Nancy Jo Sales: Ingenious, Vulgar, or Both

Just last week, Nancy Jo Sales, an award-winning journalist and best-selling author, came to the Middlesex School to speak on consent and healthy relationships. After working for Vanity Fair for several years, Sales rose to fame after writing her 2013 book The Bling Ring: How A Gang of Fame-Obsessed Teens Ripped Off Hollywood and Shocked the World. Notably, Sales has dedicated a significant portion of her career to investigating the effects of social media on the dating scene. 

Though this Tuesday night assembly may have begun in a normal fashion, students and teachers alike quickly realized Sales is no ordinary speaker. After overcoming a series of technical difficulties, Sales began the first portion of her presentation. Although at times humorous and playful, Sales largely adhered to relevant topics and maintained a semi-serious tone. However, as the hour progressed, any semblance of gravitas faded, giving way to a raucous and arguably even shocking speech. Sometimes Sales would spring into a long, convoluted metaphor about Star Wars or avatars. Although confusing at times, there seemed to be a method to Sales’s madness. As Sales embarked on a long, detailed, and embittered journey depicting her dislike for dating apps, tuned-out students quickly regained focus. An assembly originally intended to educate students on a wide breadth of topics all under the umbrella of healthy relationships quickly shifted into a focused speech about the influence of technology on the dating scene. From describing dating apps as a breeding ground for predatory individuals, to predicting the role of “sex robots [who] are coming,” Sales left her audience on the edge of their seats, never certain of what she might say next. 

Controversy inevitably accompanies a speaker with resolute opinions on a delicate matter and who has a unique style of presentation. Some argue that by delivering a sidetracked and overly humorous speech, Sales undermined the purpose of her speech, effectively minimizing the significance of safety and consent in adolescent relationships. One can blame Sales for misunderstanding her audience, or Middlesex for inviting a speaker who crossed a line into vulgarity, but there is no doubt that some left the assembly feeling somewhat uncomfortable and annoyed. 

Meanwhile, others left the assembly unexpectedly entertained and informed on an entirely foreign topic. Perhaps Sales purposely rehearsed a striking and unconventional speech. However, it is also possible that, in a stroke of ad lib ingenuity, Sales defeated glazed eyes and recaptured the attention of many wandering minds with the decisive combination of comedy and shock.  

Whether Sales purposefully or unintentionally created a whirlwind of controversy, laughter, and surprise, it is clear that she has made an impact. Oftentimes, after a prestigious, sage, and celebrated individual comes to Middlesex for a lecture during assembly block, students may be momentarily occupied with a transient sense of interest and curiosity. By the end of the day, the speaker has been washed from the memory of the community, and students go about their day. Sales has certainly disrupted this unfortunate pattern, concocting a speech that remains fresh on students’ minds, refusing to fade into insignificance. 

Kiki Friedbauer