Time for another Glee related rant, in which I complain about the messages the show sends out:
Glee seems to be all about having things, and those things include people. Rachel and Quinn never wanted to be with Finn for Finn. It’s just an accomplishment. Even Finn sees himself like that: in the very first episode we see him telling his football friends that he’s not going to quit Glee club or the football team, because neither teams can win without him. It’s not something he wants to do, he’s just offering his straight white male privileged ass generously so some of his amazingness can rub off on the others.
During prom last year we have this infamous scene with him and Quinn dancing while Rachel is singing. It’s supposed to be a battle for Finn. The focus, though, is on Faberry. Finn has turned his back and becomes invisible to the audience. The whole love triangle is not about him as a person at all. He’s just a tool. A trophy. Or an obstacle as many Faberry shippers will tell you.
And then in the latest episode he’s angry at Quinn, not because she lied, but because he picked Quinn over Rachel. “You have everything.” he says, implying that he’s something to have. Again, his amazingness was supposed to either help Quinn feel better about herself or help Rachel feel better about herself.
Same goes for Quinn. She’s the trophy wife for Finn at the start of the series. She’s “cheerleader Quinn Fabray” to Rachel, the most popular girl at school, the one everyone wants to have, either as friend or as girlfriend. But because she’s a girl, she’s not allowed to be amazing.
Instead she’s used as a plot device for everyone else’s story. Her pregancy is about Will or Finn or Puck’s daddy issues or even Mercedes, because apparently being overweight is the same thing as having a baby bump. She’s pushed from one boy to the next, not because it serves her character, but because she’s eye candy. Everyone is proud to have her.
Rachel, too, sees her like that. She’s an accomplishment. They need her in Glee to win, having her as a friend was something on her high school check list. She’s proud that she made it from being a loser to being friends with the prettiest girl at school. Granted, Rachel is also the only one who ever worries about her and I’ll even give Finn credit for his behavior after the Lucy debacle unleashed.
The message remains, though: Quinn is an item, not a person. She’s a selfish bitch when she wants something, anything at all. And in the latest turn of events she even became the plot device for someone’s boner. It’s the end of all metaphors.
Now Brittany. Do I really need to explain? She’s a little stupid, but she’s blonde and pretty so she’s desired. Artie wants her and he gets her and then she disappears. Until Santana wants her and then gets her and then she disappears again. Mute.
Blaine. He’s a nobody. His character has an outrageous amount of screentime, but he’s got no story at all (c’mon.. hair gel and rivalry between siblings? Really?). His only purpose on the show is the same as Finn’s, but gay: be amazing, be handsome, let your glorious existence rub off on the others, especially Kurt. Kurt, who we’ve seen miserable before he finally found a boyfriend.
People are achievements whilst the things real people work for are things you just have (i.e. being head cheerleader, being an amazing singer, being an amazing dancer).
So am I meant to believe that life will just hand me my future if I want that (not if I work for it… complaining should suffice)? Or is that only true for the straight white male? And am I obliged to have a partner? Am I supposed to feel like a failure if I don’t?
And do I need lectures instead of encouragement, because I’m a girl?
And am I selfish, because I like having future plans? Am I a bitch when I’m ambitious? Or a controllist? Do I talk too much, just because I have an opinion? And am I crazy, because I question you and have emotions?
Apparently that’s the case, because whatever I deemed important until now is worth nothing if I can’t own another person or be owned or both.
