From Charles Bass to Cha Chi Soo:The Reform of the Preppy Bad Boy

When I last explored the subject of "The Preppy Bad Boy", the world was teetering on the precipice of the current economic crisis.  The mainstream media's portrayal of fashionistas and trust fund babies at play continued to be consumed like a cotton candy confection.  However, times have changed.  The same aforementioned "trust funders" have joined the 1960's throwback Occupy movement and conspicuous consumption is just not that cool.   As the tide of wealth guilt grows, an interesting trend has developed within television dramas marketed to the ever important 18-34 year old female audience. 

Charles Bass (or Chuck as he is affectionately known by his so-called friends), power mogul and hotelier, reforms his playboy persona to become the loving owner of a rescue dog.   Could it be that this personality evolution has another motive, other than the fact that he lost the love of his life?  Perhaps the writers of Gossip Girl realized that by softening Chuck's personality, not only would Blair fall back in love with him, but their viewership, as well.  Ratings for Gossip Girl have plunged dramatically since the strong debut the show made in 2007, having lost almost a million average viewers by Season 4.

Season 5 has brought out the lighter side of Chuck Bass.  After trading his on-again, off-again girlfriend for a hotel, psychologically destroying the aforementioned girl, and committing physical violence against said girl,  Chuck has finally seen the light.  He is also facing the cold realty of losing someone he cares about much more than money to another man.   It is difficult to be nonchalant in such a dire situation.

By comparison, the Korean drama Flower Boy Ramyun Shop is much lighter fare.  The story centers on Cha Chi-Soo, a flower boy, who falls in love with his student teacher (Yang Eun-Bi) under unusual circumstances.  Within Korean culture, relationships that involve age difference are a taboo; the age difference between Chi-Soo and Eun-Bi translates to about six years  From the start, Cha Chi-Soo is arrogant to a fault and behaves like a much older man.  He flaunts his wealth gracelessly and has a flighty girlfriend, who also actively disregards the feelings of others.

Over time, however, Chi-Soo develops feelings for Eun-Bi.  He is, as so poignantly stated by his father caviar to her "homemade rice".  Rice is substantial; caviar is a delicious luxury that is frivolous and unnecessary.  Over the course of the drama, which spans 16 episodes, Cha Chi-Soo transforms from a sniveling flower boy until a boy who sheds tears for his first love.  The snarky personality trait that made you despise him in previous episodes, begins to endear him to you.

Viewers of both shows find themselves rooting for the "preppy bad boy" because everyone is allowed a second chance.  Although Cha Chi-Soo and Chuck Bass both face challengers that have significant disadvantages, the reformed bad boy comes off as a knight in shining armor.   There was a nice boy lurking within them, after all.

Season Five of Gossip Girl is currently airing on The CW, with a mid-season finale on Monday, December 5, 2011.  Flower Boy Ramyun Shop is currently airing on the Korean cable network TVN, but can be seen with English Subtitles on Dramafever.

Welcome to the Freak Show

As someone who works with the developmentally disabled population, I have always found the concept of traveling circus' and freak shows to be a bit disturbing. Recently, however, I developed a renewed interest in the phenomena after my boyfriend and I engaged in a marathon viewing session of Seasons One and Two of the HBO series Carnivale. Carnivale, which aired from September 2003 through March 2005, focuses on life during the Great Depression. Series creator Daniel Knauf illustrated the trials and tribulations of carnie folk who find themselves emerged in a battle of good verses evil. Unfortunately, the series was discontinued after two seasons due to the massive amounts of funding required for filming.

Knauf used Depression era carnivals as his back drop, due to the juxtaposition between innocent carnival goers and the magic that appears to lurk inside the dusty tents. Besides common sideshow acts such as a bearded lady and snake charmer, Knauf explored the complexity of how society treated those who were considered different. In a pivotal scene, Ben Hawkins (a character who is representative of the Biblical paradigm of salvation through redemption), is sent forth to find a girl with deformities known as the "lobster girl". It is apparent to views that the girl has been shut away from society; as a sideshow freak, she is able to earn wages and emerge into the world.

As the series progresses, viewers learn that Ben Hawkins is the adversary of Brother Justin. Brother Justin, who is excellent portrayed by Clancy Brown, is a Methodist minister who initially believes he was intended by God to bring forth His message. As time progresses, Brother Justin turns from the more conservative views of the Methodist church towards the fire and brimstone message associated with the Evangelical branch of Protestantism. Brother Justin's massive appeal evokes images of the historic Azusa Street Revival, a Pentacostal revival which took place in California from 1906 through 1915. As his movement grows, Brother Justin begins to receive criticism that is similar to what was given to participants in the Azusa revival.

However, as time progresses, it is apparent that while Ben Hawkins heals the ill and disabled, Brother Justin is intent on propegating his own agenda. Throughout the series, Ben is drawn to those are disabled or injured and attempts to aid them. Through Ben, Daniel Knauf conveys the message that Depression era society sought to either fetishize the disabled or exclude them. Other than Ben, no one truly attempts to help society's disabled. In the clip below, Ben attempts to heal carnival goers who are in need, while Brother Justin has his own plans.





In a more contemporary spin of the side show, Asbury Lanes will be hosting the act Freaks of the 999 Eyes on April 9, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. The show consists of acts such as the Lobster Girl and Elephant Man, who have chosen to use their disabilities or conditions as part of an old-fashioned sideshow. Coming on the heels of my non-stop Carnivale marathon, I am excited to see what Freaks of 999 Eyes have to offer.

As an advocate for individuals with disabilities, I must add that all members of this modern day performance have willingly chosen to participate. Do you consider sideshows to be a tool for exploiting people or do you think that our politically correct society can use a little stirring up? Leave your comments, as I will continue to explore this topic, after the April 9th show.

Pop! Straight Out of Scandinavia

When it comes to our choices of music, we all have guilty pleasures. During my formative years, I was a huge New Kids on the Block fan. I tortured my parents to purchase every poster, cassette tape (yes, it was that long ago), and piece of merchandise I could get my hands on. My love of NKOTB even helped me to become elected to my intermediate school student council. However, as time moved on, so did my taste in music. By the time high school arrived, I had abandoned pop music in exchange for alternative bands like Nirvana and Depeche Mode.

As Disney powerhouses The Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, and the High School Musical gang take the youth by storm, I often wonder what type of music their listeners will tune into next. Not being a huge fan of the “emo” genre, I hope that many reformed Radio Disney listeners will turn to the sweet sounds of indie pop. Independent pop music is steadily trickling into the mainstream, with exposure ranging from iPod commercials to prominent spots in teen dramas. Leading the charge of the indie pop invasion is a group of artists who have descended from the North with world domination in mind.

With increasingly more complex lyrics, catchy hooks, and hand claps, Scandinavian pop artists are taking the musical world by storm. The infectious beats and joyous refrains that have infiltrated the contemporary Scandinavian pop world is reminiscent of disco favorites Abba. The trademark sound of Abba consisted of cheesy, synthesized melodies that were infused with slightly ominous lyrics. Following in their footsteps, artists such as Alphabeat, Lykke Li, and Peter, Bjorn, and John are creating the soundtrack for a new generation of dancing queens.

As a sucker for hand claps and whistling, I could not resist the Peter, Bjorn, and John gem Young Folks. Young Folks, like many great pop songs, makes me want to jump out of my seat and start dancing. After listening to the album Writer's Block, it is easy for me to see that they were able to achieve what many pop artists' continuously strive for. Many critics, however, have viewed Peter, Bjorn, and John as a one hit wonder that has yet to deliver another song as successful as Young Folks.


With a co-opted eighties sound, Alphabeat is swiftly becoming one of my favorite pop groups. Their debut album, This is Alphabeat, features songs that would set the perfect backdrop for the upcoming revival production of Fame. The single Fascination brings to mind crowded school halls, acrobatic dancers, and bespectacled schoolteachers. Although the song Public Image is intended to be a commentary on the trappings of stardom, it is easy to envision a cheerleader who longs for life after secondary education. The icing on the cake is Fantastic Six, which features an enthusiastic chorus and handclaps. Check out the video for Fascination and more about Lykke Li, after the jump.



My boyfriend has a word for female artists with voices like Lykke Li: precious. Upon hearing her breakout song, Dance Dance Dance, I was quick to dismiss Lykke Li as just another cutesy pop star trying to coo her way to the top. Then, I heard the single Breaking it Up from the album Youth Novels. Dark and filled with edgy lyrics, Breaking it Up sets the tone for other songs on the album. As demonstrated during her mtvU performance, Lykke Li is perfectly capable of playing a woman on the verge of self destruction. Hailing from Sweden her quirky style is more remisicent of German electronica artist Ellen Allien.

As eighties music makes a huge comeback, I realize that I have missed listening to The Right Stuff while jumping around in Wigwam socks. Although, Scandinavian pop is not New Kids on the Block, it satisfies my craving for pop. As for my transition to Depeche Mode, my love of Dave Gahan and company inadvertently led me to my current boyfriend. Upon seeing him in a black Violator tee shirt, I knew I needed to talk to him. Afterall, we shared a guilty pleasure.

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Fantastic Six-Alphabeat
Public Image-Alphabeat

Textual Harrassment: Rumors, Techonology, and the Gossip Girl Generation

When I was a catty, teenage girl the greatest threats to my social life were the vicious rumors that were often spread by my so-called friends. Such rumors would distributed through the simplest of technologies, notes passed in class or every one's favorite game, telephone. By the end of a particularly difficult day, Tommy So-and-So would finally know that I had a crush on him, even if he was dating Mindy the cheerleader. Such events could be temporarily damaging, but generally faded after a few days. Today, teens are facing an ever changing environment in which even they do not have complete control.



Social networking sites such as facebook, which I joined with great reluctance, allow for ordinary citizens to become mini-celebrities. People you haven't talked to since elementary school are suddenly your best friend. Actual friends are provided status updates; photo galleries allow for nights of drunken debauchery to be encapsulated in cyberspace for all eternity. While technology such as Twitter and Flikr have viable applications, they are often misused or abused. For today's teens, a brief moment of indecision towards a supposed friend can lead to what may seem like a lifetime of misery.

Technology, while convenient, has created a world in which abusive relationships can thrive in unprecedented forms. As a teen in the nineties, I was witness to friends and boyfriends who were overzealous with instant messaging, phone calls, and even beeper pages. (Yes, prior to the proliferation of cell phones high school students carried pagers). While receiving repeated pages or phone calls was annoying, the person on the other end had no way of tracking your location. Global positioning technology that is currently available in many consumer electronics has paved the way for abusive partner to maintain constant location some one's whereabouts.

During the past month, the airwaves have been jammed with fans who were horrified at domestic dispute between musicians Chris Brown and his girlfriend, Rihanna. Apparently, the incident, which led to extensive injuries and a blood spattered car, was precipitated by Rihanna intercepting a text message that was intended for Chris Brown. Art often imitates life, but in this instance, Rihanna's concern over the female sender of the message led to a period of violence. What fans are finding most disturbing, however, is that she has not public renounced domestic violence or issued some form of statement that is seeking assistance. The fact that both artists maintain a youthful fan base is what I personally find most disturbing.

The Chris Brown and Rihanna incident has sent a very dangerous message to young women who may need to seek help for domestic violence. Thanks to the piranhas at TMZ, police photos of a horribly battered Rihanna have been leaked to the press. The anonymity that is normally afforded victims is apparently forgone when a victim is famous. Thankfully, there are various efforts that are being made to counteract bullying, domestic abuse, and technology abuse.

In an attempt to draw awareness to technology abuse, domestic abuse, and gossiping, The Family Violence Prevention Fund and The Ad Council have launched the website, That's Not Cool. That's Not Cool is a clever site that has provides free e-cards for teens to send to their friends, gossip mongers, and partners about actions that are just not cool. Included in this list is the abuse of instant messaging, posting damaging information on social networking sites, or stalking. This humorous take on these often illegal activities is intended to help create a dialog amongst teens regarding abuse.

As a fan of Gossip Girl, I often marvel at the over-the-top plots, dialog, and wardrobe. Is Chuck Bass really wearing a pink ascot? However, I must admit that I was horrified at a plot that unfolded during Season One of the series. During the episode, Poison Ivy, Blair Waldorf and her cohort Chuck Bass, spread the nasty rumor that one of their flock was absent from school due to stint in a rehabilitation facility. Complete with photographs that are distributed throughout the school faster than a snow chain, this rumor has devastating effects on both the subject and her family members. In true Gossip Girl fashion, there are no negative consequences for Chuck or Blair. It is not until an entire season later that all of the rumor spreading finally catches up with Blair. Perhaps, someone needs to send her character a That's Not Cool message.

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The Mean Girl Playlist:

Hot and Cold-Katy Perry

Wikked 'Lil Girls-Esthero

Kiss Me Thru the Phone-Soulja Boy

Diva-Beyonce

From Charles Bass to Charlie Bartlett: Preppy Bad Boys Emerge: Part 2

In this continuing series of critiques, I will be analyzing the emergence of the preppy bad boy in contemporary teen media. In my prior post, I contrasted the differences between the male characters portrayed in Stephanie Meyer's Twilight with those depicted in Cecily von Ziegesar's Gossip Girl series. Feminists and parents groups have expressed alarm at the relationship dynamics featured in both Twilight and Gossip Girl. Each has become an example, by older generations, of what is wrong with American youth.


In fairness, von Ziegesar was expressed dismay over the way in which the television series has started to diverge from her original concepts. For example, in the printed series, Aaron Rose character who remains with ingenue Serena van der Woodsen for quite some time. However, both viewers and Cecily were horrified at the manner in which television Rose was portrayed. According to von Ziegesar, Aaron Rose was intended to be a free-thinking bohemian, who happened to be wealthy. Instead, he evolved into a narcissistic hipster. Once again, there was a demonetization of the wealthy male.



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Now playing: Lily Allen - The Fear
via FoxyTunes