Glee's portrayal of Asperger's Syndrome

[Wendy Kronenberg]

Were should I start here...? Well, first off, I myself have Asperger's Syndrome, and, well, when Fox announced that Glee would introduce a new character which had AS, I was elated. And when the season premiered Sept. 20, the character made her first appearnce.

 

I was less than pleased.

 

No. I was outraged! I felt so appauled, so embarrassed...This isn't what people think Asperger's is like... Is it?

 

The show introduced us to Sugar Motta, who gives us this lovely quote: “I have self-diagnosed Asperger’s so I can pretty much say whatever I want…I’m pretty much like a diplomat’s daughter.”

 

Um... Does Glee even know what Asperger's is like? Yes, she says that she diagsosed herself, which obviously means she's completely normal, she's just using this as an excuse to be a complete bitch to everyone. But I don't think Glee is considering the consequences. What will people who are ignorant of AS think? That all Aspies are huge apathic, self-absorbed a-holes who think they can get away with murder? Or maybe that anyone who claims to have AS is faking it to use it as an excuse?

 

It's like they didn't even bother with doing any research. Yes, I'm sure that's the whole point, to show that the character is just BS-ing the whole thing, but I still feel offended. To conclude my little tangent, I'd like you all to check out the following link, which I feel is much more helpful than Wikipedia: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/AspergerSyndrome?...

 

I think that's everything I have to say. What do you guys think? Do you have any say in the matter?

[God ~blogs admin ~]

Having spent most - if not the whole of my time- of my time during my shcool with kids with learning disabilities ranging from server Autism, to lower and less 'aggressive' AS. By aggressive, I mean their dash of AS isn't too bad, not that the others by nature are aggressive by nature of course.

 

As to how we're stereotyped, I honestly feel like being an asshole. I could care less what people think in regards to myself. But, AS's can't do that. They're not full blown 'Aussies' and as such, whilst our social curbs might be curved or stunted, we know what's right and what's expected and by that, we' have to get up on par. 

 

As for this new character, I haven't ever watched Glee, but hell. If they're so lazy, and stupid as to throw something like you described together, and try to act serious about it. Shame on them. But considering this show's mostly watched by Hipsters and wee folk, who wants to place bets on when the cases of reported AS' sky rockets? 

[Eli V]

I've never met a hipster who watches Glee. Watching Glee takes a fair amount of genuine excitement over seeing people sing and dance, something hipsters tend to lack.

[Abreo]

Unless you watch it just to be ironic. 

 

It would be really hard to watch it though if you don't love it. I have respect for any hipsters who are able to work through every episode of that show.

[Taylor Jennifer Zierau]

I compleatly agree with you. My ex-boyfriend has Asperger's and while I still love glee that girl absuloutly upsets me.

[TobyAGO]

I understand why people can be really upset/offended by this new character. However, I think (hope?) that this is not necessary.

First of all, I should mention that I haven't seen these episodes of glee yet, so I don't know how this character is portrayed. But I am definitely a fan of the show. What I like most about it is that everything/everyone is completely 'over the top'/stereotype. That is what makes glee such a succesful show. It's not just another 'high school musical' series with superficial storylines/characters, it is a parody on that genre. 
Realising this is very important for understanding the show. (If you don't see the irony, glee would indeed be very cheesy and offensive).

To illustrate my point, i will use glee character that i do know: Kurt, an openly homosexual boy. Kurt is the embodiement of every single stereotype about gays combined (clothes, voice, behaviour, interests, etc.). I am completely anti-homophobic, am against all discrimination of gay people and fully support gay rights. Nonetheless, I find Kurt an absolutely wonderful and hilarious character, just because his personality is so absurdly overdone. I believe that this is the effect that the glee creators were aiming for, and that the new aspie character is probably a similar completely overdone stereotype.  

[blue_dreamer]

Glee's about stereotypes and its got it all wrong.

I am borderline Asperger's and haven't seen that bit yet, but Artie royally wound me up. Not so much the portrayal of the character but the fact the actor isn't wheelchair bound himself. There are plenty of disabled people out there wanting to act like myself but there is so much unnoticed discrimination in the industry there is very little opportunity for people who can't do one of sing/act/dance. Just because I couldn't dance my schools wouldn't let me do the music lessons which I really loved. Priorities.

If the show's aim is to stamp out stereotypes - I haven't worked this out yet as it's so confusing - then in really needs to take a look at the real world. I think in the mean time the real world needs to recognise this is another attempt at a TV channel attention seeking and should for the time being ignore it. If you want to learn about a stereotype, talk to someone actually with it.