In this essay – err, today’s blog – I will be discussing why The Spectator is, in fact, just an eighteenth-century version of the CW TV show Gossip Girl. I realize you may scoff at the thought as The Spectator, after all, is quoted in dictionaries and therefore must be a very serious and respectable periodical. However, it just so happens that at its core The Spectator spends a great deal of time exploring the rumor mill of the Upper East Side – I mean England. Since I’m already mixing metaphors, let’s get into the main points as to why The Spectator = Gossip Girl.
Authorship
Now, I won’t talk about the ways in which I fully disagree that the CW’s Gossip Girl could have been *spoiler* Dan, but regardless, in both media there are multiple people contributing to the proverbial grapevine backed by the central person/people. In Gossip Girl, texts and emails were sent by students at Constance Billard School for Girls and St. Jude’s School for Boys for Gossip Girl (AKA Dan, supposedly) to share. The Spectator, a bit further behind in technology, received letters from readers as far as the magazine’s long arm could reach. These were then published in future issues by the Spectator, Addison or Steele, under pennames.
Topics
As we know, The Spectator and Gossip Girl are from wildly different centuries, but the core subject matter remains the same. The hearsay from both covers significant events of their time, such as interpersonal drama, big events, even politics; and if you think high school didn’t have politics, you might not have gone to public school and I’m jealous. Additionally, the influences of the time are clearly seen in the writing and imagery of both – as most media is wont to do!
Gossip
Lastly, the origin of my interest in this historical odd couple is the simple fact that they are both fully, and wholly, featuring gossip. We may not think of eighteenth century – or any other time besides our own – writing as gossip, but let’s be real: gossip really means to chat. We often apply our own connotations (negative, moral, or gendered) to terms, like gossip, obfuscating the original, somewhat amoral, definition. Also, the people reading and contributing to The Spectator are just like us: they have interests and experience events that influence their letters and the topics of conversation. Indeed, this trendy publication covered all the hottest topics and people of the day, such as Queen Anne’s reign (reminiscent of Queen B, GG fans?) alongside local scandals that aren’t quite as well known today.
The Spectator and Gossip Girl might seem worlds apart, but they share a surprisingly similar center. Both serve as mirrors (or megaphones) to their societies, reflecting the intrigues, scandals, and everyday dramas that captivate their audiences. By examining these two seemingly opposite entities, we can see how people, and the art of gossip, has evolved yet remained fundamentally the same, proving that human nature's fascination with the lives of others transcends time and tech. So, whether you're reading about the latest scandal in eighteenth century England or the newest drama on the Upper East Side, remember that gossip is a timeless tradition, shaping our understanding of society, propelling our lives, and making things a little more fun.
XOXO,
(not) Gossip Girl