Representation Analysis

 Glee is known as a very diverse show. The representation in glee is extensive in the plot and characters. Glee is a comedy and musical series which aired from 2009 to 2015. The show is based off a high schools glee club. The episodes show us the students musical talents and what personal challenges they endure. The glee club consists of a diverse group of students like, Kurt Hummel who is gay, Artie Abrams who is disabled and has to use a wheelchair and Santana Lopez who is a closeted lesbian and more.

LGBTQ representation is a giant part of Glee. Kurt Hummel and Santana Lopez have the most popular storylines regarding their sexuality’s. Glee is praised for its different storylines with their self journeys. Kurt struggled with coming out,He grappled with the fear of rejection and struggled to find the right moment to share this personal aspect of his identity. Kurt also faced bullying and discrimination at school due to his sexuality. He faced challenges in finding a supportive romantic partner and often struggled with unrequited feelings or heartbreak. Santana initially struggled with acknowledging her own feelings and attraction towards women. She grappled with internalized homophobia, fearing judgment, and struggling to accept herself for who she truly was. She encountered instances of bullying and judgment, which affected her emotionally and led to moments of vulnerability. Santana and Kurts stories weren't the only ones, they had multiple side stories that showed LGBTQ representation. Glee received mixed reactions regarding its LGBTQ+ representation. On one hand, many viewers and critics praised the show for its groundbreaking portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters and storylines. It showed the difficult struggles of the students navigating life discovering who they really are, which was not really shown into depth before.

Glee clubs diversity also branches out to characters from different racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. It aimed to represent a wide spectrum of identities, including African American, Asian, Hispanic, and Caucasian characters, reflecting the reality of a high school's diverse student population. It also has inclusive storylines regrading [people with disabilities, such as Artie Abrams, who used a wheelchair, and Becky Jackson, who had Down syndrome. These characters were integrated into the storyline and showcased as individuals with talents, aspirations, and personal struggles, stereotypes and promoting inclusivity.It also shows incredible representations of different social issues. It addressed various social issues such as bullying, body image, disabilities, and the challenges faced by students from different backgrounds. The show attempted to shed light on these issues through the characters' experiences, encouraging empathy and understanding among viewers.

While Glee was mostly praised for its inclusivity, not all viewers were content with the topics the show shared. Some viewers critic that the show forced these characters into stereotypes and that just because they have the characters in the show does not mean that they are being represented correctly. Overall Glee has made significant changes in teen tv shows and inspired others to open conversations about issues that you would not normally see on TV.