Drama Is the Cure for Gossip: Television’s Turn to Theatricality in a Time of Media Transition

This article, written by Abigail De Kosnik, discusses the interest in US television with showing the “true self” of characters when many TV shows actually show edited versions of people’s identities.  Kosnik first talks about the show Gossip Girl and the extremely privileged, wealthy characters in the show.  The characters live in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and although they are high-school aged, the characters are often involved in more serious, adult matters.  While some of the problems on the show revolve around ideas such as whose family has the most money, or what family has the highest social standing, they are still high schoolers.  Furthermore, the show is more concerned with problems involving relationships, school, sex, and gossip.  Kosnik points out what while these adolescents are extremely wealthy, “gossip is the most important currency in their world” (Kosnik 566).  The gossip in the show is distributed via Gossip Girl, an anonymous character that frequently sends out gossip “blasts” to students, ruining many students’ reputations.  This demonstrates the power she has over everyone involved.

Gossip Girl viewers “are asked to identify with the Upper East Siders” even though many of the characters are so theatrical that it is hard for viewers to do this (Kosnik 566).  The students in the show learn that “while internet rumors circulated about them tell some portion of the truth, it is never the whole truth” (Kosnik 566).  Kosnik then asks the question why contemporary TV demonstrates people discovering themselves either on stage or performing in front of audiences.  The anonymity of the internet has made it easier for people to lie and create unauthentic representations of themselves.  Internet reputations have become increasingly important for people’s identities, both online and in real life.  Both identities are threatened by gossip, but the internet has made it easier to gossip anonymously.  Another problem with this is that anyone who reads gossip online has no way of knowing its validity.  Although this is a problem, gossip will still spread regardless of if it is true or not. 

Television shows have often acknowledged this fact, but also acknowledge that to reveal one’s true self, it must be done in a dramatic fashion.  The dramatic event often happens in a moment and is completely spontaneous.  Often this spontaneous reaction/decision/behavior is in front of an audience to show others the revelation of one’s “true self” (Kosnik 569).  She ends this chapter by writing how television “displays people’s most intimate journeys…as public performances” (Kosnik 570).