Internet gossip, TV nudity and HBO’s big mistake

Outrage! Scandal! It’s part of our nature to be drawn to these emotions, and I’ve often wondered how guilty I should feel for being so thrilled by them. other people’s business. There is an argument to be made for the virtues of gossip; sharing information with others makes me feel closer to them, like we are both part of something. The content of gossip also appeals to me, as my interlocutor and I are momentary anthropologists, analyzing the evidence, analyzing what the information may suggest about the subjects. Both in its exchange between me and the other and in our inevitable discussion of others, gossip makes me feel less alone and more human.

But there are of course the downsides, especially when we scale up. Gossip feeds the mob mentality that makes us leave critical thinking at the door for a quick emotional high at the expense of others. This leads us to put celebrities on pedestals only to rip them off again without mercy (ahem, #FreeBritney). There’s an inevitable connection between art and gossip, something the writers in the Arts section know intimately. When they open their books, enter theaters and attend concerts, they are well aware of the shifting and often reactive culture that surrounds the art they consume. I challenged art writers to think about how art interprets gossip and how gossip shapes our interpretation of art. The result? An outrageous and thrilling exploration of all the things art-related that make our jaws drop and raise our eyebrows – plus answers to the pressing question of why we do it. Have fun and don’t forget to tell a friend.

XOXO,