Question for the Millennials: is this TV show a reflection of the Generation X ? As the seasons unfold the girls become awful, selfish, narcissistic and manipulative. Is this a reflection of this generation? How realistic are these characters or are they overtop for dramatic and comic effect?
Might be interesting to also consider this show's relationship to the rise of the anti-hero in TV drama, and the relatively recent tradition of the unlikable sitcom character (i.e. Seinfeld, Arrested Development, etc.). Are these characters anti-heroines? To what extent is that an aesthetic choice rather than a form of direct social commentary? How are the two related? – ccaputo9 years ago
As a GenX I would have to say it sounds like yes on the negative side of my generation. I don't watch this show but hopefully they will portray some of the positive sides of my generation too. We make loyal friends and don't want to sell out. I have heard of a few criticisms of my generation such as we work to live instead of living to work like the Boomers and we are not that committed to our employers to mention one gripe of my peers. I wonder if that is portrayed. Whoever does this topic will have to define the prominent qualities of GenX. Hopefully positives and negatives. – Munjeera9 years ago
Very interesting subject.
Even though the girls in this show are portrayed as manipulative and narcissistic, they're also a reflection of a generation that is trying, making mistakes and unafraid to admit that the transition towards adulthood is both scary and though. The show can be exaggerated but the interesting part of it is also its ability to be raw, truthful and to present a new vision of the heroine or anti-heroine seen on TV.
The relation to sex is also completely different, as it is for the GenX, nor bad or good, which is interesting since the show is depicting it whithout any inhibitions but also without making any value judgement. It could be a good example to illustrate the answer to the question. – Ambre9 years ago
I think it is a little narrow minded to consider that Girls is an accurate representation of millennials as a generation. Perhaps instead of boxing in a whole generation of the population, consider taking a pro/con approach and tie it into how growing up as a millennial has been shaped by growing up around/being raised by people of previous generations. Of course, Girls is true-to-life in its representation of real world struggles, but a lot of the time the girls get what they want and hardly have to make an effort with the exception perhaps of Hannah. That could be another interesting direction to consider for this topic. – mingl0189 years ago
I had a couple of conversations recently in which I praised Gen Xers for being hard to market, and Millenials for being savers like the Silent Generation that grew up through the Depression. I was told by both friends, who are employers, that Milennials have no work ethic. Neither commented on Gen Xers. I'm not happy about this. I'd rather think this stuff is cyclical rather than believe the ship is sinking. Hopefully, it's just youth or two old crabby guys spouting off. Pretty scary, though, that one guy has a pretty good sized sample of employees to assess. He also told me the best employee he ever had was a Hmong guy who had been in the U.S. for a very short time. But it's alright, it's alright. You can't be forever blessed. – Tigey8 years ago
