While watching the pilot episode of Glee I went through a rollercoaster of emotions from being entertained to being utterly disgusted. The show is another illustration of how stereotypes and discourses are part of the dominant ideologies of our culture. It also demonstrates the prevalence of cast systems in highschool and how these systems are responsible for formulating your identity as an adolescent. For instance, Finn is white popular quarterback who enjoys to sing but is hesitant to be is true self for fear of being cast as an outsider, Quinn is a white female who is slender and has blonde hair. As the captain of the Cherrios, she exhibits an arrogance about her which tells us that she is the ultimate "Queen Bee," Kurt is the stereotypical gay male who is ultra femine and only wears the best in fashion, Rachel is a pretty girl who's insecurities compel her to be a profectionist on her her journey to aspire for fame and fortune and live up to the expectations of her parents,Tina C., portrays the edgy bisexual rebel who is struggling to fit in and find her own identity, Mercedes, plays the outspoken African American female with a attidude and a killer voice and finally there's Artie who a kind-hearted, fun loving male who has a physical impairment. Though Artie is a gentle sole he is constantly bullied thoughout the first episode by many of peers and often times finds that he must have to prove himself to everyone around him.
Although, the show tries to emphasize the stereotypes and discourses about minorities it does little to demonstrate how we as a society need to move away from labels and become educated on how these social issues/problems are effecting our youth. Eventhough the show is so blantly exagerated i find that it will not be enough to draw people's attention to the issues and pressures teens undoubtedly face in their everyday lives such as racism, capitalism, disability, body image, bullying, drugs, profection and social networks. Glee brought to light how the need to conform and reglate has become so important to some individuals, in one clip of the episode the principal is talking to Mr. Shoester about the glee club and how they can no longer rehearse in the auditorium because he was offered more money by AA to hold there weekly meetings there. Mr. Shoester pleads with him to give the Glee club more time and the principal agrees to do so but not before making a remark about how he is very weary that they will succeed do to the small number of participants in the club and that one is the "C" word for disabled. In another scene Rachel snubs Mr. Shoester for giving a solo to a guy in a wheelchair. In the same instance, Artie replies that it enhances the irony of the performance.
All in all, i feel as though Glee does not emphasize these issues to cause conversation but to just provide entertainment youth as well as become popular culture. Until the Media can broadcast a show which deviates from the popular culture and common stereotypes we will never lever learn to respect and accept diversity and direct our attention to the social issues young people are now facing....As Rachel makes so clear on the pilot episode " Fame is the most important thing" and that is still the message that dominant culture wants to persuade us to believe.
Although, the show tries to emphasize the stereotypes and discourses about minorities it does little to demonstrate how we as a society need to move away from labels and become educated on how these social issues/problems are effecting our youth. Eventhough the show is so blantly exagerated i find that it will not be enough to draw people's attention to the issues and pressures teens undoubtedly face in their everyday lives such as racism, capitalism, disability, body image, bullying, drugs, profection and social networks. Glee brought to light how the need to conform and reglate has become so important to some individuals, in one clip of the episode the principal is talking to Mr. Shoester about the glee club and how they can no longer rehearse in the auditorium because he was offered more money by AA to hold there weekly meetings there. Mr. Shoester pleads with him to give the Glee club more time and the principal agrees to do so but not before making a remark about how he is very weary that they will succeed do to the small number of participants in the club and that one is the "C" word for disabled. In another scene Rachel snubs Mr. Shoester for giving a solo to a guy in a wheelchair. In the same instance, Artie replies that it enhances the irony of the performance.
All in all, i feel as though Glee does not emphasize these issues to cause conversation but to just provide entertainment youth as well as become popular culture. Until the Media can broadcast a show which deviates from the popular culture and common stereotypes we will never lever learn to respect and accept diversity and direct our attention to the social issues young people are now facing....As Rachel makes so clear on the pilot episode " Fame is the most important thing" and that is still the message that dominant culture wants to persuade us to believe.
0 comments:
Post a Comment