Glee

[chasingtides]

So, I made two mistakes. One, I watch another episode of Glee. (Warning: Mattress comes with unexamined domestic violence, discussion further in.)

Then I went on to make my second mistake - I tried to talk about the issues with Glee (as per what I've seen: racism, ablism, sexism, domestic violence; I have seen discussions of issues of queerness).

People seem to be using, "But it's satire!" as a way of shutting down issues with the show. I won't deny that the songs are catchy and fun, but I am having a lot of trouble seeing how the issues I'm having are satire on the show.

Will pins his wife to the wall, gripping her wrist so hard that we can see the strain in his hand, even after she tells him he's scaring her and asking him to get away. Then, while she seems near tears, he lifts up her shirt and tears the baby belly off her and starts screaming. (FYI, I think she's right that the club is an unhealthy obsession for him - example: writing the check for the yearbook ad when they obviously didn't have the money for it. Also using it as a cover for emotional cheating.) I wouldn't have as much of a problem, except we are supposed to see him as the put-upon victim.

Quinn says Puck got her drunk the night he got her pregnant - but somehow she's the cheating lying slut? And Terri's clearly scared of Will and got some mental issues, but she's the shrewish angry wife? And what's with the minority kids getting less screen time and I won't even touch the ablism?

Can someone please explain how this is satire and not really offensive crap?

[In other news: I'm apparently working extra hours and six days a week until Christmas. Oh god, I'm going to die.]

Comments

Re: Part 1

[lotus-bright.livejournal.com]

I would actually argue that Terri could be accused of domestic violence, herself. (Which would also back up your theory that she has domestic violence in her past, as many abused - not all, but many - grow up to abuse others.)

As it goes, I tend to think that Will's anger is justifiable but the way he executed it, while somewhat understandable (I imagine in that moment he felt like he lost a child he had grown to love), is not justifiable. Basically, that scene was less Will abusing Terri than a culmination of what is a deeply unhealthy and flawed relationship - one might say, Terri and Will abusing each other.

Re: Part 1

[chasingtides.livejournal.com]

I can take that theory as potentially valid, although I would argue that if what Terri did, she did out of fear of abuse from Will, it ought to be seen in another light. (Many abused people lie to their partners - not because they hate them/want to hurt them, but because they are trying to avoid more abuse. Further, if Terri had shoved Will away from her in this scene, I would not have called that physical abuse either.)

My problem is that we are supposed to see Will as the put upon Good Guy Hero. And that is TERRIBLE.

Re: Part 1

[lotus-bright.livejournal.com]

I definitely won't argue that there are serious problems with the show, which I've discussed in the past.

I would also present the theory that it's possible that Terri did not do what she did out of fear of abuse from Will, but out of fear of abuse. From past episodes, I've gotten the impression that domestic violence wasn't an issue for the two, but there was a widening gulf between them (possibly even before Emma became an issue, which is not to say Will isn't wrong for emotionally cheating). That she may be reacting to Will (who definitely crossed a line, mind you) as she would have to her abuser in the past brings another light in entirely, and one I can understand because I did it myself for years.

Re: Part 1

[chasingtides.livejournal.com]

I would agree with that.

I am in no way trying to say that Terri's behavior is not problematic or that Will shouldn't be upset by what happened. However, that doesn't condone what he did to her, especially if she has an abusive past. (Additionally, I think their marriage is still together because they both have terrible esteem - but it's classic abuser to have low self esteem tied in with the abused, which would mean that Terri has a realistic grasp on the situation. Also, I would argue that emotional neglect and verbal put downs - which, arguably, Will has been giving Terri from the start - constitute as much abuse as Terri has given him.)

Personally, I find Will to be deeply problematic for a lot of reasons - from his emotional affair with Emma to touching the girls in glee club to the fact that he's no more mature than the children he mentors.

Re: Part 1

[lotus-bright.livejournal.com]

Right. They've both crossed lines all over the place - there's no doubt about that - and what he did is not justifiable.

However, I think it's also worth considering that he may not know about the abusive past (if, indeed, she has one) or, if he does, about the extent of it, whatever that extent may be - particularly if the abuser was a parent.