Although we didn’t
end up watching Girls, I’ve seen various episodes of both Girls and Sex and the
City. While reading the McRobbie article I kept comparing Carrie Bradshaw’s
character to Hannah Horvath. First, I think it’s important to note that both
shows are on HBO, which plays a role in what is allowed to be shown and
discussed. The article discuss’s Carrie’s “child-like search for male approval”
and the characters need for shopping and I couldn’t help but compare that to
Hannah who isn’t very skinny, highly attractive, or into fashion at all. Both
shows center around 4 girls in New York and their relationships (or lack there
of), but in very different ways. Throughout Girls Hannah makes various
mistakes, doesn’t have a successful career, and in my opinion insn’t a
character that represents an ideal, yet it seems like so many people watch the
show and love it. Why is this? Is Hannah a progressive lead character? While I
do think it’s good she is comfortable being a normal weight on TV, I don’t
think Hannah represents a lifestyle anyone would want (based off the episodes I’ve
seen) and therefore I’m not sure it helps women and representation. However, I
do think it’s important to note that Lena Dunham is the creator of Girls and is
a good role model in that sense. Also, the article explains that “the show functions
as a televisual magazine and shop window for the successful launching of shoes,
accessories and fashion lines well beyond the means of average female viewer”
which reminded me of Gossip Girl and how marketing was a big part of their
success, which I think it is in Sex and the City. Clearly these shows are
targeting a young female audience and consumerism is a large part of that, so
will it ever go away? What do we think TV shows aimed towards a female audience
should include to help change representation?
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