The only thing in that whole blog and set of comments that actually made me really think is the comment on the writing of Artie: he's constantly written as somebody who wants more than anything to walk/dance/etc, which, as one of the comments pointed out, just doesn't seem like the mindset of many of the long-term disabled I've met. I'm not sure how long ago Artie's injury was supposed to have happened, so maybe that's the point they're playing to, but it doesn't feel like he should be in the same place as, say, Jason Street in the first season of Friday Night Lights or Joan's older brother in Joan of Arcadia, but that's where they seem to write him much of the time.
Otherwise, that post seems a little silly. I mean, yes, I suppose they could have hired a professional wheelchair dance choreography, but I don't know why we'd want to push for even LESS realism in a Glee musical number. I doubt there are a lot of wheelchair choreographers in Lima, OH, honestly, and if they were amazing with the wheelchairs it would have felt pretty unbelievable. I guess the advantage would have been that it would have exposed more people to the possibilities of wheelchair dance, which certainly would be a good thing, but I don't think it's necessarily a reasonable expectation.
Artie could still eventually start to learn about wheelchair dance, and even become pretty amazing at it. This episode doesn't make that impossible. The kid's 16 and the show is a hit - he has plenty of time to be exposed to new things in the future.
(Note: I completely agree that I wish they had simply cast a disabled actor as Artie, but you have to assume that they had already planned fantasy sequences like the one in this episode, plus "Dancing With Myself". That may be bad writing, but if the bad writing was always planned, then they didn't really have a choice in that casting decision.)
Looking at the Futon Critics schedule grid for next fall: Glee is on Tuesdays AND Wednesdays? I'm confused.
Fall 2010 schedule grid
he's constantly written as somebody who wants more than anything to walk/dance/etc, which, as one of the comments pointed out, just doesn't seem like the mindset of many of the long-term disabled I've met.
true, but it does seem like the mentality of a teenaged boy.
I mean, yes, I suppose they could have hired a professional wheelchair dance choreography, but I don't know why we'd want to push for even LESS realism in a Glee musical number.
But since the musical numbers are already unrealistic, in terms of the production quality (including the choreography and dancing) being much better than you'd expect from a high school show choir, it seems weird to insist on realism just for the wheelchair numbers.
Artie could still eventually start to learn about wheelchair dance, and even become pretty amazing at it.
I honestly thought that might be where they were going with this, and while I cringed at Tina and her "here's how we fix you!" books, I was expecting them to push back on that, not to go the direction they did.
he's constantly written as somebody who wants more than anything to walk/dance/etc, which, as one of the comments pointed out, just doesn't seem like the mindset of many of the long-term disabled I've met.
true, but it does seem like the mentality of a teenaged boy.
Yes, and they did that storyline in last week's Very Special EEpisode.
That link is taking me to facebook, sumi.
Aha, looks like Tuesdays in '10 and Wednesdays in '11. Glee will be on. Good lord I need coffee.
Otherwise, that post seems a little silly. I mean, yes, I suppose they could have hired a professional wheelchair dance choreography,
Cheerios on stilts required some extra coaching, I am thinking. Also, they did hire a stuntperson for Artie's fancier moves.
but I don't know why we'd want to push for even LESS realism in a Glee musical number.
How about so a wide audience could see the beauty and potential in wheelchair dance instead of it being a cheap gimmick? We could have seen Artie given tips and tricks to his classmates, as someone to learn from instead of just someone to pity.
(Note: I completely agree that I wish they had simply cast a disabled actor as Artie, but you have to assume that they had already planned fantasy sequences like the one in this episode, plus "Dancing With Myself". That may be bad writing, but if the bad writing was always planned, then they didn't really have a choice in that casting decision.)
According to interviews with show staff, they did audition disabled people for the part. Also, shows change and evolve all the time according to the talents of the cast. Mike Chang was apparently supposed to be a day player. Chris Colfer auditioned for Artie, and instead they created the character of Kurt for him. [link] The "Defying Gravity" bit was based on his real life experience.
Look, I'm not trying to spoil anyone's enjoyment. I critique because I love. I think I've probably said enough on this matter.
I thought the wheelchair number was a total fail. I was excited going in looking forward to how they would use the chairs creatively and they just didn't.
