When I first heard about Glee, I despised it on principle. Stupid show with stupid drama - my conclusion was foregone.
But, with an obsessive pop-culture maven for a sister, I got hooked on the songs around the 8th episode. Not caring for the glitzy drama of the double-pregnancy issues, I would skip the shows and go straight to the songs. Eventually, I got lazy and watched the whole episode. The show was so stereotypical - the Head Cheerleader, the Football Quarterback, the Black Girl, the Gay Guy, the Drama Queen/Geeky Girl, the Slut, the Dumb Blond, the Inspired Teacher, and the Nemesis - everyone has their predetermined role and personalities. Even the guest stars are stuck in such rigidly defined roles - the three judges in "Sectionals" even had their stereotypes noted in the corner of the screen!
Ridiculous.
But after thinking about it, I have come to the conclusion that the writers of the show are either extremely brilliant or mediocre. They use these archetypes so blatantly that it is impossible to ignore them. Even the characters themselves refer to each other as the named archetype, not the character name (ie. "Mercedes is black and I'm gay, together we make culture"). This sort of in-your-face assumption forces viewers to admit to the assumptions that we pick up in society. If you are a specific race, personality, talent, or even the right haircut, you will be labeled as something. Glee, intentionally or not, has brought the hidden assumptions back to the forefront of our contiousnesses.
At least, when we are not singing along to the songs.
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Yeah, I am kind of incredibly unimpressed with Glee. For a while there I was trying to convince myself it was so stereotypical it came back around the other side to new, and then for another while I was trying to convince myself that that's what the writers thought they were doing, but now I'm just like, eh. Sparkly mediocrity. *judges*
I can totally hook you up with good fic though, if you want!
Also check your email, I want to talk with you about universities.
Personally, I view the entire thing as a satire. It's comedy, even the dramatic moments make me laugh. It's why I love the show, because rather than the moronic humor found in most "comedy", it actually takes a stab at society and it's stupidity.
I could totally go off on a sociology tangent here, but I shall refrain.
I never have, nor do I think I will ever, watched any episode of Glee.
Dude. You are totally missing out.
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