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For other uses, see Valley girl (disambiguation).

The term Valley Girl originally referred to rich teen-aged girls and young women living in the neighborhoods of the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California. The San Fernando Valley or The Valley is an urbanized Valley located in the north-western section of the city of Los Angeles California, United States Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Val is the short-hand form of the term.

During the 1980s and the 1990s, the term metamorphosed into a caricature and stereotype of such women: a "ditzy" or "airhead" personality, and unapologetically "spoiled" behavior that showed more interest in shopping, personal appearance and social status than in intellectual development or personal accomplishment. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. The 1990s collectively refers to the years between and including 1990 and 1999 A caricature is either a Portrait that exaggerates or distorts the essence of a person or thing to create an easily identifiable visual likeness or in literature a description A stereotype (from Greek: stereo + týpos = "solid impression" is a generalized perception of first impressions behaviors presumed by a group Shopping is the examining of Goods or services from Retailers with intent to purchase at that time In Sociology or Anthropology, social status is the honor or prestige attached to one's position in Society (one's Social position) [1]

The archetypal Valley Girl is a white blonde (not necessarily natural), but the "Val" has evolved along with demographic changes, with the term applying to all such girls and women, regardless of their race. Blond (also spelled blonde, see below) or fair-haired is a Hair color characterized by low levels of the dark Pigment eumelanin The typical Valley Girl is considered glamorous and sexually promiscuous. Promiscuity refers to sexual behavior of a man or woman who casually has sex with many partners

Contents

Sociolect

Main article: Valspeak

A certain sociolect associated with valley girls, referred to as “Valspeak”, became common during the 1980s. Valspeak is a common name for a now partially universal American Sociolect, originally of Southern Californians, in particular Valley girls This stereotype In Linguistics, a sociolect is the variety of language characteristic of a social background or status Valspeak is a common name for a now partially universal American Sociolect, originally of Southern Californians, in particular Valley girls This stereotype From 1980-1984, “Valspeak” grew in use by both boys and girls. Valspeak is a common name for a now partially universal American Sociolect, originally of Southern Californians, in particular Valley girls This stereotype

Qualifiers such as “like”, “way”, “totally” and “duh” were interjected in the middle of phrases and sentences as emphasizers. In the English language, the word like has a very flexible range of uses Narrative sentences were often spoken as though they were questions (high rising terminal). The High Rising Terminal (HRT also known as uptalk, upspeak or High Rising Intonation (HRI, is a feature of some accents of English where

Examples:

There was a time (late 70s, early 80s) when the Sherman Oaks Galleria was the most famous mall in America, at least among those of a certain age. They loved the Galleria and loved that it was mentioned in the 1982 Frank and Moon Unit Zappa hit single, "Valley Girl. " And why not? The Galleria was widely considered to be the birthplace of the "Val" (as Valley Girls would refer to each other in a kind of shorthand). It all began in the fall of 1980. That's when the Galleria opened in the heart of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, better known locally as "the valley. " Back then, the three-story, skylighted, enclosed structure was considered the epitome of all that was cool in mass consumption. Teens discovered the Galleria and quickly packed the place. It had everything: trendy boutiques, Pac-Man game booths and what passed for exotic fare at the food arcade (yes, even hot dogs on a stick). Plenty of the mall rats enjoying all this were boys, but, for some reason, it was the girls who were noticed. And somehow, someone, somewhere, thought to call them "Valley Girls. " Like, totally, a lingo. . . To be called a "Valley Girl" was not exactly a compliment. It conjured up images of vacuous, giggly girls with lots of time and money on their hands and a bizarre language on their lips. -Anne McDermott, CNN April 15, 1999

Phenomena similar to Valley girls

"Valley Girl" in pop culture

Music

In 1982, composer Frank Zappa released the album Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch. See also 1982 in music (UK Musical groups established in 1982 Record labels established in 1982 Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21 1940 – December 4 1993 was an American Composer, Electric guitarist Record producer and Film director An album or record album is a collection of related audio or Music tracks distributed to the public Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch is an Album by Frank Zappa, released in May 1982 and digitally remastered in 1991 The album featured the single "Valley Girl", with his 14 year old daughter Moon Unit (who supplied Frank with much of the content) speaking typical "Valley girl" phrases. Moon Unit Zappa (born September 28 1967) is an American actress and musician Zappa intended to lampoon the image, but the single also popularized the valley girl stereotype nationwide. There was a significant increase in the "Valspeak" slang usage, whether ironically spoken or not.

1992 Old school hip hop song "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-a-Lot famously starts with a discussion between two valley girls. This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992 Old school hip hop describes the earliest commercially recorded Hip hop music (1979–1984 and often by extension the music in the period preceding it ( see Roots " Baby Got Back " is a 1992 Hip hop Song by Sir Mix-a-Lot from his album Mack Daddy. Sir Mix-a-Lot or Sir Mixalot (born Anthony Ray, August 12, 1963) is a Grammy Award -winning rapper and producer [1]

Film

In 1983, the feature film Valley Girl was released starring actor Nicolas Cage and actress Deborah Foreman. Events February 11 - The Rolling Stones concert film Let's Spend the Night Together opens in New York Valley Girl is a 1983 Romantic comedy movie starring Nicolas Cage, Deborah Foreman, E Nicolas Cage (born Nicholas Kim Coppola; January 7, 1964) is an Academy Award -winning American actor Deborah Lynn Foreman (born October 12, 1962) is an American actress.

Besides featuring the up-and-coming actor Cage, the movie contains a soundtrack of New Wave music, which was at the peak of its popularity at that time. New Wave is a Rock music genre that existed during the late 1970s and the 1980s

The film's producers had initially approached Frank Zappa to ask him if they could make a film based on his song. Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21 1940 – December 4 1993 was an American Composer, Electric guitarist Record producer and Film director Zappa refused, and the filmmakers wound up making the film anyway. Zappa attempted to sue over the obvious capitalization on his song, but the lawsuit was thrown out.

The movie Clueless stars Alicia Silverstone, playing a valley girl named Cher Horowitz. Alicia Silverstone ( born October 4 1976 is an American Film and stage actress and former fashion model. Her best friend, Dionne (Stacy Dash), also has the valley girl personality. Stacey Lauretta Dash (born January 20 1966) is an American film and Television actress.

Television

The long-running sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel Air featured a rarity in popular culture. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an award winning American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from September 10 1990 to May 20 1996 The role of Hilary Banks, played by Karyn Parsons, featured the first major African American valley girl character, in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Bel Air. The following is a list of characters from the NBC Sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Karyn Parsons (born October 8 1966 in Hollywood California) is an American Television and Film Actress and Model African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Bel Air is a wealthy and prominent faux-gated residential community in the Westside of the city of Los Angeles California, United States.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer parodied the valley girl, with the main character, Buffy Summers, often saving the males of the program. Fictional narratives (and works of art exist beyond their completion e Buffy Summers is a fictional character from Joss Whedon 's Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise

Also used for some outtakes on the show, House M.D. between the characters Dr. House, also known as House MD, is an American Medical drama, which debuted on the FOX network on November 16 2004 Lisa Cuddy and Dr. Lisa Cuddy, MD, is a Fictional character on the Fox Medical drama House. Allison Cameron.

Sweet Valley High can also be considered an example, although while the main characters exhibit the physical characteristics of a Valley Girl, academic pursuits are considered of merit. Sweet Valley High is an American Television series which was based on Francine Pascal's book series of the same name.

Clover from the animated series Totally Spies portrays traits and uses terms associated with the stereotypical valley girl. Totally Spies! is a French Animated television series produced by the French company Marathon Production.

Stores

In the early 1980s, Hollywood films and songs portrayed the female-dominated mall lifestyle in the San Fernando Valley in southern California. The Sherman Oaks Galleria was perhaps best known as the home of the Valley Girl, since this San Fernando Valley mall was where Fast Times at Ridgemont High was filmed in 1981. Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a 1982 American coming-of-age teen - Comedy film written by Cameron Crowe (adapted (Arnold Schwarzenegger's 1985 movie, Commando, was shot there, too. Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger ( German ˌaɐnɔlt aloʏs ˈʃvaɐtsənɛɡɐ born July 30 1947 is an Austrian American Bodybuilder, Actor In Military science, the term commando can refer to an individual a Military unit, or a raiding style of military operation. ) The mall was featured throughout Fast Times at Ridgemont High, beginning with the opening scenes of the film, where we ride an elevator up to the food court where the young Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Judge Reinhold worked at the fast food stands. Sean Justin Penn (born August 17, 1960) is an Academy Award - and Golden Globe -winning American Film Actor Jennifer Jason Leigh (born February 5, 1962) is a Golden Globe -nominated and two-time NYFCC Award -winning American Actress Judge Reinhold (born May 21 1957) is an American Actor, perhaps best known for co-starring in movies such as Beverly Hills Cop But despite its popularity in the 1980s (when stars like Molly Ringwald used to shop there regularly), business at this mall had been shrinking (since it suffered extensive damage during the 1994 Northridge earthquake), with a very high vacancy rate at last report. Molly Kathleen Ringwald (born February 18, 1968) is an American Actress, Singer and Dancer.

Australian women's fashion store, ValleyGirl, uses the image of the valley girl to its advantage. It stocks fashionable and affordable clothing for women under 30 years in age.

List of fictional valley girls

Film

Animation

Television

Video games

Literature

Commercials

United Kingdom

In England the term Valley girl has been used (but would not be generally understood) to refer to a stereotype of a resident of the county of Essex, better known as Essex girl. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Essex is a county in the East of England. The County town is Chelmsford, and the highest point of the county is Chrishall Common " Essex girl " is a Pejorative term used in the United Kingdom, to imply someone is a stereotypically promiscuous blonde unintelligent woman from The stereotype is one of a sexually promiscuous teenager or woman of less than average intelligence.

In Wales, the term Valley girl is used to refer to a girl from the valleys (an area in South Wales running north from Cardiff and Newport). The stereotype is similar to the Essex stereotype, but has connotations of inbreeding, similar to the concept of a yokel or a hillbilly.

The American concept of the Valley Girl is similar to the UK's Sloane Ranger & Essex Girl stereotypes. The term Sloane Ranger (plurals Sloanes, Sloanies) refers to the young upper class and upper-middle-class men and women living in South-West London. " Essex girl " is a Pejorative term used in the United Kingdom, to imply someone is a stereotypically promiscuous blonde unintelligent woman from

Texas

In Texas, the term "Valley Girl" is often colloquially used to refer to a woman from the Rio Grande Valley,from the far southern areas around McAllen and Brownsville. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. The Rio Grande Valley is an area located in the southernmost tip of Texas. Brownsville is a city in and the County seat of Cameron County, Texas, United States. The term, of course, became more popular when the California term gained nationwide attention (i. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. e. because of the contrast with this term).

California

In the Greater Los Angeles area, the term "Valley Girl" refers to girls from the San Fernando Valley. The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, (not to be confused with the Los Angeles Metro Area which includes only Los Angeles and The San Fernando Valley or The Valley is an urbanized Valley located in the north-western section of the city of Los Angeles California, United States In context it is associated with a spoiled white girl from an upper-middle class background who socializes with other "valley girls" in cliques. A clique ( IPA:/'klɪk/ in America /'kliːk/ elsewhere is an exclusive group of people who share interests views purposes patterns of behavior or ethnicity In regions neighboring the San Fernando Valley, people will often call a girl a "valley girl" or tell her to "go back to the valley" if she is showing signs of materialism and/or ditzy behavior.

See also

References

  1. ^ Baby Got Back Songfacts. Paninaro (plural Paninari) is a Subculture that was born in Milan, Italy during the early 1980s at a fast food restaurant called Al Panino The San Fernando Valley or The Valley is an urbanized Valley located in the north-western section of the city of Los Angeles California, United States The term Sloane Ranger (plurals Sloanes, Sloanies) refers to the young upper class and upper-middle-class men and women living in South-West London. The term yuppie (short for " young urban professional "Nicky" Hilton can also refer to Conrad Hilton Jr Nicholai "Nicky" Olivia Hilton (born October 5, 1983 Nicole Camille Richie (born September 21, 1981) is an American Actress, Author, Celebutante, and an aspiring Singer Fresa (which is Spanish for Strawberry) is a slang term often used in Mexico for a cultural Stereotype of superficiality in youngsters "Valley Girl" is a Song by the musician Frank Zappa and his 14 year-old daughter Moon Unit. Songfacts. Songfacts is a Website devoted to song information compiled by music enthusiasts Radio professionals and songwriters who are often interviewed to determine the stories Retrieved April 5, 2007. Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
  2. ^ http://www.rmb.ca/sounds/CreativeGallery/Track08.ram

External links

Dictionary

valley girl

-noun

  1. (US, slang) A girl or young woman from San Fernando Valley.

Valley girl

-noun

  1. A girl from San Fernando Valley.
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