Tuesday, June 5, 2012

whenevertheskiesfall asked: Sorry, it may seem like I'm a bother, but can you please explain your views on how Glee is problematic?

[TW: talk of rape, racism, homophobia, domestic violence, and transmisogyny.]

Not a bother at all!!

  • The Klaine storyline (which I LOVE, so don’t get me wrong) was treated with the respect it deserves, meanwhile, the lesbian pairing was a punchline through two seasons, and when it finally got the limelight, Santana was forcibly outed, and SHE gets treated like the bad guy for slapping Finn. It is NEVER, EVER okay to out someone.
  • Mercedes and Lauren (for the brief time she was on the show) are the only fat characters, and the only time that possible struggles about being fat in high school are hinted about, Mercedes is protesting the lack of tater tots, and Lauren is scarfing down Valentines candy SHE DOESN’T EVEN LIKE. HAHAHA ALL FAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT IS FOOD.
  • No one ever addresses that fact that Quinn was impregnated by RAPE. Puck got her drunk, and coerced her - we see the scene, and no one ever comments that it was SERIOUSLY NOT OKAY. As a survivor, Quinn obviously has the right to deal with that however she wants, but portraying that scene (to thousands of young girls who are practically in love with Mark Salling) and never addressing the fact that what happened falls under the legal definition of RAPE is extremely irresponsible.
  • The race jokes, particularly about Mike and Tina (really, writers, you couldn’t even come up with two different last names?): Asian Camp, Sue calling them Asian and Other Asian, etc.
  • The way the character of Unique was treated REALLY pissed me off - the way multiple people misgendered Unique (and often on purpose, as a FUCKING JOKE, because trans people are JUST SO WEIRD AND FUNNY, AMIRITE?).
  • The wild misogyny displayed by Artie early in the show (particularly when he was dating Tina). Seemingly that’s been phased out, but no one EVER called him on it.
  • On a more general note, the shows storylines are too serious for them to be dealt with in one (two if we’re lucky) episode arcs.  Domestic violence, being outed, OCD, the blending of families, drinking, etc.

There are other things, but those are a few of the problems I have with the show. That being said, I CANNOT STOP WATCHING. WAHHHH.

Posted at 7:50 PM 24 notes

Notes

  1. oldmeg said: I think Artie’s misogyny was addressed. i.imgur.com/Ahb3K.p… “My eyes? Are up here! I am a person with feelings! Get out of my grill! I am a powerful woman and my growing feminism will cut you in half like a righteous blade of equality!”
  2. iridescentskylines said: I feel like the “asian” jokes are used satirically, kind of making fun of the fact that comments like those do happen. That being said, I have asian friends who do say things like “Yeah I go to Asian camp”. My Jewish friend is always (lovingly) poking fun at her Jewish-ness,…
  3. whenevertheskiesfall said: Thanks for Clarifying! :)
  4. seriouslyamerica posted this