T O P I C R E V I E W
orca
Member # 33665
posted 05-26-2010 06:24 PM
I'm pretty in-love with this show. The Madonna episode a couple of weeks ago had a great part about first-time sex, and last night's episode had a really powerful message about homophobia and identity (though the show usually does something about identity and sexuality almost every week). If you haven't seen it, I'd definitely recommend it. So, anyone watch it and want to gab? Anything you especially like about it? Things you find problematic? [ 05-26-2010, 06:25 PM: Message edited by: orca ]
Fizzy
Member # 47216
posted 05-26-2010 07:07 PM
Glee is so marvelous. It never fails to make me grin like an idiot. One thing I don't like is that it tends to use a whole lot of stereotypes -- Kurt is a stereotypical effeminate gay boy, the football-playing jerks are stereotypical football-playing jerks, and so on. That's my only really big issue with it. Last night's episode was incredibly amazing. What Finn did at the end... I keep having to remind myself that I shouldn't spoil it for everyone. It was just... so... awesome. Also, all the boys (except Kurt) dressed like Kiss was kind of hot, in a weird way.
Onionpie
Member # 41699
posted 05-26-2010 07:14 PM
Wow, Kurt's dad... made me cry. It was everything I've been trying to explain to people is wrong with using derogatory words like that, being said by a straight trucker dude. Just made my effin' life. I mean, I know he's just a character, but STILL. It was such a powerful moment. I was like "MY GOD, WHY CAN'T EVERYONE BE LIKE HIM". If only people who use that kind of language listened to this and took it to heart. Gawd, Glee makes me so happy sometimes (okay, more like ALL the time).
Karybu
Member # 20094
posted 05-26-2010 07:49 PM
I really enjoy this show, and I appreciate that they deal so much with issues like sexuality and identity, but I find the stereotyping really problematic and off-putting: most of the characters don't seem to have much depth to them, and everything about the high-school social world seems to be simplified a bit too much. And to be honest, I didn't really like the Madonna episode for the way first-time sex was portrayed. It felt like the writers and producers were hammering me over the head with the idea that first-time sex is such a Big Deal, especially for women, as well as the idea that sex has to have meaning. I was also really irritated at the way sex seemed to equal penis-in-vagina intercourse. There was no mention made of any other kind of sex, and there was not a peep from Kurt on what virginity might mean to him as a gay man (as if sex is only for straight people? huh?) To boot, the only female character who ended up actually having sex that episode was the one Latina, and she made it clear that she'd had several sexual partners....talk about stereotyping. On the other hand, Kurt's experience coming out to his dad felt very authentic and realistic to me, and I love Kurt's dad as a character - doing his best to support his son even if it means changing the way he thinks about things. His confrontation with Finn almost had me in tears, and I found myself yelling "Yes! That! Exactly! Perfect!" at the television. [ 05-26-2010, 07:51 PM: Message edited by: Karybu ]
Fizzy
Member # 47216
posted 05-26-2010 08:17 PM
I loved Kurt's dad last night too. When he finished ranting at Finn, I started clapping. My family just kinda looked at me like I was crazy. I don't know why. It was a perfectly reasonable reaction on my part. =p
orca
Member # 33665
posted 05-26-2010 08:49 PM
Those are valid objections to the show's use of stereotypes. I think, though, that the show is purposefully engaging in stereotype, much like The Breakfast Club did, in order to subvert the stereotypes and show that people are more than just what they are labelled as. But I agree, they could be doing more with some of the characters, like Santana and Brittany. Most of the characters have had some kind of major development, but those two have received much less development up until now. I'm hoping that will change in the next few episodes, though. And YES! Go Kurt's dad! He's really an awesome character, and that moment was so so good, too, in terms of writing and character development. It completely blew me out of the water when I was watching last night.
Felixosaurus
Member # 42678
posted 05-27-2010 01:34 AM
I'm not a regular watcher, but from what I'm seen I totally agree with Karybu's points.
elizabeth_k_
Member # 31187
posted 05-30-2010 04:16 PM
Just to reply to Karybu's point on the stereotype of the Latina being portrayed as having many sexual partners, I feel that the show puts Brittany (I think that's her name) in more of that 'sleeping around' role.
moonlight bouncing off water
Member # 44338
posted 06-01-2010 07:08 PM
I watch the show occasionally and I really enjoy it; but I too find the stereotyping problematic. Although, perhaps the intent of the show is to demonstrate as many stereotypes as possible so that people will realize how ridiculous stereotypes can be. Someone may think, "I'm in a wheel chair, but that's not the only facet of my personality, hmm, maybe the black guy in my English class is more than just his race" or "I'm a foot ball player, but I'm not a jerk, maybe that guy we've been excluding for being gay is a good guy." By seeing how wrong the stereotype of something that applies to them may make some viewers criticize the other stereotypes as well. Or perhaps the characters are so flat so that they can fit within the parameters of the songs chosen. I do, however, love, love, love how the majority of the story is told via song, it adds an element most shows are missing and appeals to our base tribal instincts (music was used much before language).