Thanks for those cool links Toby!
I do have one addendum. While I agree that certain minority characters are given overtly stereotyped characteristics (Mercedes, Kurt), I haven't actually come across any instances in which the character of Tina has been explicitly racialized as Asian or Asian-American. If I missed something, please let me know.
According to Wikipedia the actress who plays Tina, Jenna Ushkowitz, was adopted from Korea as a baby. So I wonder how her personal experience as a transnational adoptee has affected the politics of representing Tina...
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
two blog posts about race & glee
just wanted to alert y'all about two interesting posts on representations of race on glee.
the first is @ pop matters:
"is 'glee' a little bit racist?" by michael landweber
the response is @ hyphen blog:
"songs in the key of racism" by sylvie kim
really great points made. let's get a conversation going: what are your thoughts on these posts? comment here!
the first is @ pop matters:
"is 'glee' a little bit racist?" by michael landweber
the response is @ hyphen blog:
"songs in the key of racism" by sylvie kim
really great points made. let's get a conversation going: what are your thoughts on these posts? comment here!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
S01E10 - Ballad
I don't have too much to say about this episode of Glee because I didn't think it was very good or interesting. In the back of my mind, however, was the latest episode of The Office (S06E11 - Shareholder Meeting), which opens with Dwight as the monster "Recyclops" encouraging everyone to recycle properly. This kind of "social message" on The Office seems to have moved towards a much more didactic tone than earlier examples of "social reality" on the show (see S01E02 - Diversity Day, etc., which are played for mere laughs).
With the show's growing popularity intersecting with the current recession, it makes me wonder how television and government interact in times of crisis (both in reality and on TV). Recent TV examples were the appearance of a "congressman" at the Dunder-Mifflin shareholders' meeting and VP Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock testifying at a Congressional hearing.
I wonder if TV networks are being pressured to produce recuperative, happy stories (whether the government asks this favor of network TV, or whether advertisers do, would be interesting to investigate). The dramatizing of Dunder-Mifflin's possible bankruptcy is a rare depiction of an actual workplace crisis, and I, for one, will predict that things will turn out OK for the gang -- it simply has to. The Jim and Pam wedding extravaganza, in retrospect, also seems like a calculated happy pill / distraction during a time of economic uncertainty. If anyone has expertise on television and moments of public crisis, I would be very interested to hear.
Lastly, this brings me to Glee: with its central issues being teen pregnancy and acceptances (acknowledgements?) of various kinds of diversity (racial, sexual, disabilities) there is a feeling that everything is going to be "resolved" by season's end. What do you think of Glee's social role during this American crisis? Though the economic crisis is certainly not confined to America, I wonder if Glee's dramatization of social crisis is one way of mirroring the financial crisis and defining its boundaries within America.
Is Glee only possible because we are in a moment of crisis and delicate issues can finally be interrogated (no matter how tritely - it's still somewhat of a step)? Similar question is posed regarding Dunder-Mifflin's near-bankruptcy and Jack Donaghy's almost-demotion. Are these stories created by a hegemony in a moment of crisis that ultimately aims to re-establish stability at the end of the season? Or are these stories only finally possible because we are in the midst of a chaotic, Bakhtinian carnival?
With the show's growing popularity intersecting with the current recession, it makes me wonder how television and government interact in times of crisis (both in reality and on TV). Recent TV examples were the appearance of a "congressman" at the Dunder-Mifflin shareholders' meeting and VP Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock testifying at a Congressional hearing.
I wonder if TV networks are being pressured to produce recuperative, happy stories (whether the government asks this favor of network TV, or whether advertisers do, would be interesting to investigate). The dramatizing of Dunder-Mifflin's possible bankruptcy is a rare depiction of an actual workplace crisis, and I, for one, will predict that things will turn out OK for the gang -- it simply has to. The Jim and Pam wedding extravaganza, in retrospect, also seems like a calculated happy pill / distraction during a time of economic uncertainty. If anyone has expertise on television and moments of public crisis, I would be very interested to hear.
Lastly, this brings me to Glee: with its central issues being teen pregnancy and acceptances (acknowledgements?) of various kinds of diversity (racial, sexual, disabilities) there is a feeling that everything is going to be "resolved" by season's end. What do you think of Glee's social role during this American crisis? Though the economic crisis is certainly not confined to America, I wonder if Glee's dramatization of social crisis is one way of mirroring the financial crisis and defining its boundaries within America.
Is Glee only possible because we are in a moment of crisis and delicate issues can finally be interrogated (no matter how tritely - it's still somewhat of a step)? Similar question is posed regarding Dunder-Mifflin's near-bankruptcy and Jack Donaghy's almost-demotion. Are these stories created by a hegemony in a moment of crisis that ultimately aims to re-establish stability at the end of the season? Or are these stories only finally possible because we are in the midst of a chaotic, Bakhtinian carnival?
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Purpose of the Blog
Dear Readers:
What are your reason for watching Glee? How do you feel when you watch it? What thoughts do you have when you watch it? We want to know.
This blog is intended to be a platform for viewers to share their thoughts on the show, to unpack the many facets of the show as a whole or its episodes. You may write about a certain topic or theme, or a specific episode or scene. For example, you may want to write about the show's musical numbers, such as their place in musical theater, or the show's identity politics, such as its representation of multiculturalism and diversity. As long as it's smart and sharp (note: not necessarily academic, formal, or conclusive), we want to post here and let the discussion grow.
Let's build a community space for viewers to exchange their thoughts, to challenge each other to enhance the way we relate to this show. It's got so much potential for some thrilling conversations, so let's waste no time and start sharing!
If you have a post ready, please e-mail it to us at unpacking.glee@gmail.com!
Happy reading!
Founders of the Blog.
What are your reason for watching Glee? How do you feel when you watch it? What thoughts do you have when you watch it? We want to know.
This blog is intended to be a platform for viewers to share their thoughts on the show, to unpack the many facets of the show as a whole or its episodes. You may write about a certain topic or theme, or a specific episode or scene. For example, you may want to write about the show's musical numbers, such as their place in musical theater, or the show's identity politics, such as its representation of multiculturalism and diversity. As long as it's smart and sharp (note: not necessarily academic, formal, or conclusive), we want to post here and let the discussion grow.
Let's build a community space for viewers to exchange their thoughts, to challenge each other to enhance the way we relate to this show. It's got so much potential for some thrilling conversations, so let's waste no time and start sharing!
If you have a post ready, please e-mail it to us at unpacking.glee@gmail.com!
Happy reading!
Founders of the Blog.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)