The show follows the lives and loves of four women living in New York City in the late nineties/early 2000's, tracing the endless mishaps and insights that come from failed relationships, brand-name outfits, and NYC hot spots. And while the series innovated sexual discussion on TV, as the admittedly promiscuous girls openly chat about blowjobs and condoms ("I once dated a guy with the funkiest tasting spunk,") the depiction of women seems not-so-innovative.
Indeed, though Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte are all presented as successful, independent women - a fact so continually emphasized that it was mentioned in a mad tv parody of the show ("four smart single women taking charge of their own lives!"... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohqNf5e4D1k) - they all search desperately for men. Indeed, the show revolves around this six-season man hunt, including Carrie's on-and-off relationship with
Big, a millionaire
who betrays her numerous times yet is the one she ends up with. The paradox is clear: the women are independent, successful, and smart, yet they search for a man to 'complete' them, are unsuccessful in life when they fail in doing so, and, all the while, act stupidly when it comes to relationships (perpetually de-constructing every word their lover says to them: "he signed the card 'best'...what does that mean?!")
Men, meanwhile, exhibit either hegemonic or subordinate masculinity. For instance, in the final episode of the series, Big comes to Paris and whisks Carrie away from her Russian lover who has recently betrayed her (betray, in this case, meaning he is busy with his work...smart/independent women are okay but men should free up some time for their girl, no?) In fact, his name isn't even Big - it's John (which we find out in the last episode after meeting him in the first season;) this nickname reflects the glamorized masculinity of a big man that can take care of a women, rescuing her from her own neurotic mind.
On the other hand, gays (who often enjoy and relate to the show just as much as women) are everywhere in the series: planning weddings, working PR, owning clothing boutiques. They fit the role of the fun, gay friend who can hook the women up with great relationship advice and to-die-for shoes. This may or may not explain why every gay man today is expected to fulfill the role of shopping buddy and secret-keeper who can be trusted because of a high-pitched voice and/or pink polo. Nearly every gay man is at least reasonably attractive; even the "ugly" one somehow ends up dating a model (after being "rejected by everyone in town.") Hence, the myth of the beautiful, fun, socially adept gay man is perpetuated, and homosexuals across the country better live up to this expectation, lest they disappoint their female comrades. Personally, I've yet to see a show that depicts gay men as actual human beings - rather than flamboyant comedic reliefs - but Sex and the City, at least, pulls gay men out of their 80's AIDS-ridden gutters and puts them at the front row of fashion shows.
Overall, while the show seems to pioneer a new way of looking at gender roles, not much has changed: women still need men, men are still the keys to happiness, and gays are still behind the scenes, keeping the world sparkling.
No comments:
Post a Comment