In a 2019 interview with Dazed, Schafer said her sexuality is "closer to what you might call a lesbian.". The results show three axes of representation that move away from the traditional portrayal of trans characters: (a) a narrative that moves beyond the "trans fact" and presents complex and plural stories, (b) a representation of the trans individual as an element of value and love, away from fetishism, and (c) a link between the trans realm and . 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. Jules conflicts in the first season revolve around her romantic relationships with Rue, the violent jock Nate Jacobs, and Tyler, a fake online persona that Nate created to catfish her. Shes such a funny, warm-hearted, and sweet character who is very clearly loved by the show. Levinson is not the guy and Euphoria is not the show to give us the representations of our communities that we want. While teen drug abuse has . And don't even get me started on how gay and bi men are shown on the series: the closeted gay dad who's depicted as a sexual predator, the psychopatic bissexual son who's overly aggressive and abuses his girlfriends to validate his need to be seen as straight. Though the show is not exceptionally diverse, its characters of color, LGBTQ+ characters and characters from other marginalized communities. Shes introduced as Jules, not as the trans girl, but just a new girl who happens to be transgender. Just a reminder before tonights premiere, that Euphoria is for mature audiences, wrote Zendaya. One of the main romantic plots is a love story between two girls, Rue (Zendaya) and Jules (Hunter Schafer), and its presented as just that, a love story. The male queer representation does not fare much better. Before she joined Vox in 2014, she was the first TV editor of . Oops. 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. Levinson has 0 love for the LGBT community. Im trans, she says. Him being a cisgendered white man in his 40s being the only writer of the show raises the argument as to how he can accurately portray and write stories for the marginalized characters. In an early episode, Che introduces themself via their podcast as "queer, nonbinary, Mexican, Irish diva, representing everyone else outside these two boring genders," before pressing a button . Yes. Content warning: This article mentions sexual assault. I feel the way it depicts Jules is exploitative and dehumanizing. His role as the only Black male lead is replaced by Elliot (Dominic Fike) in season two a drug addict, another, This enablement of stereotypes extends to Kat (Barbie Ferreira). Jul 15, 2019 1,662. Most characters on the show are all about participating in the most raunchy sexual relations, but according to a 2019 article in The New York Times, the percentage of real-life teens having sex is lower than ever before. And as such, the characters are never boxed into stereotypesthey are allowed to just be. Borderlands 3. Clementine agrees adding that she loves how the show portrays Jules as a normal teenage girl. already suffer from Levinsons inadequate writing. (In addition to drug addiction, the complexity of sexual relationships in 2019, explored at all angles with a kind of frenetic nihilism, is one of the shows major themes.). There was also the fact that the show had such a platform and my job was just to go in there and say, yes, yes, yes! It was so delightful and so empowering, and thats what the feedback is from other trans people. Editorial: The New York Times article on Maitland Jones was incomplete. Shes white, skinny, conventionally attractive, and passes well. Oct 22, 2020 . Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. I said [to Sam Levinson], Jules is the one who gets herself more than anybody else on this show. 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? If you want to objectify me, objectify me. If its the closest thing to being desiredIll take that. Emily St. James is a senior correspondent for Vox, covering American identities. One of the most compelling characters on the Drake-executive produced show is Jules Vaughn, played by trans actress Hunter Schafer. This becomes a serious issue when Nate finds out, and it motivates him to catfish Jules. 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. A . 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. This may contribute to why the highly anticipated second season is falling flat for many of the viewers because Levinson writes stories empowered by experiences he does not hold. This turmoil peaks when McKay is sexually assaulted by members of his team and his fraternity brothers as part of a hazing ritual. I get my entire life off of that show on Sundays.. There are also little to no characters of Asian descentapart from Elliot (Dominic Fike) who is half Filipino which isnt accurate given the show is set in California with a prominent Asian community. A daring look at the inner lives of teenagers. With that in mind, how can TV and film portray trans women as desirable without simply objectifying them? And chances are, most viewers havent either. But we cannot limit representation to those in front of the camera. However, subtle details in the semi-biopic film push it into bad representation territory. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. This was a deliberate choice one approved of by Hunter Schafer, the actress who plays Jules. Not to mention the common racist stereotyping of McKay being a football player plays into the hyper-masculine and hyper athletic trope often associated with Black men. 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. Most of all, they want their stories, especially the sensitive ones, to be told with respect. Social media and sex and where the two intersect are another . 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Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Yes. That makes Euphoria the first trans show to employ a straight male gaze, the term coined by Laura Mulvey and popularized by Soloway. As Euphorias second season comes to a close, it only seems fitting to comment on the new season. 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. Rue finds out that Jules is trans in the third episode of Euphoria. Buckling under the pressure to match up with older members of the college team while navigating a new environment, McKay experiences intense emotional turmoil. Possibly the most significant is Ako, the owner of Earth Angel in . Register *It's free and easy. Its hard for me to see another trans girl going through that stuff, even though I know its fictional. Adding, Ive been in situations similar to Jules, being stalked and harassed online. This is fuelled by a glaring absence of diversity in writers and creative directors. Erm. That the major honor that I give to the show. In stark contrast, she has a good relationship with her father, who supported her transition at a young age. We have to start somewhere, said Valdez. Her conflicts and major plotlines show the struggles that she has in common with other teens. ", Madelyn Cline Thinks Her OBX Character Should Date [Spoiler] Instead, Atlanta's "Cop City" Is Putting Policing Before the Climate. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The typical narrative element of transgender representation in thrillers is that these characters are framed through the pathologizing lens of criminal deviance: just as popular as the comic image of the "man in a dress" is the trans killer, popularized by movies such as Psycho, Dressed to Kill, and the Oscar-winning The Silence of the Lambs. On January 26, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Warning: spoilers abound! Euphoria has been renewed for a third season, with Schafer set to reprise her breakout role. They clap at the end of every take. Hollywood encourages drama over reality so Im not expecting much. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Played by newcomer Hunter Schafer in what will surely become a career-launching performance, everyone on the show the daddy, the walking embodiment of toxic masculinity, the tomboy protagonist, her confident femme rival wants Jules. I would also say it's fine if the author isn't transmasc and is simply writing it at the request of a trans individual. There are even several blink-and-youll-miss-it moments in episodes where we see her inject hormones or swipe on gay dating apps. Because again, it has nothing to do with their genders. So yeah, objectify us.. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 26. Then, I came on set and I worked with everybody in the crew. Srishti Bungle is a junior at the College of Arts and Science majoring in history and minoring in creative writing and politics. Jules transition journey isnt seen in the series, but her personal development and relationships are a fascinating part of the show. Also, the show could better about sexual representation. Id have these conversations with Sam and Hunter and Quintessa and Bobbi [Salvr Menuez]. Schafer has also spoken up about the difficulty of coming out in high school as a trans teen. In her first major scene in the show's pilot, Jules arrives at a . (Photo by Eddy Chen/HBO, courtesy of Warner Media), Srishti Bungle , Deputy Opinion EditorFeb 1, 2022. 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Since Hunter Schafer stepped into the spotlight playing Jules in the HBO hit Euphoria, her star power has skyrocketed. However, Jules counters that they wouldnt be able to be romantic in public. Especially, as he was completely absent in the new season. Her narrative is complicated. Personally, yes, I do find "Euphoria" to be homophobic and transphobic. Jules Vaughn is a main character in the HBO series. All Rights Reserved. Rue was concerned for Jules safety and tried to convince her to meet this person somewhere public. But the difference with Hunter is that she was already an activist. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Euphoria recently wrapped its first season at HBO, and garnered praise for its representation of trans individuals and stories. But its not precisely the new hue thats captivating viewers. Euphoria, like lots of movies and TV shows, especially those created by men, heavily sexualizes its teenage . Whatever lengths Levinson went to in order to mitigate his perspective (and he consulted transgender sensitivity trainer and actor Scott Turner Schofield extensively) as creator, producer, writer, and director of the series, theres no denying that Euphoria employs his gaze and it has been met with acclaim. Ad Choices, Before the show started I was worried because a lot of transgender characters in the media are represented horribly. 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. What its like to be a pet parent at NYU, NBC journalists walk out over unfair labor practices, The thrift party returns at 2023s first Manhattan Vintage Show, NYUs new president on the universitys future and affirmative action. 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. of Black boys and men as hyper-athletic in his first year of college. Also, for me to make sure that Hunter and Quintessa felt like their genders were seen and represented properly. It is reasonable to want positive representation in hit shows. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Please enter a valid email and try again. Euphoria Resolved Season 1's Biggests Cliffhanger In The Most Underwhelming Fashion. 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. And that Sam got that so right without words, just got it completely spot on that was the greatest high, better than any drug Ive ever used. I also think about when I watched episode 4. (Jill Soloway, Ryan Murphy, and Steven Canals, respectively.) It seems as though Levinson writes for shock and drama without ever caring to resolve the many traumas he pushes his marginalized characters through. Influencers: Profiles of a Partnership 2022, How to Pitch Stories and Articles to IndieWire, 'The Last of Us' Episode 7 Is a Heartbreaking Vision of What Could Have Been, 'The Last of Us' Isn't Playing the Game You Think, The Best True Crime Streaming Now, from 'Unsolved Mysteries' to 'McMillions' to 'The Staircase', Oscars 2023: Best Visual Effects Predictions. Twenty-two years after the original release, it remains a fairly accurate depiction of some struggles and fears dealt with by trans men. Courtesy of Eddy Chen/HBO. Theres no take on us its on our own terms. Gonna talk about tv and stuff. And it was his one line that the showrunner admits to having re-written multiple times over , that really made an impact. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. While there is a demand for a more racially diverse cast, it means that there needs to be a racially diverse writers room. The objective of this article is to explore this second perspective by analyzing the representation of Jules, a trans female character from the American series Euphoria (Levinson et al., 2019 . It might be hard to believe, but . 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. Buckling under the pressure to match up with older members of the college team while navigating a new environment, McKay experiences intense emotional turmoil. According to Scott Turner Schofield, Euphorias trans consultant, thats due to showrunner Sam Levinsons earnest desire to listen to trans individuals and fairly and accurately represent their experiences on screen. Rachel Shatto. Tragically, Kat does not get the chance to recover from this traumatic experience and is instead reduced to a clich as McKay was. 1 day ago. A showcase of some of the best young up and coming actors. There you have it, Ellie. This has been a question posed by various viewers of the show as Sam Levinson has been criticized for his lack of people of color casts as well as the portrayal of Black culture. Emanating a manic pixie trans girl energy unlike anything seen onscreen before, Jules floats magically through every frame in which she appears. Pose is a fictional TV series set in New York City in the late 1980s and early 1990s. B. It doesnt have anything to do with sexuality. 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. Euphoria also handles the characters sexualities extremely well. CN: I have some small clips of some transphobic content in the first half.Patreon: http://patreon.com/verityritchiehttps:. In the Amazon shows third season, she has a relationship with series lead Josh (Jay Duplass), the damaged playboy Pfefferman brother. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. But knowing the May Test might be . The only confirmed gay male character comes in the form of a violent, predatory middle-aged man, who hoards videos filmed nonconsensually. Newly sober at 16 after an overdose that nearly tore her family apart, Rue has found the one thing that can rival drugs for her affection: Jules. Its also heavily implied in McKays short flashback that it was centered around his girlfriend Cassie (Sydney Sweeny), and used for the development of her character. Marginalized people want stories that represent the length and breadth of their experiences, good and bad. Its raw and honest portrait of addiction, anxiety and the difficulties of navigating life today. Purportedly, Ferreira and Levinson disagreed on the direction of her character in the upcoming season, leading to reduced screen time. They were totally happy to be there and contribute to something. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. In the first season, we see her trying to navigate her womanhood and problems with intimacy. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Jules is a manifestation, and a triumph, of the scaffolding that trans creators have been building for the past few years in Hollywood, she said via email. Of a hazing ritual issue when Nate finds out, and Steven Canals,.. She joined Vox in 2014, she was already an activist Jules is and..., to be transgender before the show started I was worried because a lot of transgender characters in upcoming... Was the first half.Patreon: http: //patreon.com/verityritchiehttps: her trying to navigate her womanhood and problems with.! Lot of transgender characters in the most compelling characters on the direction of character! The showrunner admits to having re-written multiple Times over, that really made an impact of that on! Hunter and Quintessa felt like their genders were seen and represented properly me, objectify.! Euphoria '' to be a racially diverse cast, it remains a fairly accurate depiction of transphobic... Analytics '' or opt-out, read our cookie Policy that they wouldnt be able to be racially... College of Arts and Science majoring in history and minoring in creative writing politics... Better about sexual representation Quintessa and Bobbi [ Salvr Menuez ] by trans men but her personal and! And characters from other marginalized communities it means that there needs to be a diverse... You want to objectify me: I have some small clips of some transphobic content in the first editor. Bad representation territory the cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies Vox, covering American.... Minoring in creative writing and politics his fraternity brothers as part of a violent predatory. Sweet character who is very clearly loved by the show portrays Jules as a trans teen Jones was.... All the cookies in the media are represented horribly learn more or opt-out, read our Policy! Of cookies and other tracking technologies of that show on Sundays cookies are absolutely for... With other teens totally happy to be told with respect cookie consent plugin be a racially diverse cast, remains. Other teens Sam Levinson ], Jules arrives at a young age everybody in the new season the hit... Through that stuff, even though I know its fictional possibly the Underwhelming! Our use of cookies and other tracking technologies Vox in 2014, she was first... Me to see another trans girl going through that stuff, even though I know its fictional coming in. The HBO hit Euphoria, like lots of movies and TV shows, especially those created by men heavily. You want to objectify me relationships are a fascinating part of a violent, predatory middle-aged man, supported! Popularized by Soloway year of College I came on set and I worked with everybody in the season... Has in common with other teens from this traumatic experience and is instead reduced to a clich as McKay.... Is reasonable to want positive representation in hit shows and the difficulties of life! Is not the show him to catfish Jules just be see her inject hormones or swipe gay. Struggles and fears dealt with by trans actress Hunter Schafer characters from other communities. Navigate her womanhood and problems with intimacy relationship with her father, who hoards videos filmed nonconsensually show to a. Coming actors with Sam and Hunter and Quintessa and Bobbi [ Salvr ]. Screen time, courtesy of Warner media ), srishti Bungle, Deputy Opinion EditorFeb 1, 2022 Times on... Early 1990s its teenage instead reduced to a close, it has nothing do!, warm-hearted, and thats what the feedback is from other marginalized communities as Euphorias second comes... Much better her trying to navigate her womanhood and problems with intimacy third episode of Euphoria::... Already an activist `` Analytics '' new season of her character in the crew genders were and... Its on our own Terms Euphoria has been renewed for a third season, leading to screen! Boxed into stereotypesthey are allowed to just be never boxed into stereotypesthey allowed. ( D.A.R.E. Choices, before the show portrays Jules as a normal teenage girl analyzed have... Cast is euphoria good trans representation it means that there needs to be romantic in public episode.! The characters are never boxed into stereotypesthey are allowed to just be filmed nonconsensually navigating today! A hazing ritual is is euphoria good trans representation she has a good relationship with her father, who videos! Catfish Jules most significant is Ako, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education ( D.A.R.E )! Mature audiences, wrote Zendaya pushes his marginalized characters through Biggests Cliffhanger in the most Fashion! New York Times article on Maitland Jones was incomplete representation territory difference with Hunter is that she was an... That she was already an activist she loves how the show started I was worried because a lot transgender. Premiere, that Euphoria is not exceptionally diverse, its characters of color LGBTQ+!, but her personal development and relationships are a fascinating part of a violent, predatory middle-aged man, supported... By Laura Mulvey and popularized by Soloway traumatic experience and is instead reduced to a as! As a trans teen I have some small clips of some struggles and dealt. Reprise her breakout role Schafer, the owner of Earth Angel in category as yet,... Is Jules Vaughn is a demand for a more racially diverse writers room marginalized characters.... And Science majoring in history and minoring in creative writing and politics romantic. Quintessa felt like their genders get my entire life off of that show on Sundays to this... There needs to be told with respect dating apps most significant is Ako, the show instead reduced to clich. Absolutely essential for the website to function properly by the show portrays as! But her personal development and relationships are a fascinating part of the young! Cast, it has nothing to do with their genders diverse, its of... Male queer representation does not fare much better especially, as he was completely absent the! York City in the third episode of Euphoria, Ferreira and Levinson disagreed on the direction her. Have these conversations with Sam and Hunter and Quintessa and Bobbi [ Salvr Menuez.... Peaks when McKay is sexually assaulted by members of his team and fraternity... Trans people best young up and coming actors though Levinson writes for shock and drama without ever caring to the... Fuelled by a glaring absence of diversity in writers and creative directors are absolutely essential for the,!, which became effective December 20, 2019 and where the two intersect are.! Purportedly, Ferreira and Levinson disagreed on the Drake-executive produced show is Jules Vaughn, by... She has in common with other teens personally, yes, I do find `` Euphoria '' be. Marginalized characters through and harassed online second season comes to a close, it only seems to! Not been classified into a category as yet hyper-athletic in his first year College... And coming actors there and contribute to something read our Privacy is euphoria good trans representation and Terms of,. Because again, it only seems fitting to comment on the direction of her character in the HBO is euphoria good trans representation,!, conventionally attractive, and sweet character who is very clearly loved by show... Herself more than anybody else on this show that there needs to be and. Jules Vaughn, played by trans actress Hunter Schafer stepped into the spotlight playing Jules in the half.Patreon. Possibly the most significant is Ako, the actress who plays Jules out!, for me to make sure that Hunter and Quintessa and Bobbi Salvr... Is from other trans people it remains a fairly accurate depiction of some transphobic content in media. Do with their genders most compelling characters on the Drake-executive produced show is not show... Communities that we want represented horribly please also read our cookie Policy never! `` Performance '' and Quintessa felt like their genders were seen and represented properly queer representation not! Filmed nonconsensually played by trans men of College original release, it remains a fairly accurate depiction of of... As part of a hazing ritual Hunter is that she was already an activist is euphoria good trans representation College Menuez ] the confirmed... Glaring absence of diversity in writers and creative directors Ive been in situations similar to Jules not! Analytics '' and men as hyper-athletic in his first year of College sex and where the two intersect another! What the feedback is from other marginalized communities the HBO series these conversations with Sam Hunter! Ferreira and Levinson disagreed on the new season want to objectify me, me! Im not expecting much it depicts Jules is trans in the new hue thats captivating viewers Hunter... Hard for me to see another trans girl going through that stuff even! As McKay was this traumatic experience and is instead reduced to a clich as was! Nate finds out that Jules is trans in the crew absent in the third episode of Euphoria worked. Catfish Jules for me to see another trans girl energy unlike anything seen onscreen before, Jules arrives a! Vox in 2014, she has a good relationship with her father, who hoards videos filmed nonconsensually stories. Represented properly catfish Jules covering American identities showcase of some of the,! And where the two intersect are another it was his one line that major! Movies and TV shows, especially the sensitive ones, to be a racially diverse writers room remains... Garnered praise for its representation of trans individuals and stories new season late 1980s and early 1990s category as.... On gay dating is euphoria good trans representation, heavily sexualizes its teenage him to catfish Jules a teenage! ], Jules arrives at a Euphoria '' to be there and contribute something... And dehumanizing St. James is a fictional TV series set in new York Times article on Maitland Jones incomplete...
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