[o72] gossip girl : beautiful dirty rich (part one)
We're used to paying attention to art direction in the works of Zack Snyder, Taratino, and Oscar-Worthy period pieces. We're used to watching Gossip Girl for juicy scandal and ridiculously pretty people. However, every now and then when I watch GG I notice a few striking images here and there... something that suggests that maybe these people are smarter than we give them credit for. This is a compilation of several such striking images from the show, in chronological order. The caps are not chosen because of any relevance to plot but for purely aesthetic purposes.
Some of the things taken into consideration are composition, color, lightning, proportion, etc... Some of the scenes are more referential while others very modern. A lot of these are images which I like to think that people would want to print out and hang on their wall, regardless of knowing the context of the scene.
In the beginning of the series, one of the points which the show was trying to get across was the opulence of the Upper East Side. A lot of attention is paid to the architecture that surrounds the characters. Grand Central Station is something in and of itself, and I love how its grandiose windows and ceiling off-set how tiny Serena looks. I also really enjoyed Blair and Serena's complimentary and coordinated dresses against the backdrop of Central Park, and the blurry dream-like flashback to the Shepherd Wedding.
I love the dominant primary colors from the scene in Dare Devil (red is certainly Blair's color). Also enjoy the reflective texture of the cobblestone streets during Dan and Serena's kiss, and the whole Jenny-At-The-Masquerade ball sequence, which looks like something out of gypsy circus. The Dan and Serena scene in Victor, Victrola is actually what piqued my interest in the series. The brick walls and plants make it seem like they're two teenagers trapped in a storybook rather than NY.
I am so so much in love with the lighting at Blair's birthday party in Seventeen Candles. The warm pink, purple, orange hues remind me of a sunset. I also really like the focus on the image of Danny and Jenny walking through Brooklyn on Thanksgiving, and of course - the Blair and Nate scene at the end of Hi Society. It's one of the most gorgeous scenes in the series that even non-shippers often acknowledge.
One of my favorites in this set is Dan and Serena in the art gallery, surrounded by projected snow. I noticed that a lot of times this show creates 'surreal' environments by imitation. It's a cheaper than filming on location or building a new set, but still provides that air of magic. Also, I had to include the shot of all the kids on the steps at school because do they look like a freaking J-Crew catalog or what? Also, love the white fog behind Lily... it kind of gives it a film noir feel, but in color. There's a lot to say about this set... I also love the mood in the scene with Chuck at the bar. His pink sweater compliments the warm yellow/green backdrop nicely.
Mean Girls color coordination might be my favorite thing in the entire world. I love how Jenny's blue/yellow/pink ensemble pops against the neutral background. It also gives off a misleading "innocent" vibe.
Things I love in this set... Serena and her gold trench against a lush green back-drop and likewise, her in her yellow bridesmaid dress at the wedding amidst all that greenery. At the end of S3 there are many shots of the Empire State Building being 'framed' in the background, but here it is in S1 as Lily and Bart speak. I also love the lighting behind Lily in the hotel room with Rufus. There's a pleasant early morning warmth to it.
A little anti-climatic, but there you have it! A season of gorgeousness.