En ambivalent identifikation. En kritisk analys om porträtteringen av kärlek i You och Gossip Girl.

Abstract

This essay contains an analysis of You (2018–) and Gossip Girl (2007–2012) focusing on contrast and comparing the narrative and the two male protagonists, Joe Goldberg (You) and Dan Humphrey (Gossip Girl), whom are played by the same actor, Penn Badgley. The main thesis of this essay is how the (female) spectator identity with two male protagonists who act voyeurs and stalk their love interest to get closer to them. Both series portray the main male characters as underdogs – who we’re meant to identify with, but their obsession with the female character leads us to an ambivalent feeling about them, at least one of them – Joe. By using perspectives of psychoanalytical theories, feminist film theories and theories of identification, this essay attempt to answer matters about depiction of spectatorship and identification.