Assignment One

Purpose of this assignment

Whoever said money doesnt buy happiness
clearly didnt know where to shop.

-Blair Waldorf

Summary

Assignment One allowed us to

choose a topic of our choice to
analyze. It was very important that
the topic we chose was interesting
to us because it would be what we
wrote about for the next two
assignments that followed. I chose
the TV show Gossip Girl. In this
assignment I had to observe some
episodes from the show and write
about them. I also had to state the
some characteristics of this figure
world that I had chosen and really
got to analyze the show as a
whole.

In the show Gossip Girl, we are following the lives of rich upper east
teenagers. Four of them (Blair, Serena, Chuck, and Nate) are very popular in
school and everyone wants to be like them. There is also a social media,
which is where the name Gossip Girl comes from. Gossip Girl is a text
message alert system that keeps the teenagers around the Upper East Side
in touch with what these four characters are doing. It's usually bad
information that is posted, like seeing them at the wrong place or with the
wrong people. In the society that these characters live in, they are not
allowed to be seen with lower class or in a lower class place. Also they have
to attend to a lot of events like dances, fancy dinners, brunches, and the list
goes on. Normally they communicate through phone, like text messaging,
calling and sometimes email. As you can imagine these teens have
everything they could have ever wanted, except one thing, a good
relationship with their parents. That's when they all come together, including
Dan, and help each other get through hard times one way or another.
Something else that is expected from these characters is that they marry in
the same social class and also attend a big school like their parents did.
Sometimes, like in Nate's case, their parents take it a little too far and stop
caring about their children's happiness and focus more on money. Dan is a
different character because he doesn't come from a rich family which makes
him less popular than the other kids. Due to his social class, he has to try
harder on everything, like getting into a good college, than the others
because he doesn't have connections like the other teens have.

Even if we dont realize it there

are parts to a TV show that
describe the characters and the
life that they live. There are
vocabulary terms such as,
These are common forms of communication with
Literacy Practices, Actors,
in a community that allow for characters to keep
Communities of Practice,
in touch with one another.
Artifacts, Domain, and Practices
Cell phone: throughout the entire show the cell
of the
community
that
help us
These are
people
who play
a significant
role in the other story or idea. I have chosen these actors because they
is who
the develop
most important
of
to describe
lifestyle
and theThese actorsphone
are generally
who the show
is about.
are ones
throughoutway
the show.
figured world of these
communication. Through their phones they text

Blairshe is one of the most important character in the show. Blair Waldorf is the it girl. Everyone wants to be like
characters.
each other all the time if there is an emergency or

Literacy Practice

Actors

Blair and she like the attention. Although she shows herself as hard headed and not so nice. Deeply she is a nice,
where
to meet.
also call
other
caring person who is always there for her friends,
especially
her best They
friend Serena.
Blaireach
develops
a lotthrough
through out
the show and soon begins to not care what people
think
of her but
instead
of finding true happiness
and
truethe
friends.
their
phones
and
communicate
that way.
But

most important way is that GG send her new

Serena- although Serena is the other it girl, she doesn't care about the title. She used to be a troubled teenager
The Figured
World
gossips
toboarding
everyone's
phone,
sobefore
people
can started,
keep
who liked to party and do drugs. But after she went
away to
school the
summer
the show

she changed for the better. She and Dan have aup
romance
changed her even more. She treasures her
with that
theessentially
latest news.
friendship with Blair and is always there for her too.

Domain

Chuck- he is probably the richest of the four but most likely the saddest. He basically had to raise himself because
A figured
way of
life man
-Blair
Almost
like
the
inHewhich
your
interest
hisworld
father is is
a wealthy
Business
who Waldorf
doesn't really
have
timearea
for him.
does a lot
of drugs
and loves to drink
rum.people
At the beginning
on the
a good drama
or You're
bringing out
the bad secrets
about people,
but later in
that many
follow.
In show
a he loves
comes
from.
domain
can also
be a shared
the show he grows up and becomes more mature.

figured world there are

goal that you and your community of practice
expectations,
manners,
have
together.

Nate- this character coincides with Serena

because
he's different. He likes to see the best in people and accepts
people
for who
But this becomes a struggle when he tries to make his parents and his friends happy but
behaviors,
and
thethey
listare.
goes
can't be happy himself.
on. (Sometimes
these things
Attending a good university: Dan, Serena,
are so natural
that
many
don't
Nate
want
tohe
gois to
good
Dan- he is very smart and likes to be there for hisBlair,
family. and
Although
he all
is lower
class
fineawith
thatuniversity
and doesn't
try to be
friends
with the
others.
realize that
it's
a rule.)
The
and they help each other get into the one they
two figured worlds in this TV
want.
Jenny- her character develops a lot through out the show because she entered as the youngest of the characters. In
show
are
the
Upper
Class
and
the beginning she wants to be like Blair and join her world, but soon she realizes that it's not worth it and that she doesn't
there.
thebelong
Lower
Class.
Solving problems for each other: they all
have family issues that affect them throughout
the show. Their goal if to be able to overcome
those and to become better people different from

Communities of Practice

Practices of the Community

Communities of practice: are groups of

These are the things that you and
people who are not only interested in the
the other members of your
same things but are trying to learn about
community of practice do in order
the same things. In a community of
to help each other and to learn
practice, people help each other in many
from each other.
ways. One way is by teaching each other
Artifacts
things that they know or have learned

Planning
schemes
get back
Can
be physical
objects,
or thoughts
your
about a
specific
topic.
Also,feelings,
the people
in a that have an important meaning in to
to theiraenemies:
although
Blair
community.
These can
have
a meaning
behind them that expresses
certain idea.
Also these
community
of practice
help
each
other with
artifacts can set you apart from the rest of the communities.
is the master of this, all of the
issues they might be facing.
characters and some point plan a
Blairs schemes: Blair is known for her schemes. These are important to the story because they
scheme to get revenge or simply
The group:
Blair,
bring aSerena,
lot of theChuck,
drama and
a lotNate,
of the action into the show. It also brings out a side of Blair that
what they want.
many
people
and allows
her to hide her true self.
Dan, and
Jenny.
All know
of these
characters
have grown up with each other although if
The clothes: clothes are very important in the show because
depending
on what
wear is what
Talking
about
theyou
issue:
different
social classes. They end up
social class you are. Also the type of dress you wear also signifies
the
type
of
event
that
you are
going
although it seems silly most
of the
knowingtoeverything
about
one
another
attend and what
time
of person
youand
are.
problems end up being resolved
becoming friends. They are usually there
byhave
talking
outtake
andthem
apologizing.
for each
otherunlike
in hard
times
and Blair,
try toNate,
helpChuck, and Serena
Limo:
the other
teens,
limositthat
everywhere
which
also adds on
to their social class.
each other
overcome
obstacles.

Their home: living in an apartment is common but for Blair, Serena, Nate, and Chuck their

Observations One, Two, and Three

Note: I have taken the following information and examples from a 40
minute episodes. The episodes that I have chosen are from season
one and theyre called pilot, The Wild Brunch, and Poison Ivy. I
chose this specific episodes because they introduce the characters
very well and they have a lot of important events happening that are
going to be key for the rest of the seasons. The episodes are forty
minutes long so I have decided to divide my observations into six
sections (6:27, 12:27, 18:27, 24:27, 30:27, and the end).
Relevant background information:
In the show Gossip Girl, we are following the lives of six Upper East Side, New
York teenagers. Four of them (Blair, Serena, Chuck, and Nate) are rich, very
popular in school, and everyone wants to be like them. And then we have Dan
and Jenny who are complete opposite from the other four. Unlike them Dan and
Jenny live in Brooklyn, New York. They live with a single dad who sent them to
a private school just so they could have a better future. Gossip Girl is actually
a text message alert system that keeps the teenagers around the Upper East
Side in touch with what Blair, Chuck, Nate, and Serena are doing (yes, they are
that popular).

Here is an example of what my observations

looked like:
Recap of last episode:
Dan finally scored a date with the love of his life, Serena, but he has competition. Nate and Dan
find themselves waiting on Serena at the same time but only Dan gets to go to brunch with her.
Serena finds out that Blair knows that she slept with Nate, and it doesnt take long for Dan to find
out at the brunch. Dan is not really thrilled about it so he leaves Serena. Then Serena tried to
apologize to Blair for sleeping with Nate, but Blair says that she cant fix what shes done and that
she needs to stay away.
6:27 minutes: Gossip Girl opens the scene explaining that in the Upper East Side, kids whose
parents are successful expect the same thing from them (Chuck, Blair, Nate, and Serena) so that
means getting into a good university by using their fame, and for those whose parents arent as
successful (Dan) its up to them to try the best they can. At the high school that all of the
characters attend, they will be hosting a college day where they can get to meet some important
people, but only some people can attend. Dan is worried that he will not be able to attend because
hes not like the rest of them, he doesnt have a trust fund to rely on and all he can depend on is
his intelligence. Nate is talking to his dad about school and his dad keeps insisting that he goes to
Dartmouth but Nate tells him that he doesnt want to, that he wants to make his own plans. But his
father refuses and tells him that he must go to Dartmouth or else his family will be disappointed in
him. Blair is sitting with her friends and they ask why Serena isnt there yet and she tells them to
be quiet and that she wants to hear about Yale (her dream school).
12:27 minutes: Serena was running late to school because she spent the night at the hospital
with her brother. Shes taking to her mom who is getting on to her about doing that and she says
that she only has one plan for now and thats to go to Brown and her mom says that shes very
happy to hear that because since shes been back she didnt know if she still wanted to. Serena

since shes been back she didnt know if she still wanted to. Serena mentions that right now with
everything going on she really wishes to go far. Serena finally makes it to the assembly and she
runs into Blair who dresses her down and says rude comments to her. The students are now trying
out for the spots to talk to the representatives from each university. Nate and Dan are running for
the same position, but Dan answered all the questions correctly and Nate simply said that he
doesnt really want to go to that school. Nate got the position though and Dan is very upset about it
because he has more of the qualifications then Nate, but nates got the money.
18:27 minutes: Blair calls Chuck and asks him if he can find out why Serena came home and he
agrees to find out. Dan got home and told his dad the bad news. His dad couldnt believe what
happened and tried to make him feel better but Dan just wanted to be alone. Then jenny tells her
dad were Humphrys dad, not really royalty uptown. Chuck followed Serena and found out that
she went to a mental hospital so he called Blair and told her the news. So dans dad decided to help
him out and go talk to the school about not picking Dan, he finally got him a spot serving drinks.
24:27 minutes: Serena and her family were having a conference with Erics counselor about
letting him out. Serena wants him to be out but her mom says that hes not ready, so they ask him
and he says hes not ready to leave but that he wants to go out tonight. Blair and Serena are both
at the college fair and Serena is suddenly interested in Yale just like Blair and they start to compete
over the spot. Then Nate is talking to the Dartmouth representative and hes trying to connect with
him but he cant because he didnt understand the book her wrote.
30:27 minutes: Nate meets with Dan and he tells him that his interview with Dartmouth isnt
going good and Dan tries to give him some tips but Nate just tells him to go talk to him instead. So
nates dad sees that Dan is going to talk to him and he goes to Nate and tells him he needs to go
back but Nate refuses and tells his dad that he doesnt want to go to Dartmouth. Jenny and Eric
met and Eric wants to tell jenny the story of how he ended up in rehab and they bind and she
promises him that she wont tell anyone. So Blair then goes up on stage and talks about how the
school gives back to the community every year by supporting an institution that does well for the
community, and she says that its touched one of their own students and calls Serena to the stage.
Ending: Eric goes to Blair and tells her what really happened and why Serena was going to the
rehab center. Blair is shocked and you can tell in her face that she feels bad. Then Dan and Serena
run into each other and he apologizes to her for thinking that she was like the rest of them when he
doesnt really know her. Nates dad calls him to go on their regular run and when he gets there his
father is standing with the Dartmouth representative and he told him that Nate wasnt feeling well
and asks him to join them on the run. Lastly, Blair sees Serena at central park and she apologizes
for what shes done and they call truths.

].

Thank you for being totally not helpful

at all.
- Serena Van Der Woodsen