Friday, September 18, 2009
Glee
I have watched the first few episodes of Glee and the pilot outshines the others as far as I am concerned. The best part about this show is Jane Lynch who plays a psycho cheerleading coach. Im also quite fond of Jayma Mays, the sweet but crazy guidance counselor. But the last episode left me annoyed with the tired, overdone, and arguably offensive writing for the two gay characters - the crazy ex-teacher who always wears pink with sweaters tied over his shoulders, is not allowed to come within 50 feet of children and who avidly stalks Josh Grobin; and the very likable highschool kid with a collection of tiaras and an obsession with fashion that leads him to wear a corset (which is cited as evidence that he is gay). Sure a lot of gay men are fasionistas, but come on. The real offense, in my mind, is with the ex-teacher character. Any conscious linking between homosexuality and stalker-crazy on a prime-time tv show is just disturbing and not very funny. Making fun of stereotypes may help explode them, if done right, but this seems more like flaming the fire. Or, if nothing else, its old and boring. I wonder if this has bothered any one else?
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2 comments:
I was bothered by the teacher far more than the student. The student was definitely a stereotype--but at the same time, I knew some theater kids in high school who matched that mold pretty well. Maybe it's because I see is as kind of a part of the pendulum swing of finding your identity as a teen?
Anyhow--the teacher. Not only was that incredibly offensive, it also contradicted the pilot. Wasn't it implied that there had been nothing going on, and the prima donna student had made it up because she didn't like the teacher?
steph - agreed!
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