The companion to the show "Girls"
So I don't really watch the HBO show "Girls", but I've seen one season of it and I enjoy it well enough. I couldn't entirely relate to narcissistic Hannah, perfectionist Marnie, materialistic Shoshanna or manic Jessa though. But there was something outside of the show that didn't just supplement but rather expounded the pleasure I got from watching those episodes. That was the "Inside The Episode" videos posted on YouTube where Lena Dunham explains the episode and gives you a glimpse into the psyche of the characters, the meaning of the plot, and her process of creating each episode. Those videos are immensely fascinating, almost more than the show!
It is probably wrong to give high praise to an artist for explaining her art - that seems to almost break a rule somehow ("the art should speak for itself," and so on). But I would argue that her synthesis of her own work is almost an art form in and of itself. Perhaps it doesn't count as art until she shares it with the world, or perhaps "the process" really is its own art. But I contend that Lena has such a poetic and lovely way of putting things that doesn't get brought out in the show, because she's busy portraying a maddening person.
I think it's safe to say that I would not have watched a single episode of "Girls" if I hadn't seen the videos giving some background first. In them Lena also mentions why she chose to include certain people in the cast as guest stars or certain songs in the show. Those little nuggets are so interesting to me. Maybe it's because I respect her process of writing and creating a story, as a journalism major myself. Either way, I recommend those videos to whoever does or doesn't watch the show.
It is probably wrong to give high praise to an artist for explaining her art - that seems to almost break a rule somehow ("the art should speak for itself," and so on). But I would argue that her synthesis of her own work is almost an art form in and of itself. Perhaps it doesn't count as art until she shares it with the world, or perhaps "the process" really is its own art. But I contend that Lena has such a poetic and lovely way of putting things that doesn't get brought out in the show, because she's busy portraying a maddening person.
I think it's safe to say that I would not have watched a single episode of "Girls" if I hadn't seen the videos giving some background first. In them Lena also mentions why she chose to include certain people in the cast as guest stars or certain songs in the show. Those little nuggets are so interesting to me. Maybe it's because I respect her process of writing and creating a story, as a journalism major myself. Either way, I recommend those videos to whoever does or doesn't watch the show.
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