The Medium Theory was a theory developed by Marshall McLuhan, and the main idea behind it is that the media itself is more important than the message it carries. This theory can be applied to the CW series Gossip Girl. The series revolves around a mysterious Gossip Girl blog, which posts salacious rumours and personal information about the elite students of Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The way that the blog is the primary means of sharing private information shapes the behaviour and the relationships between the key characters.
Information as a social currency in the digital age:
The Gossip Girl blog manipulates the social hierarchy of the students in the Upper East Side by revealing damaging rumours and information. This reflects how information has become a social currency more than ever in a digital age. Many of the characters believe that their worth is tied to what Gossip Girl says about them, and they go to lengths to protect their reputations. This shows how the medium of the blog shapes the social dynamics of the group. Due to the impersonal nature of the medium (being a blog that sends blasts to everyone’s mobiles), there is more weight to the information being shared, as everyone can access it, rather than if it were a private conversation.
Immediate and widespread distribution of information:
The way that the blog is set up means everyone receives blasts on their mobiles, meaning there is no escape. The constant updates being sent to everyone’s phones show how the medium itself is responsible for the intensity of the characters’ reactions. The use of digital media, enables a widespread of information, and perhaps the fact that everyone has access to the information is even more crucial than the information that is being spread. This is a stark contrast to slower-spread information, for example, one-on-one conversations, as it creates a high-pressure environment where everyone is immediately able to access the latest gossip.
Gossip Girl’s anonymity:
The anonymity of who runs the Gossip Girl blog adds mystery and intrigue, with a lack of a clear identity making it omnipresent and more powerful. Since the characters do not know who they are up against, it also causes them to be more fearful of a simple blog. They are unable to escape Gossip Girl due to no one knowing who is behind the blog and who is leaking private information. The anonymity of who runs the blog, in particular, is an example of how impactful the medium is, further reinforcing the idea that the medium is more important than the message being relayed. The true power of the Gossip Girl blog comes from it’s anonymity as the content (the gossip and rumours) are inseparable from the medium (the blog), emphasizing that the form/medium of communication defines the power of the message.
In summary, the TV show Gossip Girl is the perfect modern-day pop culture example of McLuhan’s theory, ‘the medium is the message’, as it shows the impact that digital media can have on society.
Bindig, L. (2014). Gossip Girl: A Critical Understanding. Lanham, Maryland: Lexington Books. Available at: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=eaaDBQAAQBAJ [Accessed 28 Oct. 2024].
McLuhan, M. (1964). The Medium is the Message. Cambridge, MA: MIT. Available at: https://web.mit.edu/allanmc/www/mcluhan.mediummessage.pdf [Accessed 28 Oct. 2024].
Toffoletti, K. (2008). ‘Gossip Girl in a Transmedia World: The Technological Anxieties of Integral Reality’, Papers: Explorations into Children’s Literature, 18(2), pp. 71–77. Victoria Park, WA: Australasian Children’s Literature Association for Research (ACLAR) and the Centre for Cultural and Creative Research at the University of Canberra
Using Gossip Girl as an example for McLuhan’s medium theory is a good choice as it reflects society’s obsession with celebrity’s/influencer’s lives and the message is definitely shown through this tv show. The theory is briefly explained in your introduction which gives your audience some idea about the medium theory which will be helpful in making sense of the rest of the blog. Throughout the blog, the theory is referred to in every point you make which helps make more sense of the theory for the audience that are first learning of it from your blog due to you using a mainstream example to further explain the concepts.
However, there could be more of an explanation of theory in more detail as audiences first learning about the theory need to know about it in a little more detail such as explaining the concept in the theory you focus on throughout this blog post. This would help the audience understand why you chose this example and how the theory connects to it a little better. You could extend this explanation of the theory through how it shapes the audience’s experience differently like how your example has a social impact. For example, the audience could have their experience shaped by realising that society is a little too nosy about famous people’s lives and may have the audience rethink their attitude and change their experiences due to the way the medium creates this message.
Overall, the blog post is very well written and the example chosen is very well-suited to the medium theory as the way the tv show is created definitely creates a message for the audience to shape their experiences. There just needs to be a bit more development on the theory and how the audience are involved.
Hi I loved your blog post- great job. I definitely agree that gossip girl shows a good representation of the medium theory. I do think it is also telling that this can serve as an example of one of the theories biggest critiques, that it underplays the value of the message. Framed a different way- gossip girl wouldn’t have any impact if she just sent photos of cats even everything else stayed the same (it is anonymous and using texting etc.). In other words, its gossip girls message that determines her, well, message, even if the medium plays an important role- at least under the framing of this critique. I don’t think this critique massively hurts the theory, and I do think your post can help demonstrate why to some extent, but I do think its fun food for thought and I would love to hear your thoughts on it.
This blog does a great job of using Gossip Girl to explain McLuhan’s “medium is the message” theory, highlighting how the blog in the show shapes social dynamics. However, it could benefit from balancing its focus on the medium with more attention to the content itself. If Gossip Girl’s blog were only sharing trivial updates or random photos, it wouldn’t have nearly the same impact, even with the same format. Additionally, the blog could explore more deeply how this type of anonymous, digital medium affects our sense of identity, tapping into how digital media blurs the line between real and virtual, as Toffoletti points out. This added depth would encourage readers to reflect on their own social media habits and consider how much the medium shapes their experiences.
Hi Paloma,
This blog constructively discusses Gossip Girl well through the lens in light of McLuhan’s theory that “The medium is the message.” It explains that it is not merely the gossip that prompts the characters., but the series forms their identities and relationships. You aptly demonstrate how the medium affects social interactions and dynamics on the Upper East Side.
To enhance and add a layer to your analysis, reflect more on the background of McLuhan’s theory for readers who may be new to it. This would help explain why Gossip Girl is a fitting example of “The Medium is the Message.” It is possible to explore how the show prompts viewers to question society’s obsession with celebrities’ lives, leading to reconsidering perspectives.
Interestingly, Gossip Girl generates a sense of paranoia in its characters, where one is always aware that they are being watched. This is also in line with McLuhan’s idea that the existence of media changes one’s behaviour. The plot becomes even more intriguing owing to the characteristics, where each character is cast as a victim, responding to every gossip concerning them. This highlights how the communication medium can impact situations more than the content.
The series can be considered a “hot” medium that delivers highly intense information, provoking immediate responses. This aligns well with McLuhan’s “hot” media concept—direct, impactful communication that often prompts immediate reactions. It could also include how the medium modifies characters’ actions.
To strengthen the argument presented in your blog, you may incorporate in-text citations endorsing the reference list you made available. Enhancing the reading experience by including links to pertinent online content would enable the readers to access the material.
This was an engaging blog offering insights into McLuhan’s theory. As a huge fan of Gossip Girl, the blog was a great read, and I look forward to reading more of your work. Well done!