By Nate Stapleton
The incredibly popular and socially intriguing television show, Glee, includes multiple actors and actresses that identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender. Ryan Murphy is the director of the television series and is openly gay. It is evident in the show that Murphy is an advocate for queer teen representation on television. We see this through Kurt (Chris Colfer), who eventually becomes open about being a gay teen to his friends and family. We also see the character Santana (Naya Rivera), who originally has sex with men in the show but later comes out as lesbian. Glee does a tremendous job at illustrating the struggles queer teens go through on a daily basis. Shows and movies on television like Glee make it easier for queer teens and even adults to see the struggle and beauty of being comfortable with their sexuality.
In the past and to this day men and women that don’t identify as straight live a life unlike those who identify as straight. Due to the media and other aspects of life, growing up as a gay person can be quite difficult. Many feel like they are “different” or “weird” based on their sexuality but Glee has helped many teens feel comfortable the way they are. It shows teens that there are other people out there going through the exact same thing. For the character Santana, “Naya Rivera says high school students have credited her character with giving them the courage to come out”(Lehman, 2014). Here we see a prime example of the positive effects television can have on the gay community. Since the start of the show a considerably higher amount of calls have come in to the Trevor Project hotline which was set up to prevent suicide among queer and questioning youth (Lehman, 2014). In an interview with Out Magazine, Ryan Murphy says that, “The gay characters do transmit a certain message: You are not alone. You don’t have to harm or hate yourself…. I wish I’d had this show growing up. I think if I had, I would be a lot less fearful and a lot braver”(Lehman, 2014). This is a great example of the effect television can have on its viewers. Glee has been extremely successful in helping young teens feel good about themselves. We see first-hand that this show has helped and even saved the lives of countless youths that feel uncomfortable about their sexuality.
For our generation and the generations to come, the television isn’t and will not go away any time soon. I can’t remember the last time I went more than two days without watching TV or at least taking a glance at a screen. In a much broader sense from Glee, television, whether we like it or not, will always make in impact on our minds and the way we act in society. Television is so prominent that one show like Glee can reach up to 14 million viewers. Shows like this change the way people think. It helps youths connect to the characters in the show and feel better about themselves. Most importantly television shows like this leave a lasting impact on our minds and in our hearts for better change.
References
Lehman, K. (2014). Defying gravity: Fox’s Glee provides a bold forum for queer and teen
representation. In D. Macey & K. Ryan & N. Springer (Eds.), How television shapes our worldview (pp. 77-92). Maryland: Lexington Books.
Some good work here, Nate.
ReplyDeleteAs you suggest, TV programs, like Glee, can and do have an impact on audience self-perception and self-esteem. Your attention to the program's representational politics of queer youth is both welcome and important. As is your concern with how audiences understand and make use of the show.
Several errors, including a glaring mistake in the title of your essay, undermine an otherwise solid post. That is, you've confused affect with effect. It's a common enough mistake, but one you and your "production team" should have spotted and corrected before publication.
Likewise, there are some issues with the spacing around quotations throughout. A minor issue, perhaps, but a persistent problem that can and should be addressed.
More substantively, this reads like a recap of Lehman's most salient points, without much commentary or additional insight on your part. Furthermore, you should work on more effectively integrating these quotes into your own writing. For example, Lehman's discussion of Santana is helpful, but a bit carelessly inserted into that paragraph.
In sum, please recall that these posts should do more than simply restate what others have said. Rather, you want to deploy this material to inform a more original discussion. For instance, your final paragraph might take a more narrow focus on queer representation in American television instead of the more abstract discussion of television's continued relevance in contemporary society.
Indeed, some mention of queer representation after Glee might have added more currency to your post.
26 pts.
Nate,
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you chose to write about how television can impact its viewers in more ways than people realize. In my own post, I wrote about how class representation on T.V. gives people an idea of what it is like being a part of the lower class, but how it is a false representation. But there are other shows, such as Glee which gives a representation that is often overlooked in media. I think it would have been interesting to include statistics of people who identify as LGBTQ on T.V. and how Glee is breaking these standards by having so many characters who identify as queer. I also thought it was interesting that you brought up the Trevor Project hotline had an increase in calls since the show has started because it helps develop your point of how the show has helped the youth who are questioning their sexuality. Overall, good job with your post!