FY Glee Podcast

Welcome to the FY Glee Podcast group. If you would like to be a member and part of the podcasts, all you have to do is send us an ask or message with your email and the job you'd like. If you don't have a Tumblr or wish to contact us privately (or don't trust Tumblr to deliver your message *kicks it*) then feel free to contact us at our email address: [email protected] Thanks =(^.^)=

[fygleepodcast]

Have you announced a date and time for your "Queer on Glee" podcast? I am really looking forward to that one.

No date and time has been announced yet, but we'll be sure to post as soon as we know.  Thanks for your interest neyronrose. :)

[fygleepodcast]

Really enjoyed the Race and Ethnicity podcast. Good job guys! It was a really interesting discussion and a lot of really good things were said.

Thanks for your comments and interest, hernameispersephone. :)

[fygleepodcast]

I thoroughly enjoyed your most recent episode. Like most fans, I've always wanted Lea Salonga to play Blaine's mother. I wish I could say that my reasons were as noble as the ones you discussed on the show tonight, but if I'm being honest, I just really want to hear them sing a duet. That being said, your discussion of representation as it relates to the casting of Blaine's mother was quite compelling. I wonder if there's a way for fans to formally present that argument to Glee's producers.

Thanks so much for your comments, sapienveneficus. 

[fygleepodcast]

So listening to the podcast and the talks of Judaism, I wanted to offer this bit of information. So, there's three main sects of Judaism, Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform. Orthodox and Conservative require the mother to be Jewish in order for their child to be Jewish. In Reform, it can be either the mother OR father. Coming from Ohio and being Jewish, smaller towns, like Lima, are probably more likely to have Reform congregations and they are the ones that will marry a Jew with a non-Jew.

(continued) It's not out of the realm of possibility that the congregation in Lima is Reform and therefore the kids of Glee who are Jewish to be considered Jewish even though it might only be the father who is Jewish.

Thanks for your insights,  flockofsiegels.

[fygleepodcast]

While I would be happy if Ryder does turn out to be half cuban. But I do not think it is likely because with glee they like to throw in little hints of a person race. Yet when Jake was talking to Ryder about his struggles with being biracial. Ryder could have mention that he was biracial and he understand want Jake is going through. Yet he didn't. I did not see any other hints that Ryder is multi ethnic. Unless there are other hints.

.

[encourageons]

I was thinking the same thing. Unlike Blaine, Ryder’s ethnicity is never mentioned. So I’m kind of getting the impression that they will never talk about is ethnic background.

But that’s just me. 

black-john-lennon brianwilly @haquinzel anything to add?

[black-john-lennon-archive]

You’re likely right, Ryder’s ethnicity will never come up.

[fygleepodcast]

While I would be happy if Ryder does turn out to be half cuban. But I do not think it is likely because with glee they like to throw in little hints of a person race. Yet when Jake was talking to Ryder about his struggles with being biracial. Ryder could have mention that he was biracial and he understand want Jake is going through. Yet he didn't. I did not see any other hints that Ryder is multi ethnic. Unless there are other hints.

.

[encourageons]

I was thinking the same thing. Unlike Blaine, Ryder’s ethnicity is never mentioned. So I’m kind of getting the impression that they will never talk about is ethnic background.

But that’s just me. 

black-john-lennon brianwilly @haquinzel anything to add?

[fygleepodcast]

I just wanted to say I really enjoyed hearing the newest podcast. I liked hearing different pocs talking about this issue, since other podcasts I've heard are all white. I also have a dumb white person question: what's a weave?

Thanks for your comments and interest! :) Directing your question to our guest panelists. 

[encourageons]

A weave is a hair extension that you add to your hair. It’s generally sewn onto the hair. And the goal is to have it look like your own. Many actresses generally wear weaves actually. There are different types of hair extensions (braids for example, which you braid onto your hair) so it generally depends on your preference. Others prefer to just straighten their own natural hair (either with products or through heat).  

[fygleepodcast]

I just wanted to say I really enjoyed hearing the newest podcast. I liked hearing different pocs talking about this issue, since other podcasts I've heard are all white. I also have a dumb white person question: what's a weave?

Thanks for your comments and interest! :) Directing your question to our guest panelists. 

[black-john-lennon-archive]

Hi Anon, a Weave is essentially hair extensions. It’s hair being weaved into a person’s real hair, sometimes to add length, sometimes to add volume. It can be done in different ways, some weaves are “sewn” in, others are glued. Women of all races and ethnicities wear hair extensions, though from my experience, it’s done much differently.

I’m on my phone, so I can’t add any links, but google will probably be able to give you a more definitive answer. Unless anyone else wants to chime in!!

[fygleepodcast]

I just wanted to say I really enjoyed hearing the newest podcast. I liked hearing different pocs talking about this issue, since other podcasts I've heard are all white. I also have a dumb white person question: what's a weave?

Thanks for your comments and interest! :) Directing your question to our guest panelists. 

[fygleepodcast]

Harry is Chinese but the actors who played his parents were Korean and Japanese. Thoughts?

.

[brianwilly]

This can be sort of a hot-button issue.

My personal view is that it’s really no different from something like, say, Hugh Jackman being cast as a Canadian Wolverine despite the fact that he is Australian.  White actors of all nationalities play other nationalities all the time and it is not because we are mixing up or conflating anyone’s cultures.  Nationality =/= race =/= ethnicity.  And if this is the prevailing norm in regards to white actors, there needs to be a reason for why we suddenly have different rules for non-white actors.

But the thing is that there kind of is a reason.  Namely, there is a lot of bad blood and a history of oppression between Asian cultures, a lot of it as recently as our parents’ generations.  So to those people who have been victims of that, it can be very upsetting to see a Japanese actor cast as a Chinese character, and vice versa.  Being grouped with a country that you were at war with half a century ago is — to these people — a real, tangible, contemporary offense against someone’s history, even a violation of personal dignity. “You’re putting us in the same group as them?  Are you even aware of what they’ve done to us?”

And I do see that side as well.  The history is real, the grudges are justified, the pain people feel about this sort of thing can’t just be ignored because it shouldn’t technically bother them.  And all of it is compounded by real racists not differentiating between these cultures in the first place. “You all look the same to me.”

I guess I don’t really have an answer to it all.  I do believe this problem will be alleviated more and more as time goes on; bridges will be built, history will be more historical, crimes of today become statistics to learn from tomorrow.  How long will it take?  Who knows.  But I feel like this problem with Asian being grouped together as a distinct race is an era-specific issue, not a problem with the concept itself.

And when we’re talking specifically about representation in western media, I feel it’s entirely accurate to group east Asians in one distinct category because that is, empirically, how the industry discriminates when it comes to casting.

[black-john-lennon-archive]

I have nothing to add, I just wanted to reblog Brian’s comments.

[fygleepodcast]

Harry is Chinese but the actors who played his parents were Korean and Japanese. Thoughts?

.

[fygleepodcast]

sapienveneficus replied to your post: Podcast 15: Race and Ethnicity on Glee

Can’t wait to listen when I get home from work! :)

Thanks for your interest! You can now listen to the podcast here. 

[black-john-lennon-archive]

Anonymous asked: Any thoughts on Santana being strictly portrayed as Latina while Naya is Puerto Rica, black, and German? I feel like people regularly talk about Darren getting put in the white box, but no one ever says anything about her being put in the Latina box (and interestingly, her roles when she was younger, she was playing black characters).

This is actually a really interesting question that I’m not sure I even know how to answer. 

As much as i Hate to admit it, I often forget that Naya is multi-racial. I will say though, and I’d love it if anyone else wanted to chime in on this, that to me, I do think there is a difference between portraying Blaine as white when Darren himself isn’t and portraying Santana as simply being Latina when Naya herself is multi-ethnic, and that comes down to the issue of white being the default and erasure of other ethnicities. 

I don’t have to correct terminology, but I think for me, it comes down to that you can be of Hispanic decent and also be black, there are Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, etc. Most of my family on my father’s side are half Belizian, but almost all of their Belizian parents are black. So for me, in regards to Santana, it’s not really an either or thing. Santana can still be Hispanic, and her father just happens to be a Hispanic man who is also black. So whereas with Blaine/Darren, it comes down to either/or, it doesn’t necessarily have to in the case of Santana. If that makes sense. 

encourageons, @haquinzel, brianwilly, feel free to chime in! 

[starcitysirens]

I’m going to chime in here a little. I haven’t listened to the podcast yet but I feel comfortable talking about this since I am Latina.

The thing to remember here is that Laitno is an ethnicity not a race. Latinos come in all types of races. In fact a large part of Latinos, especially people who come from the Caribbean, are multi-racial. So categorizing Naya/Santana as Latina is not necessarily erasing her black and German lineage. You can be Black and German, and still be Latino. I, for example, have Spanish, French, and Native Indian (Taino, Arawakan) heritage. 

I hope that brief addendum helps clear that up a bit. Feel free to ask me any questions about this. I’m always happy to talk about it.

[brianwilly]

I think this is what I was attempting (and probably failing big time) to express about Blake/Ryder, where he might identify as both white and Hispanic and it’s not strange to address him as either when both can be true.

As far as Santana goes, I get the impression this might also be another case of Glee…well, not really wanting to bother with a character’s precise ethnicity and thereby keeping their options open, as it were.  Because there was that scene in “Naked” when she was talking about her sex tape with Rachel and there was a joke about the internet asking “Mexican or Dominican, question mark,” basically lampshading the fact that they never actually address Santana’s ethnic background other than “Hispanic.”

It’s the same with Tina, who only very recently was suggested to be Korean out of aaalll the different east Asian nationalities, and even then only very vaguely.  It sounds kinda bad to say it but Glee usually just doesn’t bother being specific with that stuff.

[fygleepodcast]

While I would be happy if Ryder does turn out to be half cuban. But I do not think it is likely because with glee they like to throw in little hints of a person race. Yet when Jake was talking to Ryder about his struggles with being biracial. Ryder could have mention that he was biracial and he understand want Jake is going through. Yet he didn't. I did not see any other hints that Ryder is multi ethnic. Unless there are other hints.

.

[black-john-lennon-archive]

Anonymous asked: Any thoughts on Santana being strictly portrayed as Latina while Naya is Puerto Rica, black, and German? I feel like people regularly talk about Darren getting put in the white box, but no one ever says anything about her being put in the Latina box (and interestingly, her roles when she was younger, she was playing black characters).

This is actually a really interesting question that I’m not sure I even know how to answer. 

As much as i Hate to admit it, I often forget that Naya is multi-racial. I will say though, and I’d love it if anyone else wanted to chime in on this, that to me, I do think there is a difference between portraying Blaine as white when Darren himself isn’t and portraying Santana as simply being Latina when Naya herself is multi-ethnic, and that comes down to the issue of white being the default and erasure of other ethnicities. 

I don’t have to correct terminology, but I think for me, it comes down to that you can be of Hispanic decent and also be black, there are Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, etc. Most of my family on my father’s side are half Belizian, but almost all of their Belizian parents are black. So for me, in regards to Santana, it’s not really an either or thing. Santana can still be Hispanic, and her father just happens to be a Hispanic man who is also black. So whereas with Blaine/Darren, it comes down to either/or, it doesn’t necessarily have to in the case of Santana. If that makes sense. 

encourageons, @haquinzel, brianwilly, feel free to chime in! 

[encourageons]

I do think this is a thing that happens. The “problem” with being multi-racial, is the fact that people feel the need to categorize people into one group. It’s not necessarily something humans do to be evil, but it’s sort of a natural consequence of our brain and the way it is structured. 

So when Glee portrays Santana as only Hispanic, I don’t think it’s anything more than they wanted to have a character that is hispanic and Naya fits the bill. For them to have Santana as Hispanic, Black and German like Naya… It’s not something that could be ignored. They would have to address it (people’s reaction to it. Does she fit in or does she get bullied like Jake? What culture does she identify with most? etc). Sort of what they have to do with Blaine and his ethnicity.

Basically I feel like, Naya is portrayed solely has hispanic because it’s easier for the story. Of course, just because it’s easier doesn’t mean that that’s what they should do. And even if she is black, german and puerto rican she is still Latina. And Santana is still Latina. 

[fygleepodcast]

lol, yes, being a white Cuban is totally possible (I dated a white Cuban). There's also black Cubans, latino cubans, etc. Cuban is an ethnicity, not a race. I have no idea what race his mom is, so I guess he could be white passing, but yeah, the information passed on my 5-minute googling is inconclusive about Blake Jenner.

.

[black-john-lennon-archive]

Anonymous asked: Any thoughts on Santana being strictly portrayed as Latina while Naya is Puerto Rica, black, and German? I feel like people regularly talk about Darren getting put in the white box, but no one ever says anything about her being put in the Latina box (and interestingly, her roles when she was younger, she was playing black characters).

This is actually a really interesting question that I’m not sure I even know how to answer. 

As much as i Hate to admit it, I often forget that Naya is multi-racial. I will say though, and I’d love it if anyone else wanted to chime in on this, that to me, I do think there is a difference between portraying Blaine as white when Darren himself isn’t and portraying Santana as simply being Latina when Naya herself is multi-ethnic, and that comes down to the issue of white being the default and erasure of other ethnicities. 

I don’t have to correct terminology, but I think for me, it comes down to that you can be of Hispanic decent and also be black, there are Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, etc. Most of my family on my father’s side are half Belizian, but almost all of their Belizian parents are black. So for me, in regards to Santana, it’s not really an either or thing. Santana can still be Hispanic, and her father just happens to be a Hispanic man who is also black. So whereas with Blaine/Darren, it comes down to either/or, it doesn’t necessarily have to in the case of Santana. If that makes sense. 

encourageons, @haquinzel, brianwilly, feel free to chime in! 

[starcitysirens]

I’m going to chime in here a little. I haven’t listened to the podcast yet but I feel comfortable talking about this since I am Latina.

The thing to remember here is that Laitno is an ethnicity not a race. Latinos come in all types of races. In fact a large part of Latinos, especially people who come from the Caribbean, are multi-racial. So categorizing Naya/Santana as Latina is not necessarily erasing her black and German lineage. You can be Black and German, and still be Latino. I, for example, have Spanish, French, and Native Indian (Taino, Arawakan) heritage. 

I hope that brief addendum helps clear that up a bit. Feel free to ask me any questions about this. I’m always happy to talk about it.

[sleepdeprivedmind]

Thanks for your insights, Nelly!