likely they are to believe that the portrayals in that media reflect reality. The target audience is teenagers and millennials, with the average viewer's age at 22.8 years old. Gossip Girl depicts a world of wealthy teenagers with seemingly glamorous lives ; The constant stream of designer clothes, exclusive parties, and luxurious lifestyles could cultivate a perception that this is how teenagers typically live, and since teenagers are wildly impressionable and have a constant desire to 'fit in' ideas are planted in their minds. 

Another theory which is explored is the agenda-setting theory. This theory suggests that media doesn't just tell us about current events, it also tells us what to think about those events by framing those events in certain ways. In Gossip Girl, the anonymous blogger "Gossip Girl" is the narrator and is in the omniscient position as she controls the narrative and is known to 'know everything'. She decides what secrets to reveal, how to frame them, and who to target. This reflects how social media and news outlets can shape public opinion by what they choose to focus on.

Gossip Girl is also set primarily in the 2000s. (with the show starting 2007 onwards) The fashion/makeup trends, clothing styles, pop-culture and music of that era is heavily incorporated into the show creating a more trendy dynamic.