Comments on: Gay GLEEkery – The Politics of Minority Casting http://thenewgay.net/2009/11/gay-gleekery-the-politics-of-minority-casting.html For Everyone Over the Rainbow Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:32:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: L http://thenewgay.net/2009/11/gay-gleekery-the-politics-of-minority-casting.html#comment-17473 L Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:07:33 +0000 http://thenewgay.net/?p=17549#comment-17473 I love Glee, and this is a great article. I agree with your observation about minority actors having fewer opportunities and your comments about Colfer's performance resonating with you due to his feminine presentation. I think another issue about resonation and authenticity in acting can be better understood when you look at the gaze of the audience and which viewers' opinions are being heard. For example, many people will say, it doesn't matter if a person is disabled, an actor will be able to portray any character if s/he has skill. But there are nuances for a disabled theater-goer that might not ring true, where the general audience would be sold on the performance. Similar to gaydar perhaps, the little cues and body language that might be invisible to most people. Another example would be Deaf actors not being hired for roles of Deaf people (the New York Times recently had two posts about this related to The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and The Miracle Worker). While a lot of people would argue that any skilled actor could play a Deaf role, I would say that those not Deaf or in the Deaf culture might be convinced, but a Deaf audience would not find the performance authentic. It's hard to make this kind of argument heard though, if the minority sees something the majority of people overlook. I love Glee, and this is a great article. I agree with your observation about minority actors having fewer opportunities and your comments about Colfer’s performance resonating with you due to his feminine presentation.

I think another issue about resonation and authenticity in acting can be better understood when you look at the gaze of the audience and which viewers’ opinions are being heard. For example, many people will say, it doesn’t matter if a person is disabled, an actor will be able to portray any character if s/he has skill. But there are nuances for a disabled theater-goer that might not ring true, where the general audience would be sold on the performance. Similar to gaydar perhaps, the little cues and body language that might be invisible to most people.

Another example would be Deaf actors not being hired for roles of Deaf people (the New York Times recently had two posts about this related to The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and The Miracle Worker). While a lot of people would argue that any skilled actor could play a Deaf role, I would say that those not Deaf or in the Deaf culture might be convinced, but a Deaf audience would not find the performance authentic. It’s hard to make this kind of argument heard though, if the minority sees something the majority of people overlook.

]]> By: Nate http://thenewgay.net/2009/11/gay-gleekery-the-politics-of-minority-casting.html#comment-17391 Nate Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:06:19 +0000 http://thenewgay.net/?p=17549#comment-17391 Actors should be hired based on their abilities and merits, not because they are handicapped or of a particular race/ethnicity/etc. If an able-bodied actor can sing and act the pants off any of any disabled actors trying for the part, then the able-bodied actor deserves the part. That's all there is to it. Maybe the disabled character can bring a subtle nuance to the character, but if they aren't up to the talent level of the rest of the cast then it's going to bring the show down a notch. Actors should be hired based on their abilities and merits, not because they are handicapped or of a particular race/ethnicity/etc. If an able-bodied actor can sing and act the pants off any of any disabled actors trying for the part, then the able-bodied actor deserves the part. That’s all there is to it.

Maybe the disabled character can bring a subtle nuance to the character, but if they aren’t up to the talent level of the rest of the cast then it’s going to bring the show down a notch.

]]> By: applepiecrust http://thenewgay.net/2009/11/gay-gleekery-the-politics-of-minority-casting.html#comment-17350 applepiecrust Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:24:33 +0000 http://thenewgay.net/?p=17549#comment-17350 As I've said before, I'm not sure how I feel about this: while it's one thing to have more avenues for roles of minority actors (ability, gender preentation, trans, people of color etc.), one runs the risk of getting into the mindset that if such roles are written, only the particular type of minority can be cast for it. And, while this might seem to be a logical fallacy, it can lead to the belief that minority actors can ONLY be cast in roles written specifically for that type of minority -- and that the roles in which they are cast revolve too much around their minority identity. Though in a show like Glee, where all these minority characters (if not actors, in all cases) are present, I think that has already happened to a large extent: their story focuses seem to revolve around their minority identities. Not so for Puck, Rachel, Quinn (unless teenage mother is an identity), Sue, Will, Finn. The principal has a personality beyond being Desi, and the Asian girl has an identity beyond being Asian -- but those seem to the only two that is even somewhat explored for (unless you count the Jewish people). And even then it remains problematic, because it's Asians and Jews: the two so-called model minorities. Rant over. Let's talk about this when we meet next. I have to leave my brain behind to enjoy shows! As I’ve said before, I’m not sure how I feel about this: while it’s one thing to have more avenues for roles of minority actors (ability, gender preentation, trans, people of color etc.), one runs the risk of getting into the mindset that if such roles are written, only the particular type of minority can be cast for it. And, while this might seem to be a logical fallacy, it can lead to the belief that minority actors can ONLY be cast in roles written specifically for that type of minority — and that the roles in which they are cast revolve too much around their minority identity.
Though in a show like Glee, where all these minority characters (if not actors, in all cases) are present, I think that has already happened to a large extent: their story focuses seem to revolve around their minority identities. Not so for Puck, Rachel, Quinn (unless teenage mother is an identity), Sue, Will, Finn. The principal has a personality beyond being Desi, and the Asian girl has an identity beyond being Asian — but those seem to the only two that is even somewhat explored for (unless you count the Jewish people). And even then it remains problematic, because it’s Asians and Jews: the two so-called model minorities.

Rant over. Let’s talk about this when we meet next.

I have to leave my brain behind to enjoy shows!

]]> By: lsanchez http://thenewgay.net/2009/11/gay-gleekery-the-politics-of-minority-casting.html#comment-17349 lsanchez Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:48:22 +0000 http://thenewgay.net/?p=17549#comment-17349 Great shout our for corky! ! ! ! great article Great shout our for corky! ! ! ! great article

]]> By: Alex http://thenewgay.net/2009/11/gay-gleekery-the-politics-of-minority-casting.html#comment-17348 Alex Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:47:07 +0000 http://thenewgay.net/?p=17549#comment-17348 I thought <a href="http://bitchmagazine.org/post/glee-ful-appropriation" rel="nofollow">Bitch had a well-written take</a> on the episode in Glee and the treatment of minority folks on the show in general. I'll admit to generally turning my brain off when it comes to dissecting media representations (because otherwise I'd be pissed off all the time). However, as much as I enjoy Glee, the Pokemon theory of diversity ("Gotta catch 'em all!") and the accompanying easy slide into tokenisation is irritating. I thought Bitch had a well-written take on the episode in Glee and the treatment of minority folks on the show in general.

I’ll admit to generally turning my brain off when it comes to dissecting media representations (because otherwise I’d be pissed off all the time). However, as much as I enjoy Glee, the Pokemon theory of diversity (“Gotta catch ‘em all!”) and the accompanying easy slide into tokenisation is irritating.

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