Andy Denhart, a contributor to MSNBC.com, recently reprimanded Fox’s new drama/comedy Glee, warning that while the show is “fantastic” and maintains a solid fan base, it increasingly lacks “emotional and rich moments” and refuses to develop its stereotypical characters. (For a similar reading, see Amanda Ann Klein’s “Is Glee Racist/Heterosexist/Ableist?”)
Like Denhart (and Klein), I am a fan of Glee. Heck, I’m a fan of almost anything resembling a film musical. But I also have begun to question the content of the show. The stereotypical characters, I expected; after all, most mainstream television shows and films that center on teenagers employ stereotypes, e.g., The Breakfast Club, Can’t Buy Me Love, Bring It On, Welcome Back Kotter, Saved by the Bell (Freaks and Geeks and My So-Called Life are exceptions to the rule). In any event, I suppose what I did not expect from a narrative that features high-schoolers is the treatment (or perhaps glorification?) of such subjects as performance-enhancing drugs, adultery, and statutory rape.
In last week’s episode, “Vitamin D,” the glee-club students combat fatigue and their overrun schedules with pseudoephedrine, over-the-counter uppers. The result? Extraordinary “mash-up” performances by both the boys and the girls (mash-up: the merging of two songs for “an even richer explosion of musical expression”). Ultimately, yes, the person who doled out the drugs is fired. And, yes, glee-club coach, Mr. Schuester (Matthew Morrison), is reprimanded for failing to foster a safe environment, and for further punishment, he must now work alongside his nemesis, Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch). The students, however, are rather gently slapped on the wrist: no one is sent to detention, no football or cheerleading privileges are taken away, and no one must forgo regional glee-club competition for his/her actions.
More significantly, what is showcased here–while the students are (knowingly) hyped up on the pills–are solid performances: flawless vocals, tight choreography, and complementary lighting enhanced by matching costumes. Even Mr. Schuester and guest-judge Emma (Jayma Mays) agree that the students’ mash-ups far surpass anything they’ve seen before. What message is this sending?
Also, (somewhat) troubling is that Glee essentially begs its viewers to root for adultery. By positioning Terri (Jessalyn Gilsig) as the shrewish/crazy wife and Emma as the innocent, doe-eyed object of Will’s true affection, the show forces the viewer to side with Will and Emma and, therefore, encourages an illicit (although more believable) love affair.
Additionally, what is Glee doing with Puck (Mark Salling)? Described on the show’s website as “an arrogant football player and a bully,” Puck is also, we might add, a pool boy who enjoys having sex with his classmates’ mothers. We first see this in a flashback and then hear it verbalized on the football field. To one unsuspecting opponent, Puck trash-talks, “Hey. I had sex with your mother. No seriously, I cleaned your pool, and then I had sex with her in your bed. Nice Stars Wars sheets.” Funny, but wow.
Don’t get me wrong: the show relays several positive messages:
- spend your career doing something you love and excel in,
- coming-out to your parents may less painful than you think,
- football/cheerleading isn’t the be all and end all, and
- musical numbers can still entertain, uplift, and signify emotion in ways that mere dialogue cannot.
However, there are certainly some questionable themes currently happening in Glee as well. What else am I missing?
(PS. Special thanks to the husband for talking through this topic with me.) =)
Related posts:
7 Comments
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
- A Star is Formed: Lea Michele and the Cast of Glee « Celebrity Gossip, Academic Style - [...] Glee is this television season’s most talked about new show. Sure, Modern Family is funny, and Vampire Diaries manages ...
Leave a Reply
Professor of film and Shakespeare. Advocate of social media. Lover of popular culture,
Loving the new look of this site! Wow! You make a good point about the show's portrayal performance-enhancing drugs. It's not that we are shown HS kids taking them, or even that the kids are EXCELLENT performers while on drugs (which is probably what would happen) but that we don't see much of the after-effects of these drugs on the kids: addiction, sleeplessness, a building of a tolerance for the drug. Odd.
I am less disturbed by the cheating/sex with Moms storylines since the pros and cons of such behaviors are clear.
I think overall this show's messages are quite muddled–but I'm still watching.
Re: the lack of punishment following the performance-enhancing drugs
Although Rachel certainly reprimands Finn when she knows the boys took something to get the edge, it seemed to focus on the wrong of finding an advantage and cheating rather than the perils of taking drugs.
Also, I perceived it to be an issue of Terri the authority figure reassuring the students that the over-the-counter cold medicine was totally safe. Of course, we know that adolescents are exposed to more and more these days and it seems ridiculous that they could be caught so unawares by an OTC upper, but it seemed to me to center more on trusting authority figures who are (apparently to the viewers) crazy.
Thirdly, the performances seemed scary to me – not perfect. There was a lot of energy and great high notes, sure, but there was a frantic edge to it all. The choreography was sloppy (intentionally, I believed) and it left me a little terrified (intentionally, I believed).
I certainly see your points and they are good ones to make when dealing with portrayals of that population. Too often they are painfully shallow and not dimensional enough to capture the accurate energy and characteristics. But I did not find myself aware of your points during my first viewing.
(Except the adultery argument – everytime I find myself rooting for Emma over Terri, I cringe.)
Hi, Kate. Thanks for your comments!
You're right: the episode does focus on "finding an advantage and cheating rather than the perils of taking drugs." I suppose I was more interested in the punishment (or lack thereof) than the dangers.
And yes, I also cringe when I (am forced to) root for Will/Emma vs. Will/Terri, but the latter couple is so utterly ridiculous, isn't it?!
Season 2 premiere uses date rape culture as deus ex machina to reinstate the teacher Sue Sylvester and then glosses over it. Wonder if the writers will address her criminal acts.
Indeed it does! Good eye! =)
I've only seen the first half of the season so perhaps this is addressed (though I don't think so), but didn't Puck effectively rape Quinn? I seem to recall it being stated that he gave her six wine coolers and then had sex with her (or if they didn't state a number, that he gave her enough to get her drunk). I know some will say that he didn't MAKE her drink that much, but the issue isn't the drinking but the fact that after six beers a girl who probably weighs 100 pounds soaking wet can't effectively consent to sex. No consent==rape.
Hi, Scott — no this issue isn't really addressed. While it's revisited in the season finale (in flashback), no one ever calls it "rape." Interesting point you've made here though… Thanks!