Ok. Let's start now...
Blaine argues that men can be divas but then proceeds to join in a song that states that a Diva is "a female version of a hustler" thus reinforcing the feminine within diva.
This episode seemed promising. As a hater of Rachel Berry I was looking forward to Kurt and other characters knocking her down a peg. In order to tackle Rachel's diva behaviour Kurt....just acts in a similar way, challenging and offending her. For a character who was once the most likeable character this episode showed him in a new and vicious light that follows on from "Naked" perfectly... in that it's bad.
Alex Newell's character of Unique/Wade is so interesting and could really be used to target transphobia within our society but of course this isn't so. As mentioned in previous posts Glee claims to be a hate-busting, all inclusive group of misfits promoting tolerance and yet the group shows a lot of intolerance towards Unique.
Oh yeah. Let's bring Santana back to sing a number with the cheerleaders from her school singing a totally unrelated song because that makes all the sense in the world. I'm sure half a cheerleader troupe have nothing better to do during school hours. Do these kids not even go to college? What does the song have to do with...like....anything?
"Rizzoli and Isles lesbian subtext blog" - like lesbians are just obsessed with more lesbians. Glee continues to depict queer women in a stereotypical, negative, derogatory light. Santana's return to Glee to ward Sam off of Brittany makes her affection seem aggressive and predatory even singing a song with the words "She's mine" as if to suggest that women are to be commodified and left as mere objects to be owned.
Finn points out something about the centrepiece decorations saying "Blue is like the colour of sad" - the flowers aren't even blue, they're purple.
Ahh. This is the episode where Tina gets super creepy that I wrote about a few posts back. No Tina.
No. Get off. Stop it. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. YOU'RE INCREDIBLY INAPPROPRIATE.
She gave him medicine that he's stated makes him sleepy and straddled him. This seems representative of a rape scene which renders it pretty disturbing despite Ryan Murphy's support of this as 'not creepy' and a depiction of 'real loneliness'
She falls asleep, head on his bare chest, forcing intimacy. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Even has pictures of them in their locker. Later corners Blaine in the hallway and yells at Blaine for not returning her affections after all she's done for him. This is similar to the principle of the "friend zone" and the "nice guy" where guys say they are nice guys to girls ("nice guys finish last", a phrase used for justification) and villify women for then putting them in the "friendzone" despite their efforts to attain the person of their affections. Needless to say this is sexist bullshit, anyone who buys into it is ridiculous on the basis that no matter how nice you are to someone that is your choice: they should owe you nothing, especially not their bodies/love/affection. The fact that Tina then wins the "Diva" award, that she's rewarded for such behaviour, sets a terrible example.
Would you really have that many people turning up to midnight madness? Are these people really all so emotionally invested in a feud between two friends? Do they have nothing better to do with their lives? They live in New York City, one of the most excited places on Earth and they're watching this.... Really?
I also hate how Rachel sings and closes her eyes and always makes it look like she's in such pain. Really really bugs me.
Part of my problem with Rachel and her diva attitude is that she is so often supported in her choices and self righteousness. She's rarely penalised or criticised effectively for her attitude and behaviour. Kids these days don't seem to have a decent enough grasp of humility. The "swag" generation focuses more on themselves and their success. Rachel totally epitomises this lack of humility, this sense of entitlement that builds up a rather unhealthy overall attitude.
Sue: "Don't any of you have jobs"
See my blog post on glee characters dropping out of college/returning to McKinley High at the drop of a hat. Writing for convenience, totally unrealistic.
Rachel to Kurt "You'd be an amazing Fanny Brice" - suggestion that homosexuality is inherently effeminate. I wrote a blog post along that theme also so feel free to look it up.
Award going out despite the fact we only saw Blaine and Tina sing. Evidently no one else matters. But yay! finally encouragement and acknowledgement for Tina. Even Blaine gives her a chocolate rose. Him apologising and celebrating her seems representative of internalised guilt a rape victim may feel, like they were in the wrong, or victim blaming. So much here feels wrong.
Rachel is beaten and suddenly acts like a stroppy little kid. She's acknowledging that she's a diva and that her attitude is terrible, only for Kurt to then tell her she's talented/ambitious/unique and build her back up again when getting a taste of humble pie could have really done her some good. Essentially we're back to where we were at the start of the episode with nothing learned from the experience.
Your best friends fiancée is stressing out about her oncoming wedding? Kiss her. Because that makes sense and is totally appropriate. If you've ever been with someone having a severe panic attack kissing them isn't really the best thing to do in a lot of these situations.
Santana paid woman to pretend to be her girlfriend - further negative representation of lesbians/queer women.
Santana on the real world "No one gives a damn about you" - a view Glee seems to too often glaze over.
Santana given job at KcKinley, but suddenly moves to New York? This all makes so little sense. Just assumes she can move in. This shit doesn't happen in the real world. Ugh.
Well this episode was a giant, steaming piece of crap and now I want to wash my eyes.
Next blog post will be about transphobia in Glee.
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