Glee: Bashing Special Needs Kids

Page 4 of 6 [ 95 posts ] Go to page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Next

Previous topic | Next topic

Callista
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 3 Feb 2006
Age: 42
Gender: Female
Posts: 10,775
Location: Ohio, USA

19 Mar 2011, 10:20 pm

Glee sucks at portraying disabilities. Absolutely sucks.

Blog post regarding this topic.

_________________
Reports from a Resident Alien:
http://chaoticidealism.livejournal.com

Autism Memorial:
http://autism-memorial.livejournal.com

ooOoOoOAnaOoOoOoo
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 18 Jun 2008
Gender: Female
Posts: 12,265

19 Mar 2011, 10:29 pm

Callista wrote:

Glee sucks at portraying disabilities. Absolutely sucks.

The actor who's playing Artie is obviously not disabled. He's not comfortable with the chair. He's just kind of sitting in it, that's it. He doesn't have any rhythm at all. The chair even has handles on it. I mean, what teenage paraplegic wants handles on his wheelchair? He doesn't need them, and he sure as heck doesn't need somebody randomly grabbing them and pushing him around. Plus, the whole deal with him dreaming about dancing? "I dream about the one thing I can't do... boohooo, I have to learn to dream more realistically"? Yeah, you ever heard of wheelchair dancing? Glee hasn't. We're supposed to feel sorry for Artie because he's just such a trooper, goshdarn it; he's had such a horrible horrible life and he's still got spirit! Wow! He's an inspiration to all of us!! (This is where the Internet needs a sarcasm tag.)

And then Sue Sylvester gets a nice moment because she visits her sister (who has Down's) in her retirement home or wherever she lives. And we're supposed to see "Awww, she's not such a horrible villain after all! She's kind to her ret*d sister!" Because, obviously, being kind to someone who's got Down syndrome is an extraordinary thing that makes you an extraordinary person. And as we all know, treating one's own sister like a human being is just downright saintly. (Sarcasm tag again.)

And then there's Tina, who finally admits, "I fake a stutter so I don't have to interact socially. I'm not disabled at all." And Artie promptly gets mad at her because she's faking something that makes his life horrible and she doesn't "really" know what it's like to be disabled. So, tell me, Glee writers, what do we call social anxiety so severe that one fakes a speech impediment for years? A disability, maybe? Oh, that's right. Social phobia doesn't count. It's a mental illness, not a real disability. (Seriously. Why does the Internet not have a sarcasm tag?)

When I first watched Glee, I was glad to see a show that had a lot of the music I like in it. I'm fond of Broadway musicals and some of the stuff they were doing was pretty cool. But gradually, the unfortunate implications just began piling up, and by the end of the first season, I couldn't watch it anymore. It's no fun to watch a show where you find yourself yelling at the screen for yet another disability fail, and realizing that people around the country are probably looking at that and thinking that this is what disability is really like, or even worse, that Glee should be commended for even mentioning disability at all.

Although I've never seen the show, will see it for the first time Tuesday evening, your insights seem spot on. It just seems like the show is so contrived and built on fear of being disabled or the disabled in general. It's no wonder because it is on Fox network, after all.

cyberdad
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 21 Feb 2011
Age: 57
Gender: Male
Posts: 36,036

19 Mar 2011, 10:43 pm

Callista wrote:

And then Sue Sylvester gets a nice moment because she visits her sister (who has Down's) in her retirement home or wherever she lives. And we're supposed to see "Awww, she's not such a horrible villain after all! She's kind to her ret*d sister!" Because, obviously, being kind to someone who's got Down syndrome is an extraordinary thing that makes you an extraordinary person. And as we all know, treating one's own sister like a human being is just downright saintly[/country are probably looking at that and thinking that this is what disability is really like, or even worse, that [i]Glee should be commended for even mentioning disability at all.

NTs are programmed from a young age to be competitive and hold up superficial qualities as "desirable". When these young people have kids of their own they pass on their values and judgements. In addition they often compare their own children with others to benchmark and make sure their kids don't mix or end up with "losers". I think in our culture ( NT culture) it's called aspirational living ( or something to that effect) and attitudes are shaped. Not surprisingly personal attitudes toward people with disabilities are negative because altruism and social inclusion conflicts with our competitive nature and NTs don't want to be held back.

On the example of Sylvester sneering at disabled kids this character (however exaggerated for TV) certainly exists and I've come across this type at dinner parties advocating euthenasia and abortion for kids with disabilities, the type who complain that special needs kids obstruct NT school kids in class, interfering because they are a drain for teachers time and resources.

Therefore in the script seeing her have a sister with downs syndrome is a wakeup call to NTs and makes the story more interesting in seeing how she deals with this apparent contradiction in her attitude. You have to give NTs time to adjust their world views ....it will take time for society to transform.

Callista
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 3 Feb 2006
Age: 42
Gender: Female
Posts: 10,775
Location: Ohio, USA

19 Mar 2011, 10:45 pm

Well... to me it was more like learning that Hitler loved dogs, to be honest.

</Godwin'd>

_________________
Reports from a Resident Alien:
http://chaoticidealism.livejournal.com

Autism Memorial:
http://autism-memorial.livejournal.com

ooOoOoOAnaOoOoOoo
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 18 Jun 2008
Gender: Female
Posts: 12,265

19 Mar 2011, 10:53 pm

It sounds like the writers of Glee are attempting to manipulate the audience which makes me wonder if I am really going to enjoy watching an episode of this show. This Sue character just sounds dull. The writers attempt to make this flat, one dimensional character more complex by giving her a sister with Down's that she is devoted to. But it's just so predictable, that irony is.
If I am going to have to listen to trite insults that I haven't heard since high school, or maybe before...it doesn't sound like an entertaining show. I heard all that in school and left that level of maturity behind and took higher ground. Why is it whenever a show is about high school, the characters have to be like this, immature, superficial, trite, boring. It's always the same.

Boggsey
Tufted Titmouse

Joined: 18 Mar 2011
Age: 32
Gender: Female
Posts: 26
Location: Earth

19 Mar 2011, 11:20 pm

Glee is comedy and nothing more. The characters and storylines are exagerated to make fun of other shows like it. How it becomes offensive is when people take it too seriously. A friend of mine refused to watch it at first, but when she did, she said that it was funnier than she thought it would. The show's main purpose is to amuse audiences. They have tackeled more serious storylines this season, like underage drinking, but it is still a comedy. And as for Sue, the best advice for her comments comes from the show itself, and that is "don't worry about it. She always talks this way."

_________________
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you might miss it."

Verdandi
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 7 Dec 2010
Age: 55
Gender: Female
Posts: 12,275
Location: University of California Sunnydale (fictional location - Real location Olympia, WA)

20 Mar 2011, 12:11 am

KBerg wrote:

Well it's a comedy. Sue's like the Howard Stern of that show, she's there for shock value (and villainy). If you're gonna watch the show as though it were a serious show or even anything other than an overblown parody I'd recommend just not bothering. All it will do is make you outraged that they're being so mean to [insert list of almost every minority here and some majorities too] every time someone makes a joke. Based on that 'sugar in gas tank' comment earlier as example of evil I'm thinking Glee would not be a good fit to you.

It's unfortunate that the show's fans find it difficult to accept any criticism of said show. Ryan Murphy is pretty awful with a host of issues, but he gets away with a lot for whatever reason (his LGB-positive ways? I don't know). But it's impossible to even suggest there's a problem with Glee without fans trying to justify it all and argue that critics just don't get it.

I don't care for funny shows that mock marginalized people in general, why should Glee be held to a different standard? There is a lot of ground to cover in humor without falling back on racism, sexism, ableism, etc. It's possible to portray a villain without endorsing these attitudes - especially since Sue's attitudes are not villainous, they are fairly typical for a large number of people in the US. This is why the "she's a villain" argument is ridiculous and incorrect.

Callista
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 3 Feb 2006
Age: 42
Gender: Female
Posts: 10,775
Location: Ohio, USA

20 Mar 2011, 12:13 am

You know how sometimes when bullies make fun of you, they say it's "just a joke" and that you should be laughing, but it isn't really funny and you feel humiliated? It's kind of like that.

_________________
Reports from a Resident Alien:
http://chaoticidealism.livejournal.com

Autism Memorial:
http://autism-memorial.livejournal.com

Verdandi
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 7 Dec 2010
Age: 55
Gender: Female
Posts: 12,275
Location: University of California Sunnydale (fictional location - Real location Olympia, WA)

20 Mar 2011, 12:21 am

Callista wrote:

You know how sometimes when bullies make fun of you, they say it's "just a joke" and that you should be laughing, but it isn't really funny and you feel humiliated? It's kind of like that.

I think this is an excellent analogy.

KBerg
Velociraptor

Joined: 4 Feb 2011
Gender: Female
Posts: 400

20 Mar 2011, 1:48 am

nm, no point to it.

Last edited by KBerg on 20 Mar 2011, 11:04 am, edited 1 time in total.

Kiseki
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 29 May 2010
Age: 45
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,604
Location: Osaka JP

20 Mar 2011, 8:16 am

I love Glee! In my opinion, it is empowering the nerds and weirdos of the world. At least it makes me feel better aboput myself when I watch it.

I don't think it is making fun of special needs kids at all. If you are talking about Sue Sylvester, she is meant to be the show's bully. What I like about her is she has a cheerleader, Becky, with Down's Syndrome and always gives her special bullying tasks. LOL. Also she has a sister w/Down's Syndrome. If there were no bullies on Glee the show would be incredibly unrealistic.

_________________
Your Aspie score: 161 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 55 of 200
You are very likely an Aspie

Peko
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Gender: Female
Posts: 2,381
Location: Eastern PA, USA

20 Mar 2011, 9:36 am

Boggsey wrote:

I agree with what was said before. Sue makes fun of everyone. And most people only quote her because some of her lines are so insanely rude that they are funny. I think she makes the show entertaining by having a character that you can easily hate. Plus she doesn't discriminate against just one character. She picks on everyone equally, with the exception of Mr. Shcue of course. She also has sort of a nice side. Like when it comes to her sister, Becky, (The cheerleader with Down Sybdrome), and when Kurt (the gay kid) was being bullied. I personaly think that the show wouldn't be as good if she wasn't in it.

I actually thought she had a funny way of showing Kurt respect by letting him pick what insulting name she would refer to him as later on in the series.

_________________
Balance is needed within the universe, can be demonstrated in most/all concepts/things. Black/White, Good/Evil, etc.
All dependent upon your own perspective in your own form of existence, so trust your own gut and live the way YOU want/need to.

ooOoOoOAnaOoOoOoo
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 18 Jun 2008
Gender: Female
Posts: 12,265

20 Mar 2011, 5:06 pm

Peko wrote:

Boggsey wrote:

I actually thought she had a funny way of showing Kurt respect by letting him pick what insulting name she would refer to him as later on in the series.

Seriously, FIRE THAT TEACHER! She does not sound professional in the least. In the real world, that kind of teacher would be thought of as a lemon.
If she does end up fired, I will laugh. More likely, she will just tone down or find some kind of redemption. But since it's on Fox, maybe not. She could actually end up getting worse.
This kind of teacher is the reason why a lot of kids quit school. So, how, exactly, is this funny?

Janissy
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 5 May 2009
Age: 58
Gender: Female
Posts: 6,450
Location: x

20 Mar 2011, 5:23 pm

ooOoOoOAnaOoOoOoo wrote:

Peko wrote:

Boggsey wrote:

I actually thought she had a funny way of showing Kurt respect by letting him pick what insulting name she would refer to him as later on in the series.

In the real world, she would be in jail, let alone fired (for things not yet discussed here). On a comedy show, she will definately keep getting worse. She does not resemble an actual human teacher and isn't meant to. What makes it funny is precisely how much worse than any actual teacher she is. As a character, she isn't like an actual person. And that's how the show is meant to be. She's a foil- something for the other characters to work off of. She is not meant to be realistic. Much of the show just plain couldn't happen in real life.

ooOoOoOAnaOoOoOoo
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 18 Jun 2008
Gender: Female
Posts: 12,265

20 Mar 2011, 5:25 pm

The irony, is, Janissy, this is a comedy show. Is this tragi-comedy because it doesn't sound funny in the least. Anyone who has to put up with someone like this as a boss or authority figure does not find it humorous. I will still watch it on Tuesday but I am preparing to be utterly disgusted and maybe pissed off afterward

BlackWolf
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker

Joined: 17 Mar 2007
Gender: Female
Posts: 64
Location: In a daydream, apparantly.

20 Mar 2011, 5:38 pm

I just watched the S2 Christmas episode, in which there was a plotline about Britanny asking Santa to help Artie (the boy in the wheelchair) walk again. The happy ending happened not with Artie and/or Britanny realised how many good things Artie has in his life (for example, Britanny), but when Artie recieved as a present a machine to attatch to his legs to simulate walking. It was far, far slower and less efficient than the wheelchair, but more socially acceptable.

I am no longer defending, or indeed watching, Glee.

_________________
Oddly coloured wolves are cut off from the pack as a liability in hunting - weak camoflage. Also, I'm a semi-sorta-goth.

Page 4 of 6 [ 95 posts ] Go to page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Next

Jump to:

Glee: Bashing Special Needs Kids Post Reply New Topic

Glee: Bashing Special Needs Kids