There’s a universal ritual that transcends cultures, centuries and borders. A simple scene: two people talking about a third one. This is the essence of gossip: a phenomenon far from being just a frivolous pastime. It has deep roots in evolutionary psychology, it’s not just about curiosity or killing time: gossip is a social tool, a kind of glue that binds people together, from small groups to entire societies. Humans are wired to care about other humans. It’s a matter of survival. Knowing who’s trustworthy, who poses a threat, who’s gathering resources or forming alliances has always been crucial to life in a community. Talking about others is how we share this vital information, and in doing so, we strengthen the bonds between us. In the past, it was often a matter of life or death. Today, it’s a compass that helps us navigate our relationships.
It’s no surprise that a good chunk of everyday conversation revolves around “who-did-what”. It’s far easier to find common ground through people than through abstract ideas or complicated mechanisms. But gossip does more than passing information: it draws the lines of our social world. Those who gossip together form a micro-alliance, a sense of “us” in contrast to “them”. This dynamic of allegiance and distinction plays out on a much larger scale too. Just look at the British press. The royal family, with its dramas and scandals, fuels our collective imagination, weaving stories that connect people and shape a shared national identity. "What’s the point of the monarchy?" some might ask. Perhaps not much, except to… generate stories.
And those stories remind us who we are.
Talking about people is probably the most instinctive and accessible activity we have. And let’s be honest, it’s irresistible. Gossip taps into our deep-rooted need to enter other people’s lives, to observe, to judge, and, somehow, to belong. It’s the same mechanism that drives influencer culture and the success of shows like Gossip Girl or Bridgerton. Gossip reflects who we are, the bonds we form, and the shared vision we build. Every whispered story, every bit of chatter, is a building block in the architecture of belonging, a fragment of that intricate puzzle we call humanity. Telling stories, observing and commenting: it connects us all. And it makes us human: gossip is a primal form of sharing, one that forges connection and shapes our collective identity.
Even The Iliad and The Odyssey, aren’t they just stories about who-did-what?
Write to us at supernova@remidastudio.com, the best stories are the ones we tell together.
