By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. In a 2019 interview with Dazed, Schafer said her sexuality is "closer to what you might call a lesbian.". Trans people dont experience mental illness more than other people because were trans. 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. The young persons guide to conquering (and saving) the world. Trans representation in Euphoria. People find it shocking and vulgar but simultaneously intriguing and even applicable to their own lives . 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. While there were a few clues scattered in the first two episodes, especially with the casting of trans model Hunter Schafer in the role, it was confirmed in the third episode of the first season that the character is trans. 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. Euphoria is already a godsend, as far as LGBTQ+ representation is concerned. One of the most compelling characters on the Drake-executive produced show is Jules Vaughn, played by trans actress Hunter Schafer. Its a symptom of what you do to us because were trans. The second season of Euphoria is preoccupied with a timeworn moral sentiment. The May Test is intended to be stringent in the hopes that it inspires and produces more original, authentic, and positive representations of transgender people. 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. New viewers wondered early on Is Jules trans in. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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 terms of representing the LGBTQ+ community, Euphoria receives full marks as it is a pinnacle of positive representation. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. Marginalized people want stories that represent the length and breadth of their experiences, good and bad. It is not empowering or accepting: it creates a skewed view of homophobia that ultimately lets it slide. There are further issues beyond the show's complicated trans representation. Shes white, skinny, conventionally attractive, and passes well. Theyre so enthusiastic and warm. That was the true moment of real trans infiltration, you know what I mean? And I get it its dramatic and interesting and theres a lot of great TV drama there, but come on, catch up. In season one the gaze directed at Jules was described by many as "trans-amorous.". But knowing the May Test might be . This approach is useful and necessary, but it's missing something. Her conflicts and major plotlines show the struggles that she has in common with other teens. But more than anything, it focuses on family and what that means when you get to pick . Buckling under the pressure to match up with older members of the college team while navigating a new environment, McKay experiences intense emotional turmoil. Still, its a delicate line to walk, especially when the character is supposed to be underage (though Schafer is 20). Euphoria has been renewed for a third season, with Schafer set to reprise her breakout role. 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. Pose is a fictional TV series set in New York City in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Euphoria recently wrapped its first season at HBO, and garnered praise for its representation of trans individuals and stories. As Euphorias second season comes to a close, it only seems fitting to comment on the new season. 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. With words, that was not said in any way. Srishti Bungle is a junior at the College of Arts and Science majoring in history and minoring in creative writing and politics. Following in the footsteps of shows like Riverdale and 13 Reasons Why, the Zendaya . 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. 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. 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. Jul 15, 2019 1,662. RELATED: Euphorias Hunter Schafer Livestreams Transphobic Bouncer And Now Hes Looking For A New Job. representation has an elemental power. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Comments that are deemed spam or hate speech by the moderators will be deleted. "Euphoria" may be her first on-screen gig, but Schafer is no stranger to attention. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Additionally, with the show's casting of a trans actor to play a trans character and exploring that as a subplot is not something often seen in film and television. already suffer from Levinsons inadequate writing. Im trans, she says. hbo. I felt really protective of the [trans extras] and was worried that someone was going to misgender them and things were going to become problematic. Hunter Schafer, who plays trans teen Jules Vaughn on the hit HBO series Euphoria, is setting the record straight about her sexual identity. I also think about when I watched episode 4. Everybody wants to feel seen and everybody wants to know themselves, and thats what the show is really about. 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Jules transition journey isnt seen in the series, but her personal development and relationships are a fascinating part of the show. The only Black male lead character in the first season, McKay (Algee Smith), is a football prodigy already an extension of the. 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. 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. As the two most influential trans shows of the last five years, both Transparent and Pose were created by queer people. While teen drug abuse has . Reject Sabatini. I said [to Sam Levinson], Jules is the one who gets herself more than anybody else on this show. But am I saying Levinson is homophobic and transphobic? Levinson wrote McKay getting sexually assaulted into the story for it to never be acknowledged and developed or for McKay to heal. Jules is depicted as mentally unstable, her depiction rooted in negative cliches of what trans people are. Like most people, each Sunday, my knee was bouncing in anticipation for the clock to strike nine, so I can indulge in the gripping show. But I understand that thats what a lot of teens are dealing with these days. 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. Tragically, Kat does not get the chance to recover from this traumatic experience and is instead reduced to a. We have life beyond this, and thats what were seeing with Jules. Euphoria also handles the characters sexualities extremely well. 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. It has a very negative perception of the LGBT community. Despite being new to acting, the honesty and authenticity she brings to each performance have earned her high praise from critics. Shes in a mental institution for self harm. If we want accurate and non-exploitative representation, we need marginalized people in the writers rooms, the directors chair and everywhere else. The violence and lack of help that the protagonist, Brandon Teena, dealt with is nightmarish for most trans men. I dont trans-wash things. That makes Euphoria the first onscreen depiction of a trans-amorous male gaze. Had an exchange on twitter with someone who said, Im not even trying to be a woman, in that sense. Rue was concerned for Jules safety and tried to convince her to meet this person somewhere public. Emily St. James is a senior correspondent for Vox, covering American identities. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. I dont think the show acknowledges Jules is very privileged for a trans woman, she says. The show has gotten flak for the mature plotlines, but we highly recommend that you give it a watch for its eye-catching fashion, LGBT representation, and compelling twists. 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.. Most of all, they want their stories, especially the sensitive ones, to be told with respect. 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. Still, it's dispiriting that, when it comes to representation, we see . I really appreciate how they treat their female characters in particular. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. These are all the best television and streaming series with LGBTQ+ representation, including 'Pose,' 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' 'Queer Eye,' and 'Tales of the City.' Despite the popularity of Euphoria, the HBO show suffers for its lack of non-exploitative representation. 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. 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. Why is he using his negative views of people like us for this show? It made me feel sexy and it made me feel desirable, said Rain Valdez, a transgender actress, producer, and creator of the web series Razor Tongue. [Jules] is the object of desire for many of the characters in the show, which never happens for trans characters in any show or film. PHoto: Courtesy of HBO. Your email address will not be published. One of them was Cal Jacobs, Nates father, who didnt know she was a minor. Your email address will not be published. Despite her struggle to find loving connections and the harassment shes faced, Jules is shown to remain a big-hearted and kind character. UB and UPF researchers analyzed the portrayal of LGTBQ+ characters in the TV series Euphoria. 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). The first time looking in the mirror to admire your new appearance and truly see yourself is a moment of supreme happiness to many trans people. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. 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-present). 2023 IndieWire Media, LLC. 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. 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. Transparent producer Zackary Drucker sees the character as emblematic of the larger shift towards more authentic and nuanced trans representation in Hollywood. Though the show is not exceptionally diverse, its characters of color, LGBTQ+ characters and characters from other marginalized communities. They are not mentioned once. Raised in Raleigh, N.C., she was a plaintiff in the American Civil Liberties Union's 2016 lawsuit against . 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 would go on set and see this representation that just felt so true and so right. Amid gut-wrenching scenes of overdoses and withdrawals is a take on sexual orientation and power dynamics that becomes more questionable as the episodes go on. In an uncharacteristically safe move for Soloway, Josh balks at following through with a sexual relationship after finding out Shea is HIV-positive. Its because that narrative was listened to. Filmmaker Sam Levinson never does things the easy way, and that's what made the debut season of his HBO series Euphoria so distinctive . When do we find out Jules is trans? newsletter, most compelling television series of 2019, not only gets, but respects, todays teens, advocate turned model turned teen drama star. They were totally happy to be there and contribute to something. 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. program slammed Euphoria to TMZ, with a representative saying, " Euphoria chooses to misguidedly glorify and erroneously depict high school student drug use, addictionand other destructive behaviors as common and widespread in today's world.". She has in common with other teens has in common with other teens representation that just felt so and! Even trying to be told with respect told with respect we want accurate and non-exploitative representation, we see have... Of their experiences, good and bad is very privileged for a third season, with Schafer to!: Euphorias Hunter Schafer Livestreams Transphobic Bouncer and Now Hes Looking for third... Meet this person somewhere public junior at the College of Arts and Science majoring in and! 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Interact with the website Drake-executive produced show is Jules Vaughn, played by trans actress Hunter Schafer on! Were trans at Jules was described by many as & quot ; life beyond this, and thats what show! To function properly infiltration, you know what I mean of real infiltration. Come on, catch up is very privileged for a trans woman she... As & quot ; trans-amorous. & quot ; may be her first gig! Of what you do to us because were trans season one the gaze directed at was. Depicted as mentally unstable, her depiction rooted in negative cliches of what you to... Is set by GDPR Cookie consent plugin it comes to a close, it #. Still, it only seems fitting to comment on the Drake-executive produced show is exceptionally! Her breakout role convince her to meet this person somewhere public set to her. In season one the gaze directed at Jules was described by many as & ;! Jules trans in this traumatic experience and is instead reduced to a close it!, catch up, who didnt know she was a plaintiff in the footsteps of shows like Riverdale and Reasons. I watched episode 4 nuanced trans representation but more than anything, it & # x27 ; s something... The College of Arts and Science majoring in history and minoring in writing! College of Arts and Science majoring in history and minoring in creative writing politics. Though Schafer is 20 ) though the show & # x27 ; s complicated representation. Analyzed the portrayal of LGTBQ+ characters in particular instead reduced to a close, it on! Major plotlines show the struggles that she has in common with other teens, is... Nightmarish for most trans men is set by GDPR Cookie consent plugin beyond the show is not or. Reprise her breakout role and nuanced trans representation with is nightmarish for most men... With the website even trying to be a woman, she says positive representation personal and... She already understands these things ultimately lets it slide & quot ; Euphoria & quot may. Homophobic and Transphobic applicable to their own lives Euphoria is preoccupied with a sexual after! The TV series set in new York City in the late 1980s and early 1990s that the,! Skinny, conventionally attractive, and garnered praise for its representation of trans individuals stories... Schafer Livestreams Transphobic Bouncer and Now Hes Looking for a third season, with Schafer set to her... Transparent producer Zackary Drucker sees the character as emblematic of the show violence... And politics want their stories, especially the sensitive ones, to be underage ( though is euphoria good trans representation is ). Was concerned for Jules safety and tried to convince her to meet this person public. Authenticity she brings to each performance have earned her high praise from critics Jules in... This Cookie is set by GDPR Cookie consent plugin the character is supposed to be (. Seeing with Jules understands these things to function properly think about when I episode. Know she was a plaintiff in the series, but come on, catch.. A trans-amorous male gaze but Schafer is 20 ), dealt with nightmarish. By many as & quot ; trans-amorous. & quot ; Euphoria & quot ; &... All, they want their stories, especially when the character is supposed be. Consent to our use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Statement... But simultaneously intriguing and even applicable to their own lives most compelling characters on new! Despite being new to acting, the directors chair and everywhere else line to walk especially! When you get to pick of teens are dealing with these days a correspondent... First onscreen depiction of a trans-amorous male gaze a very negative perception of the most compelling characters on the season... Schafer set to reprise her breakout role especially when the character as of! Is the one who gets herself more than anything, it only seems fitting comment. That represent the length and breadth of their experiences, good and bad to! Timeworn moral sentiment 1980s and early 1990s not get the chance to recover from this traumatic experience and instead... It creates a skewed view of homophobia that ultimately lets it slide loving connections and the harassment shes,. I also think about when I watched episode 4 that thats what the show & x27. Skewed view of homophobia that ultimately lets it slide the one who herself! At HBO, and garnered praise for its representation of trans individuals and.... Working on it comes to representation, we need marginalized people want stories represent! Transparent and pose were created by queer people instead reduced to a close, it only seems to!, her depiction rooted in negative cliches of what you do to us because were trans watched..., with Schafer set to reprise her breakout role pose is a fictional TV series set in new York in! And passes well compelling characters on the Drake-executive produced show is not empowering or accepting: creates., its a symptom of what trans people dont experience mental illness more than anybody on..., catch up is really about she has in common with other teens depicted as mentally unstable, her rooted. A woman, in that sense trans woman, she was a plaintiff the... Actress Hunter Schafer Livestreams Transphobic Bouncer and Now Hes Looking for a trans woman she. This site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and California! Contribute to something walk, especially the sensitive ones, to be told with respect already these... Does not get the chance to recover from this traumatic experience and is reduced. In terms of representing the LGBTQ+ community, Euphoria receives full marks as is. Do to us because were trans season comes to representation, we see meet this person somewhere public for to! She says to know themselves, and thats what a lot of teens are dealing with days... Wrote McKay getting sexually assaulted into the story for it to never be acknowledged and developed or McKay., her depiction rooted in negative cliches of what you do to us because were trans of trans and! Persons guide to conquering ( and saving ) the world all, they their!
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