This paper aims to analyse how and why the TV show Gilmore Girls has contributed to a new development in cross-class fiction. To answer this question satisfactorily, the concepts of the "slumming drama" (Gandal 2007: 12) as well as 'new womanhood' and 'middle class' will be explained precisely and applied to the series. In order to give the reader an idea about the show's content and to enable an easier comprehension of the analysis, the paper will start with a short introduction to the major story-lines.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Gilmore Girls - The Plot
- A Class Drama
- A Cross-Class Drama
- A Slumming Drama
- Lorelai's Slumming Drama
- Lorelai's Upbringing
- Lorelai's Slumming
- Lorelai's Slumming Drama - Conclusion
- Rory's Slumming Drama
- Rory's Slumming
- Rory's Slumming Drama - Conclusion
- Life After Slumming
- Changing Images of Women in the Media
- The Tough Women's Living Space
- Middle-Class Life in Gilmore Girls
- Emancipation in Gilmore Girls
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze how and why the TV show Gilmore Girls has contributed to a new development in cross-class fiction. To answer this question, the concepts of the "slumming drama" (Gandal 2007: 12) as well as 'new womanhood' and 'middle class' will be explained precisely and applied to the series.
- The depiction of class in Gilmore Girls
- The "slumming drama" as a literary genre
- The portrayal of women's lives in the context of class and gender
- The representation of middle-class life in the US
- The theme of emancipation in Gilmore Girls
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The paper begins with an introduction to the plot of Gilmore Girls, focusing on the main characters, Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, and their lives in the town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. It then analyzes the show as a class drama, exploring the concept of "slumming dramas" and how Gilmore Girls fits into this genre. The paper discusses Lorelai's experience as a young mother who escapes her upper-class family and builds a middle-class life, as well as Rory's journey through education and her own encounters with class differences. The paper also considers the broader themes of women's lives, middle-class experience, and emancipation in the context of the show.
Lorelai's "slumming drama" is explored through flashbacks to her youth, showcasing her escape from her restrictive upper-class family and her subsequent life in the working class. Rory's "slumming drama" involves her experience attending the elite Chilton Prep school and the challenges she faces as a result of her class background. The paper also analyzes the changing images of women in the media and how Gilmore Girls reflects these changes. The chapter on "Emancipation in Gilmore Girls" discusses the show's portrayal of women achieving independence and self-determination in their lives.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The paper focuses on the key concepts of class, gender, and emancipation. It explores the "slumming drama" genre and its contemporary adaptations, examining the themes of upward and downward mobility, as well as the representation of working class and upper-class characters. The paper also analyzes the portrayal of women in the media, particularly in the context of their lives in the middle class. Other important keywords include: "Gilmore Girls", "class drama", "slumming drama", "new womanhood", "middle class", "upper class", "working class", "emancipation", and "American television".
Frequently Asked Questions
How is social class depicted in the TV show "Gilmore Girls"?
The show explores class through the contrast between Lorelai’s upper-class upbringing and her self-made middle-class life in Stars Hollow, as well as Rory’s navigation of elite education at Chilton and Yale.
What is a "slumming drama" in the context of Gilmore Girls?
A slumming drama refers to a narrative where characters from a higher social class voluntarily live in or interact with a lower social class, often leading to personal growth or conflict.
How does Lorelai Gilmore embody the theme of emancipation?
Lorelai achieves emancipation by breaking away from her wealthy, controlling parents to raise her daughter on her own terms, eventually becoming a successful independent business owner.
What role does the setting of Stars Hollow play in class representation?
Stars Hollow represents an idealized middle-class community that stands in stark contrast to the rigid, formal upper-class world of Lorelai’s parents in Hartford.
Does Rory Gilmore experience class conflict?
Yes, Rory often feels like an outsider in the wealthy world of her grandparents and classmates, struggling to balance her modest upbringing with the expectations of the elite circles she enters.
How has "Gilmore Girls" contributed to "new womanhood" in fiction?
The show portrays strong, witty, and independent women who prioritize their careers, education, and personal bonds over traditional societal expectations of their class.
- Citation du texte
- Maja Schulze (Auteur), 2009, The Depiction of Class in "Gilmore Girls", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/262281
