The Trouble with Glee
Glee is regarded as being one of the most diverse shows in television history, featuring roles with a diversity of ethnicities, sexual orientation and class. Glee has even branched out past the societal norm, featuring characters with disabilities. Characters with disabilities usually take up less than 1% of television roles, so this should be great news! Why would there be an issue?
Unfortunately, because portrayals of people with disabilities are so slim, it is difficult for critics to accurately judge the messages without the response, “at least they are being featured”. Actors and actresses with disabilities often address this issue. They often fall into the predicament of challenging problematic portrayals, or going without work. Stereotypical roles are unfortunately their only chance at “making it” in the television and film industry, so they feel like they are not in the position to “pick and choose”.
Artie Abrams, played by able-bodied actor Kevin McHale, has had many problematic plotlines on the show. Artie is constantly cast into multiple stereotypes, especially the idea that he is his own worst enemy because his disability prevents him from easily navigating everyday life. Artie dismisses himself often as a burden and claims that because of his disability he has trouble participating in daily activities and life because he is “not normal”. In one of the episodes, Artie has a plotline where he has a dream sequence where he dreams he is able-bodied. He is suddenly popular, and he is able to dance in a huge number with all his friends. Instead of a plotline of Artie dancing in a wheelchair, he dreams of living a “normal existence”, insinuating that people with disabilities are not normal. This is ableism.
