Abstract:
The oppressive depiction of women in the musical has been a recurring feature throughout the genre’s existence and now, through the genre’s medium transition from cinema to television, these portrayals have more influence in encouraging society’s treatment and understanding of women. A textual analysis of the television musical Glee highlights that the musical’s medium transition has allowed for some positive alterations to the genre’s traditionally oppressive presentation of female characters. The show complicates the portrayal of oppressed and marginalised women through the display of characters who possess feminine and feminist binaries, the creation of a feminist utopia and the utilization of influential stars to empower Glee’s characters. Nevertheless, medium conventions of the television means that some of the musical’s oppressive portrayals are also encouraged and reinforced, highlighting that the television musical’s potential in presenting empowered women and encouraging feminist ideals is ultimately undermined as the show instead adheres to the post-feminist movement and the depiction of tokenised female characters.