Glee - racist?

[simple living mama]

I finally sat down to see what the hype is.  It's got funny bits, clever bits but I'm finding it to be slightly racist. Sure there are characters that are different colors but the story lines are all around the white kids, at least that's what I'm noticing? I'm not really interested in watching things that make fun or put down other races, I don't care how clever or quirky it is.

 Thought on this anyone?

[terrordactyl]

it changes the more you get into it

[treeoflife3]

yeah, they start that way but they do story lines with the other characters.  They got flack for it so in one episode they have tina (the asian girl) when picking a partner draw 'the other asian' rather than stating his name.  The black boy (I believe his name was matt?) is actually no longer on the show so it is probably for the best he didn't get much of a story line.

They all have been getting more screen time as they get into season two.  There are just so MANY characters that I think it is hard to focus on all of them.  Actually in season two, kurt has been getting a lot less of a story.  Some, but since he is at a different school (sorry for the spoiler) and the focus is on the glee club at the main school, he isn't in quite as often... leaving it open for the others.

[Bokonon]

There have been many story lines revolving around the minority characters.  I haven't felt like it puts down other races at all.

[mommy212]

I find this true of just about every show/movie/whatever that is not specifically targeted to another ethnicity... I am also really sick of stories that have a main white character and any ethnic people in it are the comic relief.... it seem like that is always true! Sorry if this sounds off but I wish a major movie would have a serious African-American lead role or something interesting! I am bored of white people! lol

[simple living mama]

What’s bothered me is little lines like when Terri is about to tell her friend that she’s been faking her pregnancy her friend says with horror on her face “Is the baby black?”

What the hell?  I'm uncomfortable with that kind of humor. It's unnecessary and not sure I want my kids, who are watching with me, to be comfortable with that ever.  It's not the way I want to raise them.

[limette]

Originally Posted by simple living mama 

What’s bothered me is little lines like when Terri is about to tell her friend that she’s been faking her pregnancy her friend says with horror on her face “Is the baby black?”

What the hell?  I'm uncomfortable with that kind of humor. It's unnecessary and not sure I want my kids, who are watching with me, to be comfortable with that ever.  It's not the way I want to raise them.

The entire show is based on ridiculous stereotypes. That's essentially the premise of the show. Everyone in it is an extreme stereotype and they say ridiculous stereotypical, inflammatory things. It's that kind of humor. It's also not supposed to be a kids show.

The real problem is that the show became so popular so fast that they've now tried to expand their audience by making it a different show. Some episodes are "after school special" and some are straight up sarcasm. All this is doing is confusing the new audience that thinks it's a happy go lucky musical when it isn't.

[journeymom]

Originally Posted by simple living mama 

What’s bothered me is little lines like when Terri is about to tell her friend that she’s been faking her pregnancy her friend says with horror on her face “Is the baby black?”

What the hell?  I'm uncomfortable with that kind of humor. It's unnecessary and not sure I want my kids, who are watching with me, to be comfortable with that ever.  It's not the way I want to raise them.

I suggest you don't watch Glee.  It's full of in-your-face, jaw dropping comments about race, gender, sexual orientation, religion.   Aside from developmental disabilities, I don't think any other stereotype is off limits.

[La Limena]

Originally Posted by mommy212 
I am bored of white people!

Uh. Glee isn't racist but this comment is. Substitute any other ethnicity for "white" and you would have a mob up in arms. 

Anyhow, didn't the Clark doll preference study in the 40's (and other subsequent studies too) show that black girls favored playing with white dolls over black dolls. So producers of media probably think that the vast majority of their audience wants to watch white actors so we get mostly white shows. 

To the OP-

Glee is not a kid's show. 

The characters are stereotypes, so the things they do and say are in line with what their individual stereotype would do or say. It is not a cast of PC characters, so it is not the show for anyone offended by anything non-politically correct. 

[imogenlily]

Originally Posted by La Limena 

Uh. Glee isn't racist but this comment is. Substitute any other ethnicity for "white" and you would have a mob up in arms.

I think default visibility in media is a kind of systemic privilege, and it's okay to resent systemic privilege. I think it's okay for gay people to want to see more gay characters and to be bored with straight ones. I think it's okay for people with disabilities to feel underrepresented and to want to see people with disabilities in media.

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by simple living mama 

What’s bothered me is little lines like when Terri is about to tell her friend that she’s been faking her pregnancy her friend says with horror on her face “Is the baby black?”

What the hell?  I'm uncomfortable with that kind of humor. It's unnecessary and not sure I want my kids, who are watching with me, to be comfortable with that ever.  It's not the way I want to raise them.

Terri and her sister are not exactly the protagonists of the show.  You've never watched a movie or TV show where someone who is supposed to be inherently unlikeable says something offensive?  

There are no perfect characters on the show.  It's kind of nice in that way.  Each of them has fundamental human flaws, yet the show is not intended to be realistic.

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by imogenlily 

I think default visibility in media is a kind of systemic privilege, and it's okay to resent systemic privilege. I think it's okay for gay people to want to see more gay characters and to be bored with straight ones. I think it's okay for people with disabilities to feel underrepresented and to want to see people with disabilities in media.

That's not the same as "I'm bored with white people".

[SubliminalDarkness]

I've never been a big fan of the show, but recently I watched the whole first season. Just about every character has a major story line. There are the 'primary' characters, but they're not all white. Puck is Jewish. So is.... Rachel? Mercedes has a couple of big segments. Santana does, too. Tina has a segment, and I think later in the show she has a more significant role but I'm not there yet. 

And someone mentioned the only 'group' that doesn't get made fun of is special needs, but even that is sort of poked at with the Down's Syndrome girl on the Cheerios. 

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by SubliminalDarkness 

I've never been a big fan of the show, but recently I watched the whole first season. Just about every character has a major story line. There are the 'primary' characters, but they're not all white. Puck is Jewish. So is.... Rachel? Mercedes has a couple of big segments. Santana does, too. Tina has a segment, and I think later in the show she has a more significant role but I'm not there yet. 

And someone mentioned the only 'group' that doesn't get made fun of is special needs, but even that is sort of poked at with the Down's Syndrome girl on the Cheerios. 

I don't see Down Syndrome as being "made fun of" at all - the evil Cheerios coach selected the girl with DS for the squad because her own sister has Down Syndrome.  That story arc gave the coach more depth and sensitivity.  The only person the coach seems to be nice to at the school is Becky (the Cheerio with DS).

I obviously watch too much Glee, LOL.  I like the show but see how some people wouldn't.  But I honestly don't see it as being racist even if some of the characters are.  The school is set in Lima, Ohio.  I've never been there, but I have a feeling the creators are going for a stereotypical small town Midwestern school culture.  I'm from a small town without much of any ethnic diversity.  It doesn't mean that I'm racist or that my school was - it was just the ethnic demographic of my community.

[mommy212]

Wow I forget how sensitive some people on this site can be. I apologize if my comment offended anyone. 

[limabean]

Originally Posted by simple living mama 

What the hell?  I'm uncomfortable with that kind of humor. It's unnecessary and not sure I want my kids, who are watching with me, to be comfortable with that ever.  It's not the way I want to raise them.

This probably isn't the show for you then.

I don't know how old your kids are, but the recent episodes I've seen have had a TV-14 rating flashed on the screen at the beginning, so it's not intended for kids. I think the musical aspect of the show makes some people assume that it's family-friendly or something. 

[Viola]

Originally Posted by mommy212 

Wow I forget how sensitive some people on this site can be. I apologize if my comment offended anyone. 

I didn't find it offensive.  I might say that in a joking manner.  I'm white.  I don't know your ethnic background, but I think it makes sense when so many movies and books feature white characters, sometimes you get bored with this very similar worldview being so prevalent, and so many tv shows offer a very homogenous culture.  

Puck and Rachel are both white--I wouldn't consider them non-white.  

[Annie Mac]

I don't think Glee is racist. I think the characters are caricatures, to differing extents, and the comments are so over-the-top as to be satirical. I mean, just look at Coach Sue. If that isn't a satirical character, I don't know what is.

[Arduinna]

I haven't watched it enough to know, I tried watching the first episode and hated the show and turned it off.