Outsiders

 I had a totally different post in mind to write, but I changed my mind after watching last night's episode of "Glee."  I so love this show, yes for the singing and dancing, but for lots more.  I've often thought about why.  Some of it has to do with the overall fun, but mostly I think it comes from the sheer Truth it tells (granted in a campy way), but a Truth that everyone has lived as a teenager, one way or another.  No, we were not all in Glee Club, but we all felt those feelings that are being expressed by the characters on Glee.  So what is it that they tell us?

This episode,entitled "Duets," displayed the characters' penchant for partnering up -- in differing ways and for differing reasons. (The plot involved Mr. Shue awarding the winners of the competition dinner at Breadsticks Restaurant, and of course, the competition required a duet.)  What struck me, though, was the way the episode exemplified the theme that makes the show so popular:  They are all Outsiders, each in his or her own way.

Sam is the new kid, most obviously an outsider.  Kurt, who is gay -- and you can't get much more of an outsider than that -- makes assumptions about Sam, the assumption being that Sam is also gay.  For the majority of the time we are left wondering.  Is he or isn't he?  That presents a great opportunity for Kurt's dad to explain to him that even though he may be sure about his identity, not everybody else has figured that out, and he can't keep hitting on straight guys.  However, the outsider with a great arm that can throw the winning touchdown (that's not what happened last night, I'm just making this observation) is more easily accepted than some of the other outsiders we see.  (More on that thought momentarily.)

We got a glimpse into Brittany S. Pierce last night that was totally heartbreaking, and the epitome of the Outsider.  Brittany's character so far has been a sidekick, totally dense, and all about sex.  It seems that she has had sex with just about everybody in school (boys - and at least one girl, Santana, but she also thinks Britney Spears is hot), but as for true friends, there are none.  She asks Artie to sing the duet with her for the competition, but Santana spoils everything when she spills the beans to Artie by telling him that Brittany is just using him.  After Artie calls off the duet with Brittany, she tells him about how she really wanted to take him to Breadsticks (I know, it's cheesy) when they won the competition so they could share spaghetti and meatballs just like in Lady and the Tramp.  The last scene of the show with Brittany dining alone, and nosing the meatball to the other side of the plate, to her nonexistent dinner partner just choked me up. 

What grabs me about Glee is how it shows that everybody feels left out from time to time.  It doesn't matter how beautify (Quinn), or talented (Rachel), or popular (Finn), or like able (Mercedes), or smart (Emma), or winning (Sue), or powerful (Principal Figgins), you still feel like you are somehow left out.  There are probably a lot of reasons for that.  The most obvious reason:  They are in high school.  By definition they are just beginning their journey.  Although we in the audience can see how splendid Kurt's talent already is, to his average high school peer it's beyond their capacity to fathom, for their grasp of the world is limited.  It is immature, because being a teenager means a person has yet to mature (of course, some never do).

So revisiting all of those episodes of teenage angst that is a rite of passage for everyone could be boring, except that we are on the other side now.  We know the rest of the story.  We know that we survived the teenage years -- not only survived them, but what we turned into is REAL story.  We would all love to whisper in the ear of those characters in Glee and tell them it's going to be okay, this is just temporary.  Those other kids that are so mean to you, throwing those slushies in your face -- they're going to have to call you "Boss" 20 years from now.

But here's what else is so important about Glee.  It's not just teenage angst.  Many people still feel like we are on the outside looking in even many years later.  For a lot of people they never feel they quite fit in or that they quite belong anywhere.

It's hard to figure out:  Who am I?  Lots of people never do because they never even try.  They let themselves be defined by something external, whatever group or movement or tribe or fill in the blank.  Others are much more reflective and want to understand within themselves what they are all about.  (Guess where I fit ... ) 

The group within New Directions -- the Glee Club -- represents acceptance of the Outsiders, seen as misfits or rejects by the rest of the school -- but something special for its members.  In other words we have to accept ourselves and we can do that by recognizing the so-called misfits as one of us.  Indeed, we hold the mirror up and see ourselves in them, thereby attaining acceptance for all.  But what we are really looking for?  That's easy.  Love.  Finding it?  Start by showing it.

In the meantime, thank you for the music, Glee.  To quote ABBA:

So I say
Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing,
Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me.