Oh Glee! I've faithfully watched this show for the last couple years & this past weeks episode sent me over the edge. The show claims to be soooo progressive, but I'll argue that the show's creators are using some very tired stereotypes that are holding down the people that they aspire to lift up. Before I destroy this show, I'll state the reason I've enjoyed the show:
I love music. Bar none. For the 95% of the music they play is the latest pop songs, the 5% of creative mash-ups and show tunes, it has made it worth it.
Lets start by breaking down the characters that are sooooooooo progressive:
Kurt
His character makes no logical sense. I understand that they have an aggressive agenda of born this way but you can't deny that your environment plays a part in who you are; and that is exactly what they do. His mom died when he was 8, leaving him to be raised by his dad, who owns a small car repair shop. Yet in the show, Kurt has no knowledge of cars or handy ability at all. That makes no sense. In middle America, a small business encompasses the whole family to at least a tiny degree. For argument sake, lets say Kurt was born this way; he'd still would've been in the shop with his dad for most of his childhood. But no, the show portrays him as the flaming-for-no-reason gay guy. They even miss the boat on that.
The show gets much progressive street cred for Kurt & Blaine's relationship, which to this I say, poppycock! If I was gay, I'd be so pissed about how they treat their relationship. Case in point, this past weeks episode: Blaine & Kurt are auditioning for the same part in the school musical. They largely support each other but it is pretty clear that Blaine should get it. So, Kurt meets Blaine on campus somewhere & basically resigns that Blaine deserves the role & does the whole I support you all the way, even-though you are taking my dream role. A really romantic gesture from a significant other yet there's no kiss. If this were a heterosexual couple, they definitely would have kissed. I don't want to see them kiss but I'm just saying, you can't have it both ways. You can't claim to champion the gay cause yet treat them like second class citizens.
Mercedes
An overweight, sassy, black woman; never seen that before! That's enough of a stereotype to irritate me, then this past weeks episode sent me reeling. They turned Mercedes into a selfish, cocky, look-at-me diva who demanded the star role seemingly out of nowhere. This does not help & it's a lazy story move. This stereotype is taken from the sports world where most talented black athletes are portrayed this way, especially in tv shows. The message the show is sending is that black people cannot be team players, they're lazy & cause all sorts of derision. This is not helping the negative black stereotype that continues to be played out in the media.
Chang
This one is slight, but I believe just as potent. Chang is a very minor character in the show who's just known for his dancing ability. This past weeks episode he was spotlighted and they pulled out the stereotypeometer for his story arc. He gets an A- (which they call an Asian F, not offensive at all) and his parents basically banish him from the glee club so he can pull up his grades but he rebels & stays in the club anyway. The ole overbearing Asian parents card, the oldest trick in the book. This stereotype conflicts me a bit because I think parents should be actively involved in their children's education. Though you should not smother a child with your own desires, in the end, the very thing that makes Chang such a good dancer is that he is driven & works hard, virtues he learned from his parents. Is that such a bad thing? Again, extremism is almost always unhelpful, but in the end, I'd rather have 2 parents that push you hard & teach you discipline over the other end of the spectrum which is so pervasive in our culture, complete passivity on the part of the parents. As an adolescent, I had no gauge on what my priorities should be and where to put my time. I could have used a little more Chang's parents in my life. With all that being said, It still bothers me that Chang's first shining moment of the show is showered in stereotype.
Glee, lets not sprain your hand, patting yourself on the back for being so forward thinking & progressive. Your story is unimaginative, cliched & telegraphed. Your music selection is lazy at best. I guarantee that within the next 4 episodes they'll have a version of Pumped Up Kicks, lets hope without the school shooting. Have an original thought for your story & your characters and then we can talk.
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