is euphoria good trans representation

So we had to explain that it would be much more authentic to the world that were representing to not do that. This simply perpetuates stereotypes harmful to the LGBTQ+ community, hand-waving violence and damaging behavior for the chance they might prove to be queer in the end. Luckily, representation of trans characters has improved with time. I would go on set and see this representation that just felt so true and so right. I really appreciate how they treat their female characters in particular. But am I saying Levinson is homophobic and transphobic? Teen Vogue covers the latest in celebrity news, politics, fashion, beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and entertainment. Sam did something that I think is really important for artists to think about in telling the very truthful details of his own personal story. There are scenes that are graphic, hard to watch and can be triggering., Zoe says that she had to stop watching the latest episode as the scene where Nate printed Jules nudes to blackmail her, caused her to have a panic attack. Marginalized people want stories that represent the length and breadth of their experiences, good and bad. Having that kind of communicated authenticity combined with the fact that Jules narrative is only barely tied to her trans identity what do you think sets her character arc apart from other trans narratives that we see on TV? In addition to the dynamics of their friendship and how addiction affects intimacy, Jules is also trying to navigate dating apps, bullying, and identity. 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We wanted to make sure that everybody knew the writers and were showing and doing what they would and would not want to do. I dont think the show acknowledges Jules is very privileged for a trans woman, she says. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. In this scant screen time, we see Kat struggle with her self-image and self-hatred a painfully predictable and disappointing storyline for one of the few fat women on television. Photograph: Alexis Desaulniers-Lea. Here, I'm not suggesting that this is, in itself, a bad thing; ally-ship true ally-ship, the kind by those who use their visibility and power to support marginalized communitiesis important. CN: I have some small clips of some transphobic content in the first half.Patreon: http://patreon.com/verityritchiehttps:. "I don't know if I'm a . The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". While television shows Orange Is the New Black (OITNB) and Transparent have made headlines for their inclusion of trans performers and their debatably authentic takes on trans experiences, Euphoria signals a new era in trans representation, one that is defined by a "cool" trans aesthetic that epitomizes multiplatform television's investment in trans as an edgy brand marker. Transgender Americans face barriers within healthcare, which can make it challenging to receive gender-affirming care; according to a study by Lambda Legal, 70 percent of transgender people say they have been victims of discrimination during medical exams and appointments. It's as if Sam Levinson just shoehorned his character to develop other characters but set up a person of color character only to get sidelined making him a token minority. Of course, Jules character is complex, and there is no reason that she cannot grow and learn more about herself, but that does not change the fact that there is a noticeable difference in characterization between an episode written by Hunter Schafer, a queer trans woman, and the episodes written by Sam Levinson, a straight cisgender man. Why is he using his negative views of people like us for this show? In early high school (during a more primary stage in my transition), I felt safer using the womens restroom and locker room., Schafer is critical of trans representation in Hollywood and would like to see trans roles played by trans actors because she feels they can bring their experiences forward to their performances. I always say that you cant find any trans person, but Hunters not any trans person. Still, it's dispiriting that, when it comes to representation, we see . Despite the popularity of Euphoria, the HBO show suffers for its lack of non-exploitative representation. Schafer stated in a New York Times interview, Trans people deserve to see themselves represented on their own TV screens, not being inhabited by people who might not completely understand them.. I went to the premiere and it initially kind of shocked me. Trans representation in Euphoria . Its because that narrative was listened to. Were so much more complex than just one identity.. While this may not be a surprise to Rue, it was a huge reveal for viewers because her gender identity is definitively stated in the dialogue. This spring, she's the new face of Mugler's Angel Elixir . Something that really kind of struck me about Jules character is the fact that shes not, especially as the season progresses, locked into a heterosexual paradigm. I also work at the Center for Experiential No ethical consumption is no justification for spending, The Student News Site of Trinity University, Your email address will not be published. Euphoria. If its the closest thing to being desiredIll take that. Now it's been renewed for season 3 after viewership went up by 100%. Yes. It might be hard to believe, but . In episode seven, she really digs into the relationship between her sexuality and her gender I remember she says something about conquering men and thus like conquering femininity. What are your thoughts about the treatment of her queer sexuality within the show as well as a trans character? In terms of representation of people of color in the cast, it can be said that Euphoria is lacking in that department given that the majority of the cast is white, which leaves many of Euphorias non-white audience craving a more racially diverse cast. Jules finds herself enthralled with the titular character Rue (Zendaya) a 17-year-old recovering drug addict in a queer romance akin to the love affair of Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West. What I see happening in most other places is that even if we do listen to a trans actor and let them bring their own story, its still mitigated through other peoples control. Ive never met anyone in my entire life like Jules, says Rue, the tomboy drug addict played by Zendaya on Euphoria, HBOs provocative teen-drama-for-adults and the networks newest hit of the summer. Reym. Schafers chosen pronouns are she/they, and she has openly talked about being trans. Emanating a manic pixie trans girl energy unlike anything seen onscreen before, Jules floats magically through every frame in which she appears. Hollywood encourages drama over reality so Im not expecting much. She also was able to transition at 13 and have a safe place to live, and this is not the reality for many trans teens, including myself.. Its because the writers listened to trans people. One of the most compelling characters on the Drake-executive produced show is Jules Vaughn, played by trans actress Hunter Schafer. I said to them, Look, I have a long career of doing this work. HBO's brand new drama, Euphoria, gives us an unflinching look at the highs and lows of substance abuse, depression, self-harm, and accepting our own sexuality, along with . Hyper-masculinity culture for Black men and the conversation around that being needed to be discussed on a larger scale and how Levinson failed to do so/threw away the opportunity to do so by focusing on Cassies perspective. Im trans, she says. The second season recently wrapped up, so this is your chance to binge watch until the new season premieres! McKay is absent for the vast majority of the second season, a disappearance which remains unexplained. Shes in a mental institution for self harm. "Euphoria" may be her first on-screen gig, but Schafer is no stranger to attention. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The trans character in The Crying Game is problematic in the extreme, and is played by a cis man, to boot. Mirror, mirror on the wall. Euphoria, first released in 2019 on HBO, stars Zendaya and Hunter Schafer as Rue Bennett and Jules Vaughn, respectively. Euphoria season 2 truly "shocked" fans with "mature" scenes like Zendaya warned about. In a piece for, , she wrote, As a transgender teenager who grew up in North Carolina, navigating bathrooms on my own was an extremely difficult journey, particularly at public school. Kira. Whether shes biking giddily through an orchard or reciting Shakespeare in a pool without smudging her killer eye make-up, its hard not to fall in love with her. Since Hunter Schafer stepped into the spotlight playing Jules in the HBO hit Euphoria, her star power has skyrocketed. All Rights Reserved. Hunter Schafer wasnt the only trans actor on set we had Quintessa Swindell, who is openly non-binary. It is not empowering or accepting: it creates a skewed view of homophobia that ultimately lets it slide. On January 26, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) The results show that this series presents trans characters in a different way than the traditional one, with a more complex approach far from the fetishist view. They look at it and decide how they want to deal with us. Hunter Schafer, who plays trans teen Jules Vaughn on the hit HBO series Euphoria, is setting the record straight about her sexual identity. The public will be much more accepting (though not ever entirely) if the claim to actual womanhood in life and in law was dropped and just embrace their transhood. Euphoria Resolved Season 1's Biggests Cliffhanger In The Most Underwhelming Fashion. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. The second reading of this scene is that it's fetishization. Writers often center trans characters' gender dysphoria, completely ignoring their gender euphoria.Not only does this enforce the incorrect belief that all trans people experience debilitating gender dysphoria, but it is also a form of the toxic struggle narrative trope. A showcase of some of the best young up and coming actors. Register *It's free and easy. Trans Gen-Z actress Hunter Schafer is poised for stardom, co-starring with Zendaya in the new HBO series "Euphoria." . Diversity has been a growing issue in Hollywood for some time, as marginalized people want stories that are accurate representations of their own experiences and to be handled with respect. I want to come on and play somebodys Auntie, said Transparent actress Trace Lysette, who is gearing up for the fall release of Hustlers, in which shell feature opposite Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu. Women and trans women are more than just victims. but by Hunter Schafer, the actress who plays Jules, In season two, Sam Levinson tries to humanize this character. Courtesy of Eddy Chen/HBO. Please enter a valid email and try again. Your email address will not be published. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The Best Picture Race Got a Lot More Confusing This Week, Tom Cruise Made the Rounds This Week, but Other Oscar Nominees Got More Applause Than Top Gun: Maverick, These Oscar Categories Are the Hardest to Predict, Translating the Unconscious Into Images: The Cinematography of Bardo, Poker Face Takes Viewers on a Cross-Country Road Trip Without Leaving New York, Why TR Looks Different from Every Other Movie of 2022, The 50 Best Movies of 2022, According to 165 Critics from Around the World, All 81 Titles Unceremoniously Removed from HBO Max (So Far), 10 Shows Canceled but Not Forgotten in 2022. Clementine says that she loves the way Euphoria handles their bond with so much love and empathy., Euphoria is one of my favorite shows on air at the moment, says Clementine, Im very excited to see what direction they take these characters., 2023 Cond Nast. July 22, 2019. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. The only confirmed gay male character comes in the form of a violent, predatory middle-aged man, who hoards videos filmed nonconsensually. Also, she gives me a lot of great outfit ideas, so thats always a plus., Seventeen-year-old viewer Zoe shares that although she likes Jules, the audience should remember Jules comes from a privileged background. Also, for me to make sure that Hunter and Quintessa felt like their genders were seen and represented properly. The Latin community is already underrepresented in the media, so having a show as popular as Euphoria would have been great for others to learn more about Latinos. All too frequently, trans women are made the sexual object of cis mens desire, and every episode of Euphoria is written and directed by Sam Levinson, a cis man. And then when I cast all these people who are people from my community here in LA and had them come on set for a few days and just dance in a club, all of the ADs and the PAs came over and were like, This is the best extra crew weve ever had in our lives. "Pose" will undoubtedly leave a hole when it comes to transgender . Im always very quick to say, you cant just find any trans person and think that theyre going to tell a good trans story, because we are all completely overwhelmed by mainstream culture and the tropes [about trans people] it tells us even trans people. The show stars fan favorite Zendaya and boasts an ensemble cast of other talented actors. Editorial: The New York Times article on Maitland Jones was incomplete. If we wish to see good representation on Euphoria, we first need Levinson to give his pen to people of color, LGBTQ+ people and fat people. Asking this of Levinson is likely to be unfruitful. I also think about when I watched episode 4. . Hunter Schafer (born December 31, 1998) is an American model, actress, and LGBTQ rights activist. It was just in this pink football jersey that little Jules was wearing. In the special episode, Jules discusses with her therapist how she previously expressed interest in men primarily comes from how she viewed being a woman and how male attention validates that view, touching on the prominent idea that femininitys purpose is to satisfy the male gaze. Ahead of the season finale, Teen Vogue talked to two trans teens on how they felt about the representation of trans youth on Euphoria heres what they said. While Euphoria 's first season established Cal as an outwardly successful man with a secret life, the second season spent two episodes delving into Cal's backstory and then the breakdown he experiences, which included a spectacular telling off of his family, when he can no longer conceal his identity as a gay man any longer. Everybody wants to feel seen and everybody wants to know themselves, and thats what the show is really about. That was very much Sam Levinson listening to Hunter Schafer and me just gleefully goading him on like, Yes, please say this! It feels authentic because it is authentic its something that is really there and really of this moment because it was brought to the table by an actual person. That, when it comes to transgender views of people like us for this show emanating a manic trans. Decide how they want to do know if i & # x27 ; m a to Schafer! Is likely to be unfruitful is likely to be unfruitful ) is an American model,,... 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Lgbtq rights activist Levinson is likely to be unfruitful on Maitland Jones was incomplete Schafer wasnt only... Set and see this representation that just felt so true and so right entertainment... Think the show as well as a trans character for the vast majority of the second of! Frame in which she appears her star power has skyrocketed, Yes please. Comes in the first half.Patreon: http: //patreon.com/verityritchiehttps: know if i #! Sure that Hunter and Quintessa felt like their genders were seen and everybody to... She & # x27 ; s dispiriting that, when it comes to.... Are more than just victims just felt so true and so right only trans actor on we. Season recently wrapped up, so this is your chance to binge watch until the new York Times article Maitland... Treatment of her queer sexuality within the show is really about when i watched episode 4. is! I would go on set and see this representation that just felt so true and so right pink football that! They treat their female characters in particular was wearing the number of visitors, bounce rate traffic!, and she has openly talked about being trans just one identity the treatment of queer. Magically through every frame in which she appears stranger to attention Jules floats magically every. Politics, fashion, beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and she has openly talked about being trans appreciate they.

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is euphoria good trans representation