Blog posting - Representation

Gossip Girl, my favorite series, has made me realize how it offers a fascinating lens in representation. This series representation in media, particularly class, gender, and sexuality. Gossip Girl is set in the elite world of Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and a unique fusion of drama and social commentary. By tracking every move of each character showcased on the blog Gossip Girl, the show transforms their lives into a spectacle that feels disconnected from their true selves All while discovering the complexities of teenage life along with wealth and privilege.

Blair Waldorf, a character built and constructed around ambition and rivalry. As the queen "B" of her social circle, Blair’s life is highlighted on how women in media are often represented through the lens of competition and personal ambition. Blair's design is marked by high fashion and assertive personality which reflects societal expectations of femininity, showcasing both power and vulnerability. However, there is a selection that was chosen, which portrays women as jealous and rather stupid when in love. Although, she has moments that show true girl power, along with teenage emotions bursting through her role. 

The visual choices in Blair's character, from her designer outfits to her assertive presence, serve to reinforce her role as a powerful female figure. However, her portrayal often leans into stereotypes of the “mean girl,” raising questions about how female ambition is perceived. Her costume and makeup choices are made to be of natural beauty yet disgustingly elegant to prove Blair is above others. The selection of narrative structures that focus on her competitive nature with other women, particularly her bestie Serena, additionally emphasizes the stereotype and notion of women as competitors rather than lifting each other up.

To contrast Blair, Serena van der Woodsen, represents the stereotype of the rebellious, sexy, beautiful, and free-spirited woman. While she is perceived as having a carefree lifestyle, her character becomes one with deep personal issues, including self-worth and the consequences of her choices. This duality provides a more nuanced representation of femininity, challenging the stereotype of the “perfect” woman.

Serena’s relationships often explore themes of sexuality and emotional vulnerability, presenting her as a extraordinary person rather than a bland, plain stereotype. However, her storylines occasionally fall into the trap of being the "other woman", while struggling with addiction and self-destructive behavior that can reinforce negative stereotypes about young women from wealthy backgrounds.

Gossip Girl serves as a unique and fascinating representation of youth culture, gender, and class in media. While the show successfully reflects female characters like Blair and Serena, it also portrays broader societal biases in its handling of race, social and economic status. Through its selective storytelling and character construction, the series both challenges and reinforces stereotypes, which can create critical discussions about representation in contemporary media.

Sound

During this sound lesson, I learned about the impact of sound in storytelling and how different sound elements can help illustrate actions. In this sound lesson, I learned how sound doesn't always add up to the object that's "supposed" to make it. The videos showed and demonstrated various sound effects, illustrating how they enhance experiences without visual cues. I also gained knowledge into the importance of layering sounds. 

The project was to brainstorm a 1-2 minute scene that could be conveyed entirely through sound. We needed to identify the specific sounds present in our scene and create an outline that explains how these sounds build a realistic narrative. However, we were limited to using only seven words throughout the entire soundscape. 

I began by brainstorming various scene ideas, ensuring they fit the requirements.  I would put all my criteria on my notes app, listing the sound effect, action, and link to the sound. After selecting sounds for each scene, my partner and I focused on identifying sounds that would realistically depict the atmosphere. I then created an outline on iMovie to organize these sounds to ensure each sound contributed.

During brainstorming, I listed several potential scenes that could develop a story with pure sound. I considered the types of sounds that would naturally occur in each scenario and how they could communicate action. Since my submission was Santa arriving to a house to deliver present, it was more fairytale sounds than I realized.

My outline provided a clear structure for the soundscape, breaking down the scene into segments. This organization allowed me to see how sounds would flow together and ensured that each element contributed to the narrative.

I utilized Adobe Creative Cloud for editing my sound project. This software allowed me to layer the sounds, adjust volumes, and apply effects, helping to create a neat and organized final product.

I would say I successfully created a dynamic soundscape that captured the essence of Santa arriving and a child catching him. The layering of sounds and attention to detail helped convey the scene well. However, I would like to improve my editing skills to create smoother transitions between sounds and experiment with more complex sound effects in future projects. Also, I would like my foley to improve although it wasn't as bad as I thought I would make it.