Scene Analysis Using Sociological Theories on Television: Gossip Girl

Theory On Television

The scene I will be describing is from the show, Gossip Girl. The setting is present day in Manhattan, New York that revolves around the lives of over privileged teenagers attending a prestigious private prep school. The scene showcases a trio group with their “leader,” Blair Waldorf on the steps at their school where they often meet. Jenny Humphrey, an eager low class freshman willing to do anything Blair Waldorf commands, approaches the trio with handmade invitations for Blair’s upcoming party that she created with the hopes of receiving one herself for hard work. She in turn, does receive one at the time that Manhattan’s “it” girl, Serena Van Der Woodsen arrives to the scene as well. Blair and Serena have a mild showdown and the scene ends with the trio leaving the “it” girl on the steps all alone.

a. The attitude that is expressed between the characters, Blair Waldorf and Jenny Humphrey portray that social class differences clearly still exist. Conflict Theory states that society is “characterized by pervasive inequality based on social class, gender, and other factors”(Smith 2013: 3.1) Jenny Humphrey was not only a freshman, but she is considered poor in the eyes of people like Blair Waldorf. Humphrey lives in Brooklyn and rides the city bus everyday to school and her father is a middle-class man who sells low level art for a living. In contrast, Blair Waldorf’s mother is one of New York’s most fawned over fashion designers, delegating herself to be one of society’s most elite. It is evident that the interaction exchanged between the two could be viewed in two ways: the poor and rich. Jenny Humphrey is a hopeful whenever she is met with an elite and yearns to be one and live their lives. Blair Waldorf simply does not care to know anyone below her exists unless she believes they steer a relevant cause to a plan she has at that moment. This exemplifies the macrosociological—”part of sociology that deals with issues involving large scale social change”(Barkan: 3.1)—inequalities within society. Based on their social class, Blair Waldorf believes she has the upper hand in the situation against Jenny Humphrey who is not as fortunate. It is more likely that someone like Jenny Humphrey would immediately commit to whatever endeavors someone like Blair Waldorf puts her up to because Blair is seen as the superior being. Blair utilizes her sociological perspective, the “belief that people’s social backgrounds influence their attitudes,”(Barkan: 1.1) to strive through her efforts with the status of wealth.

Utilitarianism, otherwise known as the exchange theory “emphasizes that when people interact, they seek to maximize the benefits they gain from the interaction and to reduce the disadvantages”(Barkan: 3.1). In the scene, Jenny Humphrey evidently “seeks the benefits” from the “interaction” she exchanges with Blair and her two minions. She sees her opportunity to be accepted into their society, a “group of people who live within a well defined territory and who share a culture”(Barkan: 1.1) of prestige and wealth.

Conflict theory impacts this scene because the social classes of the rich and poor clash heads. Although Jenny applies the exchange theory here by assembling the party invitations to receive one herself, she is still at a disadvantage, even if she does not realize it now. This is where the conflict theory comes in. It may seem like Blair was graciously opening an opportunity for Jenny for a place under the spotlight, but it was really a just manipulation to get what she wanted. Blair employs those she knows that are beneath her socially and financially to do her biddings because she knows she can. In our society, those who come from money typically behave in a way that sets them higher than those who do not. This usually happens for someone like Blair, especially if she is in the comforts of her own social environment, a term for “social backgrounds”(Barkan: 1.1) which in this case, is high end.

Honestly, I did not realize how specific sociology plays out in every situation, whether it is in a television show or just reality in general (I know, it’s super dumb because that is what our class revolves around). It really helps get my mind around the perspective of why people in our society are the way that they are today. Sociological perspectives also helped me see how cyclical our habits are with every passing generation, which also explains the reason of how people came to be the way that they are today.