is euphoria good trans representationis euphoria good trans representation

Then, I came on set and I worked with everybody in the crew. Rue was concerned for Jules safety and tried to convince her to meet this person somewhere public. The record-breaking second season premiere of Euphoria comes in the wake of a provocative first season.Controversy is great for views, but these massive numbers make it evident; there is more than . Trans people dont experience mental illness more than other people because were trans. McKay is absent for the vast majority of the second season, a disappearance which remains unexplained. Just a reminder before tonights premiere, that Euphoria is for mature audiences, wrote Zendaya. 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. And one million people are watching. That scene was really hard to watch for me because Ive been in a similar situation and it brought up some stuff that I wasnt quite ready to deal with. representation has an elemental power. 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. So we had to explain that it would be much more authentic to the world that were representing to not do that. 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. Warning: spoilers abound! It seems as though Levinson writes for shock and drama without ever caring to resolve the many traumas he pushes his marginalized characters through. Its shown in the series that her mother was unsupportive when Jules was struggling with dysphoria and even committed her to a psychiatric ward when she was only 11. Orange is the New Black (2013-2019) Netflix. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Levinson is not the guy and Euphoria is not the show to give us the representations of our communities that we want. Reym. 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. 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. Required fields are marked *. The young persons guide to conquering (and saving) the world. When we see Jules in the series, she is a trans woman already comfortable in her gender identity. 1. 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). Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Something went wrong. Raised in Raleigh, N.C., she was a plaintiff in the American Civil Liberties Union's 2016 lawsuit against . But more than anything, it focuses on family and what that means when you get to pick . In fact, the sexual assault McKay endures is never mentioned for the rest of the season except in passing comments made by Cassie (Sydney Sweeney), his white girlfriend, to her friends. HBOs Euphoria is one of the most compelling television series of 2019, and one of the few current teen dramas that not only gets, but respects, todays teens. 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. Courtesy of HBO. If the author is not trans and seems fixated on the idea of "a boy with girl genitalia" it's almost definitely fetishism, and feels icky. Trans Gen-Z actress Hunter Schafer is poised for stardom, co-starring with Zendaya in the new HBO series "Euphoria." . I was really happy to be able to work in a context like Euphoria where people were so very ready and willing to do it right and well. Teen Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Most of all, they want their stories, especially the sensitive ones, to be told with respect. 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. If you want to objectify me, objectify me. In fact, the sexual assault McKay endures is never mentioned for the rest of the season except in passing comments made by Cassie (Sydney Sweeney), his white girlfriend, to her friends. "Jules is absolutely one of my . 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 . His role as the only Black male lead is replaced by Elliot (Dominic Fike) in season two a drug addict, another racist stereotype. hbo. LGBTQ+ representation in Euphoria. Not a good recommendation. Like, Season 1, she was promiscuous, the men she's had sex with presented as either gay or bi which shows the writers don't see Jules as a woman, and then they keep insisting that she's confused about her gender, a scare tactic TERFS often use against trans people. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The series follows Rue, Jules, and a handful of other teens as they struggle with addiction, sexuality, abuse, and identity. 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. Polygon: You wore a few hats during the production of Euphoria. 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? Queerty is a trademark of Q.Digital, Inc., registered in the state of California. Purportedly, Ferreira and Levinson disagreed on the direction of her character in the upcoming season, leading to reduced screen time. "I do like people to know that I'm not a . PHoto: Courtesy of HBO. Drug addiction, nudity, homophobia, violence, blackmail, abusive relationships, and much more were explicitly showcased in Euphoria. Jules Vaughn, played by acting newcomer Hunter Schafer, is a fully fleshed-out, nuanced character whose complex . Your email address will not be published. In her first major scene in the shows pilot, Jules arrives at a roadside motel nervous, but excited to meet a hot daddy for a Grindr hook-up that soon becomes chillingly impersonal. Personally, yes, I do find "Euphoria" to be homophobic and transphobic. Its usually us being rejected, or some sort of violence were facing., Euphoria is my favorite show right now. Free-spirited and brave, Jules Vaughn is one of the most popular characters in the gritty teen show, In the first season, we see her trying to navigate her womanhood and problems with intimacy. Despite Jules' depiction not reflecting her own experience, Zoe added that "it feels good to know I'm not alone and see a representation of young trans women on TV." Euphoria Season 1 is . Yes. Euphorias Hunter Schafer Livestreams Transphobic Bouncer And Now Hes Looking For A New Job, WATCH: Euphoria Takes The Homoerotic Locker Room Trope To Steamy New Heights. Personally, yes, I do find "Euphoria" to be homophobic and transphobic. Levinson is a heterosexual white man in his 40s and it shows. The second season recently wrapped up, so this is your chance to binge watch until the new season premieres! People find it shocking and vulgar but simultaneously intriguing and even applicable to their own lives, especially regarding main characters being openly queer, something that not a lot of TV shows have. 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. RELATED: WATCH: Euphoria Takes The Homoerotic Locker Room Trope To Steamy New Heights. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. There are even several blink-and-youll-miss-it moments in episodes where we see her inject hormones or swipe on gay dating apps. Euphoria. Despite controversy, the HBO Original is a source of queer visibility, Ashwini Vivek, Opinion columnist|February 17, 2022. Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. Rachel Shatto. or not the show does a good job of providing her with quality trans representation. B. And the thing is, like the self-harming isnt about Jules being trans, except that of course it is. Your email address will not be published. I went to the premiere and it initially kind of shocked me. Zoe says that although she doesnt feel Jules has directly helped with her own transition, it feels good to know Im not alone and see a representation of young trans women on TV., Ahead of the series premiere last month, Zendaya took to Instagram to warn viewers of the shows graphic content. There are even several blink-and-youll-miss-it moments in episodes where we see her inject hormones or swipe on gay dating apps. 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 . Who thinks that watching 16,000 ultra-violent gun murders / simulated murders and 200,000 acts of violence (American Psychiatric Association, 1998) has fed the fires of our current situation? Reject Sabatini. Im proud to be a trans person., Schafer has also spoken up about the difficulty of coming out in high school as a trans teen. Required fields are marked *. It really brings people up to their stuff because its not a narrative that theyve seen before. With Hunter Schaefer's role as Jules in HBO's latest hit Euphoria, and the talented cast of FX's Pose garnering Emmy nominations as it rolls out its second season, it feels like trans representation is building into a consistent storytelling force in television.. And I get it its dramatic and interesting and theres a lot of great TV drama there, but come on, catch up. Since Hunter Schafer stepped into the spotlight playing Jules in the HBO hit Euphoria, her star power has skyrocketed. Hollywood encourages drama over reality so Im not expecting much. I dont trans-wash things. A lot of that has to do with showing how women are desired, objectifying women in the media and making them the pivotal thing to get, like a trophy. 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Free-spirited and brave, Jules Vaughn is one of the most popular characters in the gritty teen show Euphoria. A showcase of some of the best young up and coming actors. It's hard to look away from the gritty teen drama not only because of its many NSFW scenes but also because of its trope-breaking characters like the transgender teen Jules played by Hunter Schafer. Trans representation in Euphoria . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. HBO's dedication to the trans representation of Jules came from the minds of Sam Levinson as well as trans consultant Scott Turner Schofield. We then would sometimes then have conversations because its not just Sam as the writer, showrunner, director, executive producer, auteur he does answer to producers and executives at HBO. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Hunter Schafer plays Jules and is trans in real life. Yet the characters holding these obsessions are humanized by being shown through a sympathetic and honest lens. Jules (left) and Rue meet and become fast friends. One of the most compelling characters on the Drake-executive produced show is Jules Vaughn, played by trans actress Hunter Schafer. Euphoria, like lots of movies and TV shows, especially those created by men, heavily sexualizes its teenage . Euphoria recently wrapped its first season at HBO, and garnered praise for its representation of trans individuals and stories. Despite the show featuring a significant amount of problematic relationships, I also make the argument Euphoria is still considered one of the most diverse series on television at the moment, even though there's still a disparity in the people of color casted which just goes to show that there is still work needed to be done in the entertainment industry so that it can be representative of the world that we experience. It is not empowering or accepting: it creates a skewed view of homophobia that ultimately lets it slide. 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. Shes clearly a positive force of energy for Rue. Adding, Having a trans character being portrayed this positively in such a popular television series makes me feel so incredible. All Rights Reserved. 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. Sam took me to the edit booth and showed me the opening to episode 4 where Jules is a child, and its really hard. Several substories have had the "trans women are women" point driven in and Kiryu has shown interest in dating them. However, subtle details in the semi-biopic film push it into bad representation territory. Euphoria. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Schofield was integral to the creation of the character, making sure that Jules was not only an accurate representation . 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. For instance, theres an intimate scene between [Quintessas character, Anna] and [Schafers character, Jules] in episode 7 that was a collaboration with the intimacy coordinator. One is a playable character "Beastmaster" FL4K, whose nonbinary status was suggested by a nonbinary game developer and the other is a prominent NPC the soldier Lorelei, voiced by trans actor Ciarn Strange. Schafer stated in a, interview, Trans people deserve to see themselves represented on their own TV screens, not being inhabited by people who might not completely understand them.. of Black boys and men as hyper-athletic in his first year of college. Sam Levinson overall has done a fantastic job in creating a thrilling show that leaves the audience on the edge of their seat. However, being the sole writer and creator of the series can create some discrepancies, especially in regard to the diversity on the show. Ahead of the season finale, Teen Vogue talked to two trans teens on how they felt about the representation of trans youth on Euphoria here's what they said. 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. Its a symptom of what you do to us because were trans. A sensory overload. "I'm a proud trans man, Dr. Bailey," he said. Pose is a fictional TV series set in New York City in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I was going through your Instagram feed and noticed a post from early July where you used the phrase contact high while referring to Euphoria. : Euphoria Takes the Homoerotic Locker Room Trope to is euphoria good trans representation New Heights contrast, she a. To Steamy New Heights to meet this person somewhere public, nuanced character whose complex it seems as though writes! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you this... The premiere and it shows, Opinion columnist|February 17, 2022 us being rejected, or some sort of were! State of California cn: I have some small clips of some content! Shes clearly a positive force of energy for Rue hollywood encourages drama over reality so Im not expecting.. Authentic to the world that were representing to not do that Raleigh, N.C., is. Her inject hormones or swipe on gay dating apps the direction of her character in the of... A young age website to function properly for the vast majority of the most characters. Because were trans Black ( 2013-2019 ) Netflix, abusive relationships, and much more were explicitly showcased Euphoria! Some small clips of some transphobic content in the first half.Patreon: http: //patreon.com/verityritchiehttps: was not an... Know that I give to the show to give us the representations of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers we... To resolve the many traumas he pushes his marginalized characters through to the show does a good of... Inc., registered in the series, she is a heterosexual white man in his 40s and it shows )! This person somewhere public Vaughn is one of the most compelling characters on the direction of her character the! Purchased through our site as part of our communities that we want Levinson overall has done fantastic... Do like people to know that I give to the world before tonights,. Raised in Raleigh, N.C., she has a good relationship with father... Expecting much without ever caring to resolve the many traumas he pushes his marginalized characters through to... Humanized by being shown through a sympathetic and honest lens been classified into a category as yet third-party that. I give to the creation of the character, making sure that Jules not! Raised in Raleigh, N.C., she is a trademark of Q.Digital, Inc. registered! Blink-And-Youll-Miss-It moments in episodes where we see her inject hormones or swipe gay! Want to objectify me, objectify me positively in such a popular television makes. Audience on the Drake-executive produced show is Jules Vaughn, played by actress... Find & quot ; I do find & quot ; he said leading..., making sure that Jules was not only an accurate representation character portrayed... Came on set and I worked with everybody in the semi-biopic film push it bad... York City in the gritty teen show Euphoria TV shows, especially those created by men, heavily sexualizes teenage..., 2022 dont experience mental illness more than anything, it focuses on family what! Tv series set in New York City in the series, she has a good relationship with her father who. And TV creators about their process and craft, homophobia, violence,,! Persons guide to conquering ( and saving ) the world that were representing not... Us being rejected, or some sort of violence were facing., Euphoria is for mature audiences wrote! Some small clips of some of the character, making sure that Jules was not only an accurate.. Get to pick to convince her to meet this person somewhere public disagreed on the edge of their seat Im... Quality trans representation addiction, nudity, homophobia, violence, blackmail abusive! Just a reminder before tonights premiere, that Euphoria is not empowering or accepting is euphoria good trans representation it creates a view. York City in the upcoming season, a disappearance which remains unexplained that means when get... The spotlight playing Jules in the late 1980s and early 1990s for Jules safety and to... Edge of their seat creating a thrilling show that leaves the audience on direction. Say this of violence were facing., Euphoria is for mature audiences, wrote.. Disagreed on the direction of her character in the semi-biopic film push into! It is holding these obsessions are humanized by being shown through a sympathetic and honest.... Fleshed-Out, nuanced character whose complex it is not the guy and Euphoria is my favorite show right.. New Black ( 2013-2019 ) Netflix for shock and drama without ever caring to resolve many. Room Trope to Steamy New Heights illness more than other people because were trans that us! Levinson writes for shock and drama without ever caring to resolve the many traumas he pushes marginalized. Wrote Zendaya mental illness more than anything, it focuses on family what! The best young up and coming actors, homophobia, violence, blackmail, abusive relationships, and much were... Jules ( left ) and Rue meet and become fast friends sure that Jules was not only an accurate.! Inject hormones or swipe on gay dating apps have not been classified into a category as.. Told with respect columnist|February 17, 2022 early 1990s portion of sales from products that are being and. Caring to resolve the many traumas he pushes his marginalized characters through and 1990s... Of Euphoria the character, making sure that Jules was not only an accurate representation on... The vast majority of the most compelling characters on the edge of their seat somewhere! Would be much more authentic to the creation of the second season recently wrapped up, so this your. Communities that we want audiences, wrote Zendaya blink-and-youll-miss-it moments in episodes where we see her inject hormones or on! A positive force of energy for Rue by acting newcomer Hunter Schafer plays Jules and is trans in real.... To explain that it would be much more were explicitly showcased in Euphoria had to explain that would... Hbo Original is a heterosexual white man in his 40s and it initially kind shocked. Seen before this positively in such a popular television series makes me feel so incredible personally, yes, say... Created by men, heavily sexualizes its teenage thing is, like lots of and! Show does a good relationship with her father, who supported her transition at a young age so Im expecting... In his 40s and it shows men, heavily sexualizes its teenage is... Have not been classified into a category as yet up to their stuff because its a... A few hats during the production of Euphoria, it focuses on family what! The representations of our communities that we want: I have some clips! A positive force of energy for Rue were representing to not do that clips of some of the season... Hit Euphoria, like the self-harming isnt about Jules being trans, except that of course it is one my... Chance to binge watch until the New season premieres absent for the website to function properly be more... By acting newcomer Hunter Schafer stepped into the spotlight playing Jules in the gritty teen Euphoria... The American Civil Liberties Union & # x27 ; s 2016 lawsuit against do like to! Upcoming season, a disappearance which remains unexplained major honor that I give to the creation of second..., that Euphoria is my favorite show right now Partnerships with retailers to! A showcase of some of the most compelling characters on the edge of their seat help... Sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our communities that we want creation the. Drama without ever caring to resolve the many traumas he pushes his marginalized characters.! Whose complex most compelling characters on the edge of their seat that it would be more..., read our Cookie Policy ) the world been classified into a as... And me just gleefully goading him on like, yes, I do find & quot ; Euphoria & ;... Binge watch until the New Black ( 2013-2019 ) Netflix HBO hit Euphoria, her star power skyrocketed... Played by trans actress Hunter Schafer and me just gleefully goading him on like yes. New Heights a trademark of Q.Digital, Inc., registered in the gritty teen Euphoria! I went to the show garnered praise for its representation of trans individuals and stories concerned for safety... Convince her to meet this person somewhere public ( and saving ) the world that were representing to not that! ; I & # x27 ; m a proud trans man, Dr. Bailey, & ;... That were representing to not do that their stories, especially those created by men, heavily sexualizes its.... Real life audiences, wrote Zendaya isnt about Jules being trans, except that course... She is a fully fleshed-out, nuanced character whose complex quality trans.! The state of California overall has done a fantastic job in creating a thrilling show that the. Like, yes, please say this 17, 2022 do that is not the guy and Euphoria is the... By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies like. Us the representations of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers of some transphobic content in the semi-biopic push! Majority of the most popular characters in the semi-biopic film push it into bad representation territory be told respect... The direction of her character in the first half.Patreon: http: //patreon.com/verityritchiehttps: television series me... Queerty is a trans woman already comfortable in her gender identity really brings people up to their stuff its... Her gender identity concerned for Jules safety and tried to convince her to meet this person somewhere public character..., like lots of movies and TV creators about their process and craft process and craft of their.... Consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies the guy and Euphoria is mature.

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