Is "sex and the city" representative of New Yorkers?

[marzena]

Hi I’m from Poland and currently I’m writing an MA a dissertation on the series "sex and the city" (to be exact metaphors and blends), my question is: is the show in any way representative of New York and New Yorkers?


I will be grateful for any responce :D

[Ninjahedge]

No.


Watch Manhattan, a bit dated, but a much better representation of NYers.


SitC was a NY comedic soap opera. The characters were not real, and their situations almost fairy-tale.

I would seriously look for a better way to dissect the series than thinking of it as a representation of NY or NY culture.

[BrooklynRider]

Following up on Ninjahedge's comments, I agree that the conversations and some of the attitudes are very New York. It a composite of New York. I don't think their lifestyle is representative of NYC in general, but rather a slice of a certain type of lifestyle.

[Encideyamind]

No.


Watch Manhattan, a bit dated, but a much better representation of NYers.


SitC was a NY comedic soap opera. The characters were not real, and their situations almost fairy-tale.

I would seriously look for a better way to dissect the series than thinking of it as a representation of NY or NY culture.

Alright, say I'm a writer writing a new movie about the life of New York, both surface and underground, what elements should not be left out?

[marzena]

No.


Watch Manhattan, a bit dated, but a much better representation of NYers.


SitC was a NY comedic soap opera. The characters were not real, and their situations almost fairy-tale.

I would seriously look for a better way to dissect the series than thinking of it as a representation of NY or NY culture.

That’s exactly why I asked the question:). I wrote my BA on "two for the seesaw" by William Gibson and was wondering if I could in any way relate the two to each other (by the way I know that the series and the play aren't similar, I'm just talking about some aspects). Both in the series and in the play the characters are lonely, at least to my mind they are, and are extremely afraid of commitment. This is further sustained by what Baudrillard wrote in his book “America” that in New York only groups can stay together, never couples. But in his chapter on New York he describes the city to be an anti-ark.

So what do you think about this? Would you agree that New York is an anti couple and anti commitment place??

[BrooklynRider]

No, I don't agree with that. Actually, I think the high rents in Manhattan encourage people to choose mates to defer expenses. I think there should be some delineation between Manhattan and the out-boroughs. While Manhattan is more geared for couples and singles, families by and large seek homes outside of Manhattan.

New York is a city with an emphasis on the individual, i.e. individual net worth, individual success, individual education. A lot of people who are married retain their last names as opposed to their married names to continue career success. The other thing I want to note is the huge amount of external stimulation this city provides in the way of arts, entertainment, education, and activism. It's not like other cities where citizens might desire a mate to "create a life" and excitement and to live the American Dream. For many New yorkers, just being here does all of that.

[marzena]

So would you agree that once people in New York find somebody they really want to be with they automatically try to find a house outside of the city? Or are they able to create a strong relationship within New York, or Manhattan for that matter? Or are they creating relationships just to be with someone?
(I know that i'm asking for generalisations:))

[BrooklynRider]

I think you are trying to generalize something that can't be. We have 8 million people within the city proper and 21 million in the metro area. There is no "typical" New Yorker. Where people settle depends on the lifestyle they want to live and can afford.

[bingobango]

I have watched this soap opera before. What i wanna say is : wow! what a open out lifestyle the New Yorkers are !

[marzena]

I think you are trying to generalize something that can't be. We have 8 million people within the city proper and 21 million in the metro area. There is no "typical" New Yorker. Where people settle depends on the lifestyle they want to live and can afford.


Hmmm... But you know, on the other hand, there are statistics generalizing much bigger numbers of people. There are some that even give you a ‘typical American’, and your society is one of the most diverse ones.

[BrooklynRider]

"Typical American" is not an accurate term. "Average American" might be more appropriare. There are a lot of very average people in this country - meaning unspectacular in everyway.

[OmegaNYC]

I would say no. NYC is such a huge city. It really is a mega city. So many lifestyles are in New York. SAC, is just a small slice.