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And, Now, A Few Reasons We're Excited For Lena Dunham's <em>Girls</em>
By
Jen Carlson
Published Feb 2, 2012
Modified Apr 23, 2012
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Feb 2, 2012
Modified Apr 23, 2012
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Lena Dunham (along with co-executive producer Judd Apatow) will bring Girls to HBO this April, and in what is finally, hopefully, a post-Carrie Bradshaw New York City, we're already counting down the days. Even if we haven't been sent a screener and have only seen teasers. Here's why:
1. The show is based in New York, and they actually shot (at least some of it) in New York, which isn't always the case. And we like it when palm trees aren't popping up in shots of "Brooklyn." True, we haven't seen what the character's apartments will look like, but we're betting on Dunham to keep it real.
See, the B48 is a real bus, not a Hollywood creation.
2. As Hello Giggles writer Clementine Ford (that's sort of just too precious) recently pointed out, 25-year-old Dunham is bringing realistic characters to the screen. She notes, "For the first time in a long time women in their 20s are seeing themselves reflected on screen, physically and emotionally. In a culture that has so devalued reading and personal connection, where else are young women to look for inspiration? For aspiration? Facebook? I think not, and thanks to women like Lena Dunham, they don’t have to." Dunham herself has said, “I felt like there wasn’t a pop culture mirror reflecting girls my age experiencing the trials and tribulation of being female at this specific time."
3. Which brings us to those other girls: the Sex in the City girls. That show wasn't created to mirror a super realistic subsection of the female population, it only created one. But, like, a clone one, where something was a little... off. Anyway, this army of Manolo-wearing monsters young women flocked to Manhattan thinking they'd be the next Carrie, somehow not realizing Carrie was a fictional character. And when they didn't land a sweet rent-controlled apartment in a desirable neighborhood, a writing gig, and, let's say, 3 really good friends, each with a different hair color? They threw actual tantrums. This won't happen with Dunham's shows, because her audience already exists, you know, IRL.
In conclusion, Fuck Yeah Girls, and here's a new glimpse at the show, and behind the scenes:
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Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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