The Dramedy Problem

Genre is more than just a way to organize media. Genre tells us what to expect from what we’re watching. If the text in question is a comedy we can expect to laugh and to take things lightly. With drama we can expect to be emotionally invested and sympathize with the characters. However, the idea of combining the two is becoming more and more popular. When done correctly, dramedy can truly be the best of both worlds. I’ve noticed that Glee is one show that attempts this balance of drama and comedy. I love Glee, really, but it can be extremely problematic. most of the issues I have with it stem from its inability to keep a consistent tone. Sometimes it’s a comedy with dramatic moments and other time it’s vice versa. Because of this, many storylines and characters come out very uneven. While many of the characters represent certain stereotypes yet some of those stereotypes are meant to be satirical while others are portrayed with much more depth. For example, one of the characters, Becky, has Down syndrome and is portrayed with great sensitivity towards her disability. The actress even appeared in a PSA about the slang term “retarded.” This level of sensitivity made the introduction of a new character, Sugar who exploits mental disability jarring. Sugar is a stereotypical self-obsessed rich girl, seeking attention and an excuse to say whatever she wants. This causes her to claim to have Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism that affects social interaction. If a character like Sugar had appeared on any other satirical comedy it would be very obvious that her behavior wasn’t meant to be taken seriously. However, on Glee and alongside Becky it becomes unclear how we’re supposed to react to her. Treating some characters as more than just parodies complicates the blatant use of stereotypes. This is one of many cases in which Glee has become problematic because of its combination of genres. It seems the best of both worlds is easier said than done.