Comments on: Glee: The Countertenor and The Crooner http://blog.commarts.wisc.edu/2011/05/03/glee-the-countertenor-and-the-crooner/ Responses to Media and Culture Fri, 12 Feb 2016 19:35:04 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.5 By: Tausif Khsn http://blog.commarts.wisc.edu/2011/05/03/glee-the-countertenor-and-the-crooner/comment-page-1/#comment-84379 Wed, 04 May 2011 20:59:39 +0000 http://blog.commarts.wisc.edu/?p=9227#comment-84379 I am confused as to how you are operationalizing gender in this piece. While you assert that the current set of standards associated with sexuality and singing did not exist I do not agree that no such associations existed. The rules policing sexuality and singing might have been different but to posit that they did not exist for me is a bit much.

Also, I don’t know specifically which characteristics or stereotypes you feel have been associated with gender and have been reinforced by media industry singing norms. I find this section a little thin. I need to understand which types the current singers are breaking.

I also think that there is a very interesting trend of the evolution of the male pop singer within the last couple of decades. From the de-sexualized (with no sexual inclinations which is a sexual statement in and of itself) Backstreet Boys and ‘NSYNC to Disney’s desire to profit from this form in High School Musical to Glee finally allowing the sexuality of the performers to be expressed no matter what the desires of the singer.

While I am in favor of your general argument I would like to see the argument made a little bit sharper with more accurate time markers and not just “When a range of cultural authorities condemned crooners, the media industries developed new standards of male vocal performance to quell the controversy.” and more importantly a more detailed discussion of the specific gender characteristics/stereotypes and roles you are discussing.

]]> By: amanda http://blog.commarts.wisc.edu/2011/05/03/glee-the-countertenor-and-the-crooner/comment-page-1/#comment-84174 Wed, 04 May 2011 16:17:15 +0000 http://blog.commarts.wisc.edu/?p=9227#comment-84174 Thanks for such an interesting perspective on GLEE and its music. I am a conflicted Gleek in that I get very frustrated with the program and its often muddled politics. But I think you’ve identified how GLEE can do some really wonderful, even ground-breaking, things with the conventions of the musical. I find myself enjoying Blaine’s numbers the most and that is mostly due to what you’ve identified here: his performances embody the pure joy of a character who knows who he is and is confident about proclaiming that to his audience. There’s no irony here and no camp.

Looking forward to the rest of your articles on this!

]]> By: Erin Copple Smith http://blog.commarts.wisc.edu/2011/05/03/glee-the-countertenor-and-the-crooner/comment-page-1/#comment-83824 Tue, 03 May 2011 17:13:36 +0000 http://blog.commarts.wisc.edu/?p=9227#comment-83824 What a fantastic post, Allison! Truthfully, the Kurt/Blaine storyline is the only reason I’m still sticking with Glee, as I find it both compelling, refreshing and inspiring for the reasons you describe here.

No great insights from me at the moment, but a big thank you for a thoughtful and thought-provoking piece–can’t wait to read future installments!

]]>