Cultural analysis

Carmen came over tonight to catch up on Friends reruns and somehow we ended up in this massive debate about whether Rachel’s character development is actually groundbreaking or just privileged girl problems disguised as feminism.

Cultural analysis

I’m trying to make this whole case about how her evolution from daddy’s princess to independent woman reflects this broader cultural shift, and Carmen’s just laughing at me like I’m writing a dissertation on sitcom theory. Which, okay, maybe I kind of am.

“Elena, it’s a TV show about attractive white people drinking coffee,” she says, but then five minutes later she’s getting just as worked up about whether Ross and Rachel are actually toxic for each other.

The dramatic reenactment phase

Jake walked through twenty minutes ago, took one look at us gesturing wildly at the screen, and just backed slowly into the kitchen. Smart man.