On the television show, Glee, the character of Artie Abrams is a wheelchair bound student
at William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio. When the show started, Artie was harassed by his peers
and bullied as a result of his disability. This bullying included, but was not limited to, being locked
in a porta-potty by members of the football team while the football players
proceed to knock the porta-potty over.
Artie was unable to defend himself, and the show brought to light, as is
their goal, the hardships of what they call “the underdog”. Show creator Ryan Murphy said in a 2009
interview with Hollywood Chicago: “it’s
a show with a lot of heart, and it’s a show about underdogs…” (1)
Throughout
the run of the series thus far, Artie has grown as a loveable character who has
taken on what seemed to be the impossible. As a member of
McKinley’s glee club, called “The New Directions” Artie dances and sings
with the best of them, all while in his wheelchair. Also, he managed to convince the football coach to add him
to the team, where he now plays alongside, as an equal, of some of those same
football players who once bullied him.
This YouTube clip displays Artie excelling in both of his rolls as
football player and glee club member as he joins his fellows to perform Michael
Jackson’s Thriller:
While
it may not be completely realistic that Artie is able to be in the football
team and the glee club, it is refreshing to see, nonetheless. Here is a media representation of a
person with a disability who fights to do what he wants to, and does not let
his disability limit him as to what he is able to pursue. This character can be seen as an
especially great role model for children who are disabled.
However, there are critics Glee who are not pleased with the portrayal of Artie; mainly because the actor who plays him, Kevin McHale, is not actually a disabled actor. Glee managed to take advantage of this fact in season 2 in which Artie is part of a “dream sequence” in which he is able to get out of his wheelchair and dance:
While Glee was never completely “realistic” from the beginning, this question raises the question of whether or not Artie should have been shown out of his wheelchair. Children watching the show who find they have a common bond with Artie, as they are in a wheelchair or they also have a disability, could feel alienated by the fact that in real life, “Artie” can walk. So, while I commend Glee for a more inspiring and realistic portrayal of a disabled person than has been seen previously, I suggest that they exercise caution and not take things too far out of the realm of possibility so as to detract from the credibility of this disabled character.
However, there are critics Glee who are not pleased with the portrayal of Artie; mainly because the actor who plays him, Kevin McHale, is not actually a disabled actor. Glee managed to take advantage of this fact in season 2 in which Artie is part of a “dream sequence” in which he is able to get out of his wheelchair and dance:
While Glee was never completely “realistic” from the beginning, this question raises the question of whether or not Artie should have been shown out of his wheelchair. Children watching the show who find they have a common bond with Artie, as they are in a wheelchair or they also have a disability, could feel alienated by the fact that in real life, “Artie” can walk. So, while I commend Glee for a more inspiring and realistic portrayal of a disabled person than has been seen previously, I suggest that they exercise caution and not take things too far out of the realm of possibility so as to detract from the credibility of this disabled character.
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