✳flâneur — a map of the web's best reading

Reality Hunger: On Lena Dunham’s “Girls” | Los Angeles Review of Books

lareviewofbooks.org · 3,435 words · saved by 1 readers

MOST REVIEWS OF LENA DUNHAM’S new HBO show Girls so far have focused on its “realism,” which immediately begs questions. If Dunham’s show is meant to be realistic, then we’re obliged to judge whether it’s either refreshingly on target, or entirely missing the mark. Do we, the viewers, feel represented and reflected by the conversations and scenarios that Girls presents? Or do we feel alienated from them? Do we identify? Or do we feel something in between?  In the promotional trailer for the series, Dunham’s character Hannah Horvath sits before her parents and proclaims: “I think I may be the voice of my generation,” only to retreat instantly behind the modification: “or at least a voice … of ageneration.” This line, tagged as the catchphrase of Girls in the lead up to its pilot, was received almost as a dare. Someone, finally, was going to take on the challenge of speaking the real and raw truth for recession-era youth! For all its overwhelming narcissism, though, the line also ant

Reality Hunger: On Lena Dunham’s “Girls” For Hannah, talking is a way of coming to terms with, and owning, her appetites. By Jane Hu April 28, 2012 Did you know LARB is a reader-supported nonprofit? LARB publishes daily without a paywall as part of our mission to make rigorous, incisive, and engaging writing on every aspect of literature, culture, and the arts freely accessible to the public. Help us continue this work with your tax-deductible donation today! Donate MOST REVIEWS OF LENA DUNHAM’S new HBO show Girls so far have focused on its “realism,” which immediately begs questions. If Dunha

Explore this link on the map →

saved by

related reading