Cassidy Wuesthoff

UWRT 1103
Ashlyn Williams
16 October 2014

Homework Response 10

Introduction
Blair stared solemnly down at the floor as all the blood drained from her face. She felt the room
begin to spin, or maybe it wasnt even spinning at all. She looked up apprehensively and met
eyes with Chuck Bass, no not Chuck Bass, THE Chuck Bass; the sinfully beautiful and dark man
she was in love with. He couldnt even look her in the eyes, after sealing the deal he had just
approved. How could the power of love ever out way the power of money in Chucks Bass
world? Jack Bass, Chucks deranged uncle sat contently after signing over the deed to the
Empire Hotel to Chuck in exchange for the chance to have intimate relations with Blair, Chucks
long time love affair. Blair watched as the only ounce of Chucks morality withered away in
seconds as the idea of becoming even richer clouded his mind. Blair had seen this trend within
Manhattans elite and even in herself several times before; money often overrides morals.
My personal relationship to the Gossip Girl Series is an on-going one. I watch the Gossip
Girl series pretty consistently on Netflix in my spare time. It is easy for me to relate to the
characters in the show because they experience high school and college scenarios just on an
exaggerated level. With the characters in the show being extremely privileged, they often face
difficult situations where they dont always make ethical decisions. This is a relatively relevant
topic to our world today; Social class and accumulation of wealth can often lead to the decay of
morality.

Commented [CW1]: The introduction to your paper is

really detailed and I can tell that you are really interested in
the show based on the way you described the love
connection between Blair and Chuck and his moral issues
with becoming wealthy. It was a really enjoyable
introduction to read, I was hooked when you were stressing
the importance of Chuck Basss name. I also think you did a
really great job relation Gossip Girl to your life and how it
reminds you of your own high school experiences, great job.
Commented [CW2]: I really enjoyed reading your
introduction section, especially the first paragraph. The way
you wrote your first paragraph was good enough to hook
your readers, including myself, even though the blood
part in the first sentence made me shiver a bit. Ive never
watched Gossip Girl before so your introduction did give me
a brief detail on what the show is like. I also like how you
capitalized the by Chuck Bass name; to me, it adds such a
dramatic effect to this character.
Commented [CW3]: Your first paragraph really sets the
tone of the paper well, I have never seen the show, but I can
imagine how these characters act and exactly what you are
talking about. You also did a good job exposing your bias in
the introduction. Great work so far.
Commented [CW4]: I really like your first paragraph. The
hook is pretty intense and grabs my attention instantly. My
favorite part of the first paragraph of the introduction is
when you stated that money often overrides morals.
Although this was a very well written first paragraph your
second paragraphs jumps instantly into your connection
with Gossip Girl. Maybe you can come up with a sentence
that smoothly transitions from your hook to your personal
relationship with Gossip Girl.
Commented [CW5]: I noticed that you didnt include a
topic proposal in your draft, based on the rubric for this
assignment that was one of the required elements for the
paper. I would have loved to read your topic proposal so I
could have had an idea of exactly what your paper was
going to tell me before I began reading it so I knew what to
look for. The topic proposal would have been helpful to tell
your readers why you chose your topic of research and how
you are going to present the information you gathered
throughout your paper.

Cassidy Wuesthoff
UWRT 1103
Ashlyn Williams
16 October 2014

This paper explores the many implications of wealth and how those coming from higher
social classes often stray away from accepted morality. When individuals are privileged,
meaning that they have accessed to a wide variety of resources they are often more likely to be
involved in lying, cheating, embezzling, and fraudulent scams in addition to many other
unacceptable situations. From my own personal observations I have seen this theme to be very

Commented [CW6]: I think that you should change your

theme of the paper to money changes the way we think as
people. Not a society. If the person next to me has millions
of dollars, that does not necessarily change the way I think.
It changes the way they think.
Commented [CW7]: The first sentence in paragraph
three states This paper explores the many implications of
wealth and how those coming from higher social classes
often stray away from accepted morality. This is a very well
written sentence and states exactly what the purpose of this
paper is. Its a clear view of the main theme of your paper.

true in the Gossip Girl series. The privileged teens of Manhattans Elite are handed everything
they could possibly need from their wealthy parents and their find themselves in difficult
situations where they make choices that an average person would more than likely avoid in
order to keep their name clean.

Literature Review
Blair Waldorff and her fellow friends in the hit TV series Gossip Girl that aired on the CW
during the early 2000s are a prime representation of several problems that we face in not only
this generation, but the generations to follow. The overly privileged teenagers in the show
exemplify the morality, and the lack there of in our more recent generations. Countless studies
have been carried out that point to the root of the decline of values, which stems from ones
social status and the accumulation of wealth. (Paul K. Piff, Daniel M. Stancato, Stphane Ct,
Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, and Dacher Keltner, 2012) This has been a developing issue since the
20s when our economy experienced its first economic peak. Since then, the issue has become
more prominent and unfortunately overlooked. Blair Waldorff is a prime example, it is hard to
dislike her as a character in the show because she is so relatable, however she is representative

Commented [CW8]: The beginning of your literature

review seems a little wordy. Also, remember to change your
citation style to the et al. thing. Maybe when youre talking
about their parents, talk about how their childrens actions
have impacted them, if at all.
Commented [CW9]: Overall your literature review is very
impressive. I feel like maybe you could elaborate more from
different sources because you do only use three of the 8
sources we are suppose to have. So maybe try to
incorporate more sources. Other than that, that whole
section of your paper is very well written and it seems like
you pretty much know what you are talking about.
Commented [CW10]: In the first paragraph of your
literature review, you repeatedly use the word generation
over and over. Maybe you can find a way to limit your use
of that word in the first view sentences in the first
paragraph. Its a little repetitive and substituting that word
can broaden the vocabulary used in your paper.
Commented [CW11]: I really like your Literature
Review section in your Assignment Two paper and how you
included your sources in it. However, Im a little confused on
how you typed your sources into your paper. For example:
Countless studies have been carried out that point to the
root of the decline of values, which stems from ones social
status and the accumulation of wealth. (Paul K. Piff, Daniel
M. Stancato, Stphane Ct, Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, and
Dacher Keltner, 2012) This has been a developing issue
since the 20s when our economy experienced its first
economic peak. Is this source related to that first sentence
or the sentence after that? If its related to the first
sentence Countless studies., then add the source before
the period, like this: Countless studies have been carried
out that point to the root of the decline of values, which
stems from ones social status and the accumulation of
wealth (Paul K. Piff, Daniel M. Stancato, Stphane Ct,
Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, and Dacher Keltner, 2012).

Cassidy Wuesthoff
UWRT 1103
Ashlyn Williams
16 October 2014

as our community as a whole. The problem that our society faces is not necessarily related to
Americas lower class, or even the middle class for that matter, but it is mostly consistent with
in or upper-middle class. (Husted, Brian W., 1999) The values of the overly entitled teenagers
that make up the show consist of materialistic desires, and self-centered aspirations. Even more
disconcerting, is the fact that the values of the teenagers of the show are an exact reciprocation
of the morals of their parents.
There are specific examples in the series that the director exaggerates on film to
capitalize on the idea that our society tends to focus on the wrong things nine times out of ten.
For example through-out the many seasons of Gossip Girl, the two main protagonists are
always in the midst of an ongoing battle to trump the other in the social hierarchy of
Manhattans upper class. Blair, being the more vindictive of the two, is consistently plotting
against Serena, and scheming ways in which she can blackmail her into doing what she wants
her to do. (Wuesthoff, Cassidy. Assignment One Observations, 2014). This is quite ironic
considering Serena and Blair are supposed to be best friends. Its questionable as to why social
status has become more important that acting like a rational and respectable adult. This can be
the result of the parents and the scandals that they participate in themselves. Between the
financial fraud, the lies, and the manipulation of the upper class parents, its no wonder their
children act the way they do.

Adding to the Conversation

Commented [CW12]: I love your first paragraph on

Entering the Conversation, this was a well thought out
and well organized paragraph. You jumped right to the point
that money can greatly have an influence on society and
morals. This paragraph is extremely relevant to society
today, and I personally can relate to it. You have chosen a
strong topic of research that many people have experienced
in society and their own lives today. You also gave great
explanations on how you personally think money influences
society and morals.
Commented [CW13]: I really like your second paragraph
of the adding to the conversation section. It really relates
the show back to real life or why we should care about it,
which is a key aspect of this assignment. Overall you have
exceeded on the paper to this point.

Cassidy Wuesthoff
UWRT 1103
Ashlyn Williams
16 October 2014

Today in our busy world, money has become the object of our motivation and the
epicenter of our daily lives. Money has given many people from all different cultures the false
perception that money can fix all of your troubles. In our high society, it is no secret that money
has an immense influence on our actions and morals and as a result has subconsciously pulled
us away from the positive values that our grandparents probably carried. To generalize the
theme of this paper specifically, money changes the way that we think as a society. It is become
more evident based on the unveiling of new evidence that money has the power to debilitate
our once good nature. The more than privileged young adults in the Gossip Girl series that aired
on the CW for the first time in 2007, explicitly makes a mockery of our society by pointing out
our flawed perceptions of what is considered to be morally correct. In the series we see
multiple instances where the morality of the characters waivers in the face of temptation.
The Manhattan teens that star in the Gossip Girl series are a prime example of the abuse
of wealth. We watch the show because it is full of juicy gossip and keeps us wanting to watch
more, but viewers fail to realize just how realistic the scandals in the show really are. The series
highlights the intertwining scandals of each of the main characters that range from lying to
family members, to being involved in financially fraudulent scams. However, we tend to forget
that although the show can be seen as an exaggeration, the characters deceptions are seen in
everyday life. Although government bribery, cheating, lying, blackmailing, and stealing make for
quite an interesting story line, these specific examples would be considered less than
acceptable in all actuality. Socioeconomic status is one of the most pressing factors affecting

Commented [CW14]: At the end of your first adding to

the conversation paragraph, you say there are multiple
instances where they act differently in the face of
temptation. What are some of these instances? Maybe
dont put them in that paragraph, but the next one or even
the one after that.
Commented [CW15]: The second the last sentence in the
first paragraph of where you started entering the
conversation, is a very strong sentence. I felt like it was a
very powerful statement and was very clear as to what you
were adding to the conversation. Reading this sentence, I
pictured someone like Lindsay Lohan in my head

Cassidy Wuesthoff
UWRT 1103
Ashlyn Williams
16 October 2014

the moral decline not only in the U.S but across the globe. Greed is the main driving force
behind the increase of unethical behavior, which stems solely from the pursuit of self-interest.
We also see a similar theme in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. One of the main
ideas that the author addresses in this piece of literature is the idea that money can buy you
the privilege of living in the world with the absence of consequences. The main characters in
the novel come from wealthy families. The poor choices that the characters choose to make are
a direct result of the wealth that they have. For example when Daisy Buchanan speeds down
the road in Jay Gatsbys car in a panicked fluster, she accidently runs Myrtle over who runs into
the street. This is just one of the many examples that exemplify the carelessness that the
wealthy in the novel acquire.
One of the many implications of the wealth and how it affects morality is very visible in
family life. In the series, the parents of the Upper East Side of Manhattan, higher social class
typically resides, are often too busy to have much interaction with their children. Most typical
families of Americas middle class capitalize on family life and the raising of their children. This
is not the case in Gossip Girl however. The parents in the show are more self-concerned than
most parents are, they are more concerned with their own social lives and relationships and
often consider their children a burden. They think by supplying them with money and all of
their material wants, that it will make up for their absence. The morality of the parents in the
show is no more respectable than the values of their offspring. They create their own scandals,
in which they think they are immune to consequences because of their social prestigious social
statuses. For example Lily Van Der Woodsen was looking to face up to 10 years in prison after

Commented [CW16]: Your Adding to the Conversation

section was very good and well-written. I was very hooked
to this section when you used this sentence Today in our
busy world, money has become the object of our motivation
and the epicenter of our daily lives as the starting sentence
for this section. This helped readers, including myself,
understand that what youre adding to the conversation
deals with money.
Commented [CW17]: When you describe Scott
Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, you say that the characters
came from wealthy backgrounds but it is very vague and
there is not much detail about how the characters portray
wealthy characters. You mention that they are careless
because they are wealthy, but you only give the one
example as to how Daisy runs over Myrtle with a car. This is
a scenario that could happen to anyone wealthy or not
unless you explain why she was so careless and give more of
a background about the characters. I would describe the
characters relations to wealth a little bit more, like the way
they dressed or acted and how money made them believe
they were above other members of society.

Cassidy Wuesthoff
UWRT 1103
Ashlyn Williams
16 October 2014

faking an affidavit accusing on of her daughters teachers for having a relationship with her
underage daughter. Unfortunately in this episode we dont see Lily Van Der Woodsen go to jail,
because she is a well-known New York Socialite she manages to get her sentence reduced to six
months of house arrest. This is only one of the many cases that represent the ability of social
class to increase the decline or morality.
Not only is this theme present in family life, but it also carries over into the political
aspect of our country. In the series, Nates cousin Trip Vanderbilt is running for congressman,
and the polls are running a very close race. Nates grandfather, a wealthy senator, stages a man
drowning in the Hudson river one day when Trip is there visiting. Of course, Trip being the good
citizen that he is rips off his shirt and jumps in to save him. Ironically the whole event is caught
on tape and released to the media, to show off Trips heroism. This ends up being the golden
ticket that Trip needs to win the election. In this instance we see the selfishness and sense of
entitlement that social status has instilled in the men of the Vanderbilt family.

Conclusion
With deterioration of the values of our upper class, the future of our nation and keeping
our morality and integrity intact continues to be a pressing issue. By exploring the specific

Commented [CW18]: I really like the way you stress in

your conclusion that wealth can cloud your judgment of
yourself and others. How often times wealthy are quick to
judge the lives of others around them but dont notice the
way they act and how others may judge them the same
way. I thought that was a really great idea to include, it
makes the readers think about the way wealth can
negatively affect their image in society, not all rich men are
thought of as powerful leaders. Most people see the
wealthy as stuck up and rude, and often times the wealthy
themselves are the last ones to notice that. Excellent point.

government, social life, and business industry. The affect that social class and the amount of

Commented [CW19]: I really like the new questions you

added at the end of your conclusion section. In my opinion,
these questions are great to research further into. My
favorite out of the two questions you wrote is Can the
ambiguous source of this problem, greed, be addressed
even though it is a normal character trait amongst
mankind?

money you have can make a negative impact on ones social behavior and also their individual

Commented [CW20]: The questions in your conclusion

are great and can lead to new research on this topic.

implications of the problem we are one step closer and correcting the dilemma that our society
is currently facing. There are many different ramifications of the issue that directly affect the

Cassidy Wuesthoff
UWRT 1103
Ashlyn Williams
16 October 2014

values. This complication is being passed down from generation to generation based on the
teachings of each upper class family. As we become more accustomed to the way we live from
day to day the increasing absence of morality is becoming overlooked within our society. Before
solving an issue, the problem must be identified in order to come up with a way of correcting it.
With the realization of the complications our upper class is currently overlooking we can begin
to work towards a solution and an effective way to restore our societys morality and integrity.
By gaining more insight on this topic, readers will be able to be more alert and more aware of
the decisions they are making and whether or not the greed their wealth has instilled in them is
a direct cause. Without the knowledge of the causes of this issues, it is nearly impossible to
notice these traits in ones self and also in others. With the unethical tendencies being more
aggressive in the wealthier of social classes, we can find ways to limit the negative behaviors
that accompany an abundance of resources. However, this is only the beginning to a long-term
problem. It will take quite some time to change the ideals of such a large group of individuals.
In the mean-time, what temporary or permanent solutions can be made to discontinue the
deterioration of our countrys morality? Can the ambiguous source of this problem, greed, be
addressed even though it is a normal character trait amongst man kind? With these broad
question in mind we are one step closer to restoring the once good natured values of our
country.

Cassidy Wuesthoff
UWRT 1103
Ashlyn Williams
16 October 2014

Annotative Bibliography

Paul K. Piff, Daniel M. Stancato, Stphane Ct, Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, and Dacher Keltner
(2012). Social Sciences- Psychological and Cognitive Sciences: Higher social class predicts
increased unethical behavior. doi:10.1073/pnas.1118373109

This article highlights the main point that I want to address in my paper. This article highlights
seven studies that have been done to emphasize that individuals belonging to higher social
classes are more inclined to participate in unethical behaviors. Those of higher social classes
have a greater resource base making it easier to break laws and act unethically. The researcher
also accredits Greed to being another leading cause of Unethical behavior because the higher
your social status, the more you have and the more you have the less one would be willing to
share.

B.J Randall, Dale (1964) Twentieth Century Literature, (Vol. 10, No. 2 Pg.: 51-63): The Seer
and the Seen theme in Gatsby and some of their parallels. Hofstra University.

This article reviews one of the main themes in The Great Gatsby. The idea of the Seer and
the Seen is the idea that people who come from a higher social class often leave behind

Cassidy Wuesthoff
UWRT 1103
Ashlyn Williams
16 October 2014

damage due to their immoral decisions. This theme goes hand in hand with the main point I
would like to make in my paper relating to the Gossip Girl Series.

Omalley, J.P (Speaker). Americas Voices on the Unwinding of Americas Values, NPR radio
segement

In this NPR radio segment the main topic that is discussed is how the love of wealth can lead to
financial and sex crimes. By diving America into only two social classes; the extremely wealthy
and the poor, we would be creating an enormous gap that would cause several business to fail.
Americas Middle Class is what fuels almost every industry in the world.

Husted, Brian W. (1999). Journal of International Business Studies, (Vol. 30, No. 2 (2nd Qtr.2
1999), pp. 339-359. Palgrave Macmillan Journals

This article discusses the affect that money has on the government being that corporate has the
ability to cause corruption in our government. Large corporations have the ability to contribute
large donations to a single candidate making it easier to swing the votes of large groups of
citizens.