A few weeks ago, I read a post on Ars Marginal called Fandom and its hatred of Black women characters. The post detailed ways in which black female characters are criticized and maligned by their fan bases. It’s an interesting read, not to mention an upsetting one. I know that I’ve seen a fair amount of hatred towards Bonnie of The Vampire Diaries for her crime of thinking vampires are bad and Damon especially so. (Yeah. What a judgmental bitch, right?)
Anyway, this was the part of the post that stood out to me:
“What’s so wrong with these characters according to fandom? Hm, let’s see:
- They have an attitude problem.
- They’re lazy.
- They’re mean.
- They’re stupid.
- They’re ungrateful.
- They’re selfish.
- They’re sluts.”
As I read that, I did a mental checklist and realized that all but two of these traits describes Mercedes Jones from Glee – not even in the way she’s perceived, but in the way she’s written on her actual show.
This is particularly problematic on a show like Glee that makes a big point of celebrating diversity and portraying “minority” characters who break free from stereotypes.
Now, Glee has major, major problems when it comes to the messages they want to send. The writers can never decide whether they want to be Freaks and Geeks or Arrested Development, and they often wind up creating extremely mean-spirited after-school specials. They tackle issues like misogyny and body issues and disability in one episode and “solve” these ingrained social problems with a song and a dance. And don’t even get me started on Glee’s girl problem.
BUT. One thing I have always appreciated about this show is the way it celebrates people from a variety of backgrounds. Almost every member of the glee club has at least one character trait that isn’t a stereotype for their racial/ethnic/religious group or sexuality.
Yes, Artie is a disabled boy who really wishes his legs worked so he could be a dancer. He also likes to rap (and is actually good at it, even though his gangsta aspirations are hilariously misguided).
Yes, Kurt is gay and interested in fashion and showtunes. He also helps out in his father’s garage and apparently has been doing so all his life. Blaine is also gay, but he’s a football fan.
Yes, Santana is Puerto Rican and has some of that “sassy Latina” stereotype going on. But last season, we discovered that her aggressive pursuit of boys and sex had nothing to do with that “fiery Latin blood” stereotype at all, and that she’s actually a repressed lesbian who uses aggression and boys to cover up her true feelings – partly out of fear of being targeted for being gay, and partly (I suspect) because she struggles with showing any vulnerability whatsoever.
Yes, Mike and Tina are Asian, and you’re not going to forget that fact easily, since one or both of them mentions that they are, in fact, Asian, anytime they have a scene together. And because they are Asian, they are both academically driven, because all Asians are academically driven, no doy. But Tina also had a goth phase and still, apparently, pretends to be a vampire anytime she needs something from Figgins. And Mike is just as athletic and artistic as he is academic. It’s also worth mentioning that Mike’s physical attractiveness is frequently commented on while Tina’s is not (even though she’s clearly pretty). In a Western culture where Asian women are often objectified and fetishized, while Asian men are portrayed as asexual or unappealing, the portrayal of Mike and Tina is a refreshing change of pace.
(Look at me – I just found a culturally sensitive reason to enjoy staring at a shirtless Harry Shum, Jr. I’m brilliant.)
Then you have Puck, who is Jewish, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Jewish male character on TV or in movies who’s anything like Noah Puckerman. He’s terrible at math, irresistible to women, a “sex shark,” and fiercely proud of his religion even though he seems to be the worst Jew ever, eating pork during a simchat Torah screening of Schindler’s List. He’s hilarious in a very non-stereotypical way.
And then you have Mercedes, who is black, fat, and sassy. But she’s also…fat, black, and sassy.
That’s it.
Did you know that Mercedes is black? That’s why she wants to sing more songs with her “chocolate thunder” and make “cocoa babies” with her new boyfriend (because her boyfriend is also black, and black people like to spend their time talking about how black they are). Her favorite musical is Dreamgirls, of course – why would her favorite show be anything else? And she’s sassy. She’s so sassy and black that she actually wrote a song called “Hell to the No.” (I’m not knocking the song. It was a good song. But the other part of me was thinking, “Seriously? The black girl writes a song centered around a stereotypical black catchphrase? Seriously?”)
Oh, and did you know that Mercedes is also fat? That’s why her one subplot in all of season two centered around her wanting to get tater tors back to the school cafeteria. Fat girls, especially BLACK fat girls, love their food!
This episode, by the way, is the the same one where the writers thought it would be LOL-arious to include a Precious spoof with a fat black girl named Cameo. I suppose I should just be happy that Mercedes wasn’t starting a campaign for fried chicken and watermelon.
Then we get to “Asian F,” an episode that is meant to be a spotlight for Mercedes, and it focuses on how she’s “constantly” late to practice (wtf?) and either can’t dance or doesn’t want to learn the dance steps. Great. Now we have “entitled” and “lazy” to add to the stereotype list. Never mind that, unlike other members of New Directions, Mercedes has never quit the club right before a major competition because she wasn’t getting enough solos, nor has she lip-synced during practice, nor has she ever, ever been shown to even be late to a single rehearsal, much less miss one entirely. But all of a sudden, the writers were portraying Mercedes as though she had always been this lazy. And she’s always been a worse dancer than Rachel, I guess. (I saw “Baby One More Time” and I saw “River Deep, Mountain High.” Don’t tell me Rachel is a better dancer than Mercedes.)
Of all the characters on Glee, Mercedes is the most stereotypical, and the last episode to give her more character development actually made the problem worse. We don’t have any other black characters on the show to create some kind of balance, either. And giving Mercedes a few stereotypical traits might not be so bad if we had any clear motivation for her character other than “wants to be in the spotlight,” if we knew about her long-term dreams and goals and passions. But we don’t, and it’s a crying shame.
I go back to watch the scene between Kurt, Blaine, and Mercedes in “The Substitute.” Kurt actually high-fives Blaine for “breaking the stereotype.” Meanwhile, in that very same scene, all Mercedes wants is tots. If that scene doesn’t prove the utter cluelessness of the writers when it comes to race, I don’t know what does.
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Well I have a problem with the whole show because with the characters of color they had a chance to do something different. I mean look at Star Trek. But the show failed because it was centered around white people and that’s not cool
Wait. What? The show is a failure in terms of diversity simply because the white characters get the most focus?
Right now the glee club has four characters of color*. Only one of them (Santana) has had a major character arc on the show – arguably, the best written-arc on the show – and I don’t disagree that Mercedes, Tina, and Mike could stand to have a lot more screen time and focus. But one thing I do like about Glee is that Mercedes, Tina, and Mike exist as their own characters – thinly drawn characters, but more than just token “minority” friends for the white characters to bounce off of.
*Perhaps five, because Darren Criss is half-Filipino, though it’s not clear if Blaine is supposed to be.
That the thing. i know that Santana is a lesbian, but they should of done it right without the sexualization. That the thing for a good show, you need round characters not thinly drawn characters. Like that what’s plaging POC characters in media. Almost like a carpet in a room. you know it’s there but it’s just for decor.
Sorry if this seems rushed.
Done it “right?” What does that even mean?
This is rushed, because I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Ok I’m sorry about the last post going someplace.
Any who. From what i gathered from Santana’s character the reason why she has sex with a bunch of guys is because she is a repressed lesbian.
Ok with that being said. It was so many things wrong with that. because the stereotype that is often seen with Lesbians is that they are hyper-sexual and friends to the male that they will sleep with with no strings attach. I mean they didn’t do that with Kirk what so ever, but with a POC Lesbian they will make her hyper-sexual. Which despite the intentions it is, they still made a stereotypical character.
You are right on the ball with Mercedes, But the problem I have with the America Teen dramas is that they don’t have a young black male. They’ll get a white male before the get a black male or any POC for that matter. I find that kinda funny.
With Tina and Mike, it looks like the same thing what they did with Archie comics. They group the two Black people together so that the black male don’t mingle with the other girls. I find that problematic because it like the writers didn’t want them to mingle with anyone of the characters. I mean no interracial relationship?
Okay, I understand what you mean now, so I’ll address you point by point.
Regarding Santana: From what I know, the writers hadn’t intended to make her a lesbian at all, but Naya Rivera pushed for it and they listened to her. It’s also worth mentioning that Santana hasn’t had sex with a guy since she came to terms with her feelings for Brittany. I think the point of her arc is that she’s NOT, in fact, hyper-sexual at all, and only puts on a hyper-sexual persona as a huge front to hide her real feelings. She’s never actually seemed to enjoy having sex with boys (with Puck as the possible exception). She tells Finn that she needs to do it at least 20 times before the “feeling of accomplishment settles in,” with the most bored inflection possible. So I don’t know, you may be right about it still being somewhat stereotypical, but calling her hyper-sexual just isn’t true anymore, from what I’ve seen of her character.
Mercedes: You’re right that the show could stand to have a prominent black male character. The writing of her character is problematic enough in of itself, but the fact that she’s the only prominent black character makes it even worse.
Mike and Tina: There was an interracial relationship in all of the first season where Tina dated Artie. I’m glad they put Tina with Mike instead. They have better chemistry. Besides, as rare as interracial relationships are on TV, I feel like I see relationships between two non-white people of the same race even less often. That’s all based on my perspective, though – I have no clear data to back that up.
I have a lot of issues with Glee for some of the reasons you mentioned above. I have to admit, Mercedes has never been my favourite character because (and you said it so well) she is almost entirely a stereotype. Personally (and I realize this opinion will likely be unpopular) I sympathize most with Rachel who is abrasive, for sure, but has been a strong character throughout near-constant bullying. I would have really liked to see Mercedes have a chance to be a different kind of character – one who was academically driven or a skilled musician in addition to her singing talent.
Instead, she’s been largely abandoned – portrayed in relation to who she’s dating (Puck), who she wants to date (Kurt) and who she’s competing with (Rachel). I find that so unfortunate. While I find Santana much more developed, I still think her storyline was given so much less attention than Kurt’s bullying storyline, though the two had the potential to overlap so well. I don’t think Kurt’s storyline deserved less attention, I just wish Santana’s fears and reactions had been addressed in a more fleshed-out manner. And I admit, I was kind of hoping for a positive and non-fetishized bisexual character.
Anyway, as a closing note – I would really like to say I enjoy your blog. I’m a big pop culture junkie (and I love Community!) so I appreciate a chance to look at feminist issues in television and film as you do here ;->
Rachel seems to be a very divisive character with Glee fans. I run into a lot of people who either LOVE Rachel or HATE Rachel. I fall somewhere in the middle, but I admit I liked her a lot more in season one than I did in season two and the beginning of three. Part of my problem is with the inconsistent writing for her, but I also think Lea Michele is part of the problem. I think of the scenes in Emma’s office where she reacts to being double-cast and she delivered the lines in a way that just seemed smug and obnoxious, while I think season one Rachel/Lea would’ve delivered those same lines in an endearingly chirpy or overexcited way.
I would have really liked to see Mercedes have a chance to be a different kind of character – one who was academically driven or a skilled musician in addition to her singing talent.
That would’ve been neat. But even with the Mercedes they HAVE shown us, they could have at least done something with her besides another damn diva-off. Last season she and Kurt and Rachel had formed an adorable friendship trio. I got the impression that Mercedes and Rachel started hanging out because they were both friends with Kurt, but then developed a friendship independent of Kurt. By the end of the season, Mercedes actually seemed closer to Rachel than she was to Kurt. I would have loved to see Mercedes struggle with her feelings a little more and deal with being in competition with a good friend. Or even have her resent Rachel and Kurt for ditching her because she didn’t fit into their post-graduation New York plans. (I don’t think Rachel and Kurt ditched her intentionally, but I can see why Mercedes might feel that way.)
While I find Santana much more developed, I still think her storyline was given so much less attention than Kurt’s bullying storyline, though the two had the potential to overlap so well. I don’t think Kurt’s storyline deserved less attention, I just wish Santana’s fears and reactions had been addressed in a more fleshed-out manner. And I admit, I was kind of hoping for a positive and non-fetishized bisexual character.
One thing I did like about Brittany/Santana is the switcheroo they did on the audience. I thought for quite awhile that Brittany was the lesbian and Santana was the bisexual one, since Brittany had previously shown attraction to other women and Santana only seemed to have sex with boys. But making Brittany bisexual and Santana the lesbian made a strange sort of sense. I totally bought that Santana only slept with guys and pursued them as a front to hide how she really felt. I also think it’s interesting that she seems to define herself based on who she loves, not who she wants to sleep with.
That was a bit of a tangent, but yes, I agree that we could have had more fleshing out of Santana’s storyline, but I think they did a reasonably good job with it considering the number of people in the cast. I’m feeling apprehensive about season three so far, though. Right now Santana seems to be more of an accessory in Brittany’s story, and I really think it should be the other way around. I cannot handle Brittany except in small doses.
Thanks for the kind words about the blog, too. 🙂
Part of my problem is with the inconsistent writing for her, but I also think Lea Michele is part of the problem.
I completely agree that Rachel is written inconsistently. Everytime she experiences character growth, she seems to regress within a few episodes. If they had kept the same ironic parody-esque sense of humour underlying the show through the second season, I might’ve been okay with that but the second season was inconsistent for the characters and the plot in general. I try to divorce the characters from the actors (on Glee, at least) because I’ve heard so many negative/positive things about the cast.
But even with the Mercedes they HAVE shown us, they could have at least done something with her besides another damn diva-off. Last season she and Kurt and Rachel had formed an adorable friendship trio. I got the impression that Mercedes and Rachel started hanging out because they were both friends with Kurt, but then developed a friendship independent of Kurt.
I’ve been reading the other comments on this entry and I have to admit… I don’t even want to discuss all of the things they could have done better with Mercedes. I was shocked to watch most of her “big” plot lines last year involve idiotic things like fighting over tater tots and demanding puppies to dry her hands. Last season she was manipulated by Lauren and this season she has stereotypical black male jock boyfriend doing it to an extent. I loved that he was supportive and encouraging but I found their relationship came out of nowhere and he seemed to push Mercedes into believing that she was worth more than the entire Glee club as a whole – there was no backstory to their romance, he’s just there (the jock that was formerly best friends with Karofsky and taunted the Glee club). Considering she’s one of two prominent characters of colour on the show, I had hoped for better – I think showing a healthy and happy relationship between two black characters would have been great, but I don’t feel (as of yet, at least) that such is the direction they’re going in.
But making Brittany bisexual and Santana the lesbian made a strange sort of sense. I totally bought that Santana only slept with guys and pursued them as a front to hide how she really felt.
I hadn’t actuaqlly considered that they made Brittany a well-rounded bisexual character – much like you, I can only handle her in small doses too. But you’re right, it does make a strange sort of sense. I feel for Santana and I try to be really sex positive but I have to admit, Santana’s sexual behaviour bothered me because it didn’t seem like something she did because she enjoyed it – there seemed to be more of a power/manipulation motive to it. Certainly struggling with her sexuality explained a lot about her character for me.
I’m willing to continue giving Glee a shot but… If this season is as uneven in characterization and development as last, that may be difficult. And you’re welcome ;->
“Regarding Santana: From what I know, the writers hadn’t intended to make her a lesbian at all, but Naya Rivera pushed for it and they listened to her. It’s also worth mentioning that Santana hasn’t had sex with a guy since she came to terms with her feelings for Brittany. I think the point of her arc is that she’s NOT, in fact, hyper-sexual at all, and only puts on a hyper-sexual persona as a huge front to hide her real feelings. She’s never actually seemed to enjoy having sex with boys (with Puck as the possible exception). She tells Finn that she needs to do it at least 20 times before the “feeling of accomplishment settles in,” with the most bored inflection possible. So I don’t know, you may be right about it still being somewhat stereotypical, but calling her hyper-sexual just isn’t true anymore, from what I’ve seen of her character.”
Well that’s up to the viewer and the writer’s intent of the show to interpreted the characters and it’s content.
“Mike and Tina: There was an interracial relationship in all of the first season where Tina dated Artie. I’m glad they put Tina with Mike instead. They have better chemistry. Besides, as rare as interracial relationships are on TV, I feel like I see relationships between two non-white people of the same race even less often. That’s all based on my perspective, though – I have no clear data to back that up.”
Well that’s a fifty-fifty, because if there are minorities in the show, they’ll are bond to be group together. I see where you are coming from but it’s like character segregation.
Here’s an idea of how Glee can combat stereotypes.
Like instead of having Mercedes as the sassy black girl, Should of made her soft and quiet types instead of Tina. Then later on have her be with Mike, since the media have Black Woman and Asian Men as Asexuals. With Tina (please note I don’t really watch the show) have her date with someone who is the total opposite of her. Goth and a preachers son. Ideally someone that is not white, Latino or Middle Eastern. Then with Santana, instead of making her sexual because of her repressed Homosexuality, have her come out and have a friendly relationship with Rachel and Kirk. Personality wise make her aloof and cold, but she shows a soft side to the Glee club. That way the writers can play with the expectations of the viewers. Like this
Pledge: You see a character and expect them to be a certain way. (Sassy Black Woman)
Turn: You make the character go against the stereotype. (Not sassy or loud, but the opposite or other). Like quiet and understanding. Not weak but a strong willed character
Prestige: You develop the character to have the audience see the character as a character not a stereotype.
Also speaking of missing black male, why is the no Middle Eastern Students in Glee?
Well that’s a fifty-fifty, because if there are minorities in the show, they’ll are bond to be group together. I see where you are coming from but it’s like character segregation.
What about Santana and Brittany? They’ve been paired together since the beginning, even before the writers made their relationship romantic.
(please note I don’t really watch the show)
Between this admission and your inability to get Kurt’s name correct, you’ve kind of lost me.
I would love more atypical, complex representations of “minority” groups in media, but of all the many, may problems I have with Glee, the fact that Mike and Tina are two Asians who happen to be in a relationship is near the bottom of my list. Aside from Kurt and Blaine, they have the most mature, mutually supportive romantic relationship on the show.
It’s also worth mentioning that the writers intended to have an interracial relationship in season three between Sam and Mercedes, but the actor who played Sam didn’t like the producers’ offer, so he left the show completely.
belive me only time I watched the show is with my seven year old kid, that’s how i notice the stereotype in the show. So I went to blogs fansites, youtube and forums to get my info.
“It’s also worth mentioning that the writers intended to have an interracial relationship in season three between Sam and Mercedes, but the actor who played Sam didn’t like the producers’ offer, so he left the show completely.”
Offer like money wise or the creative despute.
Also I read up on the Episode “Asian F” i mean look at the fail in the episode with the Asian Characters. Also I find it funny that they did the same thing to Mercedes relationship with Mike and Tina.
From what I understand, the producers offered Chord Overstreet (Sam) a similar contract to the contract he had in season two, where he would be a recurring character in a certain number of episodes. Meanwhile, they offered Darren Criss (Blaine) and Harry Shum Jr. (Mike) “series regular” contracts. But he wanted series regular status or nothing, and quit. That’s what I’ve heard, anyway.
Also I read up on the Episode “Asian F” i mean look at the fail in the episode with the Asian Characters
Oh, I agree completely. Mike’s dad was nothing but an Asian stereotype (his mother was slightly better). I definitely see, and agree with, your point about the stereotypes presented in their characters. I just can’t agree with the idea that showing two Asians in a relationship, or two black people in a relationship, is part of the “stereotype” problem, at least not in this case. I think writers will sometimes shove two “minority” characters to isolate them from the rest of the group, but I don’t think that’s true when it comes to Mike and Tina. Tina had very little to do in season one except be an accessory to Artie’s storyline, and Mike was a glorified extra. If anything, they’ve had MORE screen time and story since they got together.
“Oh, I agree completely. Mike’s dad was nothing but an Asian stereotype (his mother was slightly better). I definitely see, and agree with, your point about the stereotypes presented in their characters. I just can’t agree with the idea that showing two Asians in a relationship, or two black people in a relationship, is part of the “stereotype” problem, at least not in this case. I think writers will sometimes shove two “minority” characters to isolate them from the rest of the group, but I don’t think that’s true when it comes to Mike and Tina. Tina had very little to do in season one except be an accessory to Artie’s storyline, and Mike was a glorified extra. If anything, they’ve had MORE screen time and story since they got together”
1. With his parents since he’s the football player, The could of made the parents more laid back or his father an athlete. Because there are Asian Athletes. It should of made it that the teachers wanted to get him out the the Glee club and his parents want to help him. (Very rare you see that in Teen shows)
2. Same race/interracial: It’s a double edge sword, because although some would like to see POC get in the relationships, the ones who are in interracial relationships or biracial children feel Marginalized because they see any interracial relationships. It like agian, the writers telling people to stay where they are at, don’t ever crossover.
It should of made it that the teachers wanted to get him out the the Glee club and his parents want to help him. (Very rare you see that in Teen shows)
That would not have made any sense in the world of Glee because we’ve never met any of the kids’ actual classroom teachers aside from Mr. Schuester, and suddenly introducing other teachers for this plot and this plot alone would’ve been completely jarring and nonsensical.
It also would not have carried the same emotional weight. Why would Mike care if some teachers at his school wanted him to leave the glee club? He’s got one year left at McKinley and then he’s never going to see them again. His parents will be his parents for the rest of his life.
Same race/interracial: It’s a double edge sword, because although some would like to see POC get in the relationships, the ones who are in interracial relationships or biracial children feel Marginalized because they see any interracial relationships.
Well then, honestly, all I can say is that the writers seem to be damned no matter what they do. If they show two people of color in a relationship they’re telling people of color to “stay in their place.” If they show an interracial relationship they’re saying people of the same ethnicity can’t be in a healthy relationship.
Besides, again, you are completely disregarding Brittany and Santana. Do they not count because Brittany is white, or because they’re both women? Or what about Tina and Artie? Does their previous relationship not count because it didn’t last forever? Or what about Rachel, whose two dads are in an interracial relationship – do they not count because one dad is white, or because they’re two men?
If they want to make biracial children less marginalized, there’s a very simple solution to that. Darren Criss is biracial, so they can make Blaine biracial as well and introduce his parents. Done.
We’re also not considering two different things. The first is the racial and ethnic demographics of Lima, Ohio: 71% white, 25% African-American, 1.97% Hispanic, 0.51% Asian. The second is the FOX network. We don’t know how much of the problem is due to the writers of Glee and how much is due to network interference.
I am all for more diversity in the media. That’s why I write about it. But this approach seems to be very labored and exhausting, as if writers should create a checklist of different minority groups and a separate checklist of stereotypes that go with those minority groups and make sure those two lists never, ever intersect, and then pair up those characters according to which pairings would be the “least” stereotypical. And that checklist approach will not lead to good storytelling. Not to mention that this problem extends far beyond Glee. We should demand more diversity in ALL media, not act like Glee is the place to solve all of these problems at once.
That would not have made any sense in the world of Glee because we’ve never met any of the kids’ actual classroom teachers aside from Mr. Schuester, and suddenly introducing other teachers for this plot and this plot alone would’ve been completely jarring and nonsensical.
It also would not have carried the same emotional weight. Why would Mike care if some teachers at his school wanted him to leave the glee club? He’s got one year left at McKinley and then he’s never going to see them again. His parents will be his parents for the rest of his life.
Not really like how they introduce new students, they can introduce new teacher, some good and some bad. Since Sue is running for politics. You can have someone to fill in the void for while. Mind you Batman doesn’t just fight the Joker all the time.
Well then, honestly, all I can say is that the writers seem to be damned no matter what they do. If they show two people of color in a relationship they’re telling people of color to “stay in their place.” If they show an interracial relationship they’re saying people of the same ethnicity can’t be in a healthy relationship.
Like I said it is a double edge sword. But it how they handle it.
Besides, again, you are completely disregarding Brittany and Santana. Do they not count because Brittany is white, or because they’re both women? Or what about Tina and Artie? Does their previous relationship not count because it didn’t last forever? Or what about Rachel, whose two dads are in an interracial relationship – do they not count because one dad is white, or because they’re two men?
Well mind you I didn’t comment on Kurt either because Although I don’t agree with the lifestyle, so i can’t comment too much on it, I do respect it and from what I see about Kurt it was pretty well done and I was hoping the same for Santana and Brittany without being a wankfest for perverts. I disregard it because it was well done. with Artie and Tina, I was actually hoping for the couple to last. So I can complain what is well done.
If they want to make biracial children less marginalized, there’s a very simple solution to that. Darren Criss is biracial, so they can make Blaine biracial as well and introduce his parents. Done.
Not so fast, because the writers have to do in a very good job on the character. I mean a good job. Like with mix race it usually white people that get the role or you have to look more white. I was thinking of someone kinda like mix with non-white with non-white.
We’re also not considering two different things. The first is the racial and ethnic demographics of Lima, Ohio: 71% white, 25% African-American, 1.97% Hispanic, 0.51% Asian. The second is the FOX network. We don’t know how much of the problem is due to the writers of Glee and how much is due to network interference.
About the demographics, mainstream tend to ignore it if it suits their interest. Like you can have a show that takes place with less white people and still you alot of white people. But I can’t say if its the writers or FOX. Mind you FOX is backwards like NBC too.
I am all for more diversity in the media. That’s why I write about it. But this approach seems to be very labored and exhausting, as if writers should create a checklist of different minority groups and a separate checklist of stereotypes that go with those minority groups and make sure those two lists never, ever intersect, and then pair up those characters according to which pairings would be the “least” stereotypical. And that checklist approach will not lead to good storytelling. Not to mention that this problem extends far beyond Glee. We should demand more diversity in ALL media, not act like Glee is the place to solve all of these problems at once.
That’s how I feel, and like analyzing shows like Glee, because it makes lookout for certain things when I’m writing my story. I know that Glee is not the first show nor it will be the last. But we can take it’s examples of what not to do. Like Spike Lee with Miracle on St. Anne. It was a response to the WW2 films that didn’t feature black soldiers.
Sorry if reply seem hard ro read because I was at school.
But i read the episode of when they are doing west side story and Mercedes got snubbed so she is doing a splinter Glee club. I’m reading to see how that play out.
First of all, I’m black….pretty damn sure you arent….yet I still find Mercedes hilarious. Sure I hate stereotypes has much as anybody…but they don’t need to be 100% sacrificed. She’s funny, she’s like me, and I can relate to her. Tone it down.
No, I’m not black, but I never said I was. I also never said that my opinions were fact or that everyone must agree with me. Tone what down?
I welcome disagreement and I’d love to hear more of your opinion on this issue – as long as everyone stays polite.
You’ll also notice that I tagged this post in the “white girl talkin’ about racism” category. There’s a reason for that.
Yeah, basically we’re just talking about the show. We’re not going to hate on anyone who likes it.
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Bro. You’re finding the SLIGHTEST digressions from the stereotyped, type casting roles and saying that makes it ok? You wildin. Check yaself.