"And Just Like That" is a sequel to the popular drama called "Sex and The City." It is a television series developed by Michael Patrick King for Max. I chose this series because it relates to my blog topic.
Some explanation about the series:
The drama is based on 4 New York women's lives just having fun and spending on luxuries. The protagonist of the story is Carrie Bradshaw, who is a writer. This series is a top-notch example of a high-fashion game. The strength of this series lies in their luxurious outfits. This series also navigates the journey of 4 women with the complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s.
Reaction to culture:
This series has always revolved around 4 "white" women. The series was released in the late 90s and early 20s. It had no sign of cultural diversity, but as the sequel premiered in 2021, the producers decided it was time to bring in the change. The series was introduced with characters of different racial and ethnic backgrounds and gender identities. The show's theme was multiculturism and inclusivity, and they achieved their goal.
Opinions about this may vary, but it was a success. The series moved forward with cultural diversity because they knew its importance. They addressed systematic racism, gender identity, and LGBTQ+ rights. They were even successful in converting uncomfortable conversations into meaningful messages.
Explanation with examples of specific events:
The story's protagonist is Carrie Bradshaw, described as a fashion icon and shopaholic. The character is introduced to an Indian woman named Seema Patel, a real estate agent living in New York. She is in her mid-40s and is single.
Seema, being single, even in her mid-40s, is shown to be a big deal to her family because she is an Indian. It is uncomfortable, but it is still the truth of Indian society. She is a millionaire, but her family has more important matters than her marriage. Being an unmarried Indian woman is a crime in India, and her character only depicts the truth. Her family was shown as a stereotypical one where, in an episode, Seema had to create a fake boyfriend so that she could make her family happy.
Growing up in India, I saw similar scenarios. Child marriage is a crime, but it is still prominent in many states of India, and if not child marriage, a woman is usually forced to "settle down" after turning the legal age. Settling down does not define having a prominent career in India but finding a husband.
Talking about myself, I have a single working dad. My mother passed away a few years back, and people have been forcing him to remarry, not because they care about him or want him to move on, but because society believes that only a woman is required to run a household. She is supposed to take care of the family, and without her, who would do that? My dad is the one who broke all the negative chains of society. He taught me that it is never okay to marry just because Indian society wants you to, but you need to become someone you would be proud of and then think about anything else. He taught me that it is not right to tolerate barriers still but to break those and run forward. I have seen people getting married at the age of 18 when they cannot earn even a $ for themselves because this is what society has taught us.
There is an episode where Seema goes to a Diwali party with Carrie at her family's place, and her parents ask Carrie if something is wrong with her just because she cannot get married. The instances shown in the series depict the harsh reality. Her character was not just superficial, it was intense, independent and bold.
Other characters of culture played a significant role in the story, such as Che, a cohost in a podcast with Carrie, a non-binary character. They played an essential role in promoting the LGBTQ+ community. There were many criticisms about their character, but the show continued strong. After all, “The beauty of the world lies In The diversity of people.”
