From high school girls desperately trying to be one of the cool girls in school to corporate warriors rubbing elbows for their next promotion, almost everything the world fantasized about being part of it. of “in the crowd”. What makes the bonds and barriers of the “group” so unbreakable? By sharing stories and drawing conclusions through discussion of these stories, members of small groups develop a common bond that shapes their social reality. An example of this connection is evident in the CW's hit series Gossip Girl, which focuses on the world of the high society elite at a private high school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York. The circumstances of Gossip Girl demonstrate how the concepts of symbolic convergence describe the formation of group bonds and their effects on the interaction of the group and each group member with the outside world. Before analyzing this, one should know the basic components of Symbolic Convergence and have a general understanding of the premise and plot of the series. Symbolic Convergence The theory of symbolic convergence was developed by University of Minnesota professor Ernest Bormann. Originally called fantasy thematic analysis, Bormann set out to develop a method of rhetorical criticism, which uses a dramatistic approach (Griffin, 2009, p. 27). While completing his research, he noticed a distinct link between the use of dramatic imagery and the degree of group consciousness and solidarity. He called this connection symbolic convergence, meaning “the linguistic process by which group members develop a sense of community or closeness; cohesion, unity, solidarity” (Griffin, 2009, p. 29). The engine of symbolic convergence is fantasy. Bormann defines fantasy as: "Creation...... middle of paper...... Chapter 2: Small Group Communication Theory." Communicating in Small Groups: Principles and Practices (9th ed., pp. 42-44). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. Gossip Girl - IMDb. (nd). The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Accessed April 9, 2011, from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397442Gossip Girl on TV.com. (nd).TV.com - Free full episodes and clips, show information and TV program guide. Retrieved April 9, 2011 from http://www.tv.com/gossip-girl/show/68744/summary.htmlGriffin, Emory A. (2009). Chapter 3: Weighing the words. A first look at communication theory (7th ed., pp. 27-29). Singapore: McGraw-Hill Education (Asia). Gossip Girl. Schwartz, Joshua and Stephanie Savage. The CW. KCWE, Kansas City. 2007. Television. Season 1, Episode 16, “All About My Brother.” Swartz, Joshua and Stephanie Savage. Gossip Girl. The CW. KCWE, Kansas City. May 5, 2008. Television.