That makes "Euphoria" the first onscreen depiction of a trans-amorous male gaze. DeAsia Paige. Jules Vaughn is a main character in the HBO series Euphoria. The second season of Euphoria is preoccupied with a timeworn moral sentiment. Women and trans women are more than just victims. There are further issues beyond the show's complicated trans representation. I would go on set and see this representation that just felt so true and so right. And I burst into tears watching it, because that kid was me, except in blue. One of the most compelling characters on the Drake-executive produced show is Jules Vaughn, played by trans actress Hunter Schafer. We wanted to make sure that everybody knew the writers and were showing and doing what they would and would not want to do. 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. Still, its a delicate line to walk, especially when the character is supposed to be underage (though Schafer is 20). All Rights Reserved. Theres no take on us its on our own terms. Trans representation in Euphoria. Shes a very articulate trans woman and she already understands these things. 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. 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.. 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. Since its debut on HBO in June, "Euphoria" has provoked conversations around teen sexuality, trans representation, full-frontal male nudity, and One Direction slash fiction, to name just a few . 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Comments that are deemed spam or hate speech by the moderators will be deleted. Almost every episode was followed by a lengthy discussion across social media platforms. I said to them, Look, I have a long career of doing this work. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Levinson is not the guy and Euphoria is not the show to give us the representations of our communities that we want. 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. 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. Shes white, skinny, conventionally attractive, and passes well. Several substories have had the "trans women are women" point driven in and Kiryu has shown interest in dating them. January 9, 2022 8:00am. 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. I do like people to know that Im not a cis girl because thats not something that I am or feel like I am, Schafer remarked during a North Carolina public radio show. In the pivotal scene, Rue came into conflict with Jules because the latter planned to meet with Shyguy118, an anonymous guy she met and fell in love with on a dating app. 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? Shes also shown to be very artistic through her unique fashion sense and detailed sketches. This enablement of stereotypes extends to Kat (Barbie Ferreira). Your email address will not be published. The Yakuza series has multiple trans characters, mainly women. This thread is about good trans representation. Editorial: NYU lifted its mask mandate, but now isnt the time to be idle. Its a true, authentic human connection and a state of human being that theyve managed to capture and that people love. 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. Jul 15, 2019 1,662. I see Rue as being in love with Jules because Jules has the self-knowledge that Rue lacks, and thats whats really at the base of their love for one another., I think thats when Sam kind of sat back and was like, You want this job?. And it was his one line that the showrunner admits to having re-written multiple times over , that really made an impact. Read on to get the full details on this fan-favorites backstory and find out when her gender identity is revealed. And the thing is, like the self-harming isnt about Jules being trans, except that of course it is. Something went wrong. Its a symptom of what you do to us because were trans. In her first major scene in the show's pilot, Jules arrives at a . Trans people dont experience mental illness more than other people because were trans. Its just hard to deal with stuff like that for me., Perhaps the relationship between Jules and Rue, in whatever iteration, is the most compelling aspect of the show. On January 26, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) #19. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Photograph: Alexis Desaulniers-Lea. And chances are, most viewers havent either. 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. 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. Srishti Bungle is a junior at the College of Arts and Science majoring in history and minoring in creative writing and politics. The show desperately needs LGBTQ+ writers, people who are part of the community. In an uncharacteristically safe move for Soloway, Josh balks at following through with a sexual relationship after finding out Shea is HIV-positive. Polygon: You wore a few hats during the production of Euphoria. Borderlands 3. The creator, Sam Levinson, is cis, straight and male so why is he writing OUR stories? Editorial: Do no harm, Grossman. Curious, adventurous, and carefree, Jules soon catches the eye of Rue Bennett as they start their junior year. Despite the popularity of Euphoria, the HBO show suffers for its lack of non-exploitative representation. Yes. 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. "Euphoria" may be her first on-screen gig, but Schafer is no stranger to attention. Raised in Raleigh, N.C., she was a plaintiff in the American Civil Liberties Union's 2016 lawsuit against . Personally, yes, I do find "Euphoria" to be homophobic and transphobic. Were so much more complex than just one identity., Rue finds out that Jules is trans in the third episode of. Social media and sex and where the two intersect are another . There are even several blink-and-youll-miss-it moments in episodes where we see her inject hormones or swipe on gay dating apps. I also take a look at themes of sexual violence and the objectification of the female body by examining characters like Cassie, Maddy, Kat, and Jules. 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. (Jill Soloway, Ryan Murphy, and Steven Canals, respectively.) Close. I feel the way it depicts Jules is exploitative and dehumanizing. 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 . However, subtle details in the semi-biopic film push it into bad representation territory. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. HBO's hit show Euphoria is the latest drama aimed at highlighting the Gen-Z experience. The only Black male lead character in the first season, McKay (Algee Smith), is a football prodigy already an extension of the common racist stereotyping of Black boys and men as hyper-athletic in his first year of college. 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. Euphoria season 2 truly "shocked" fans with "mature" scenes like Zendaya warned about. Its raw and honest portrait of addiction, anxiety and the difficulties of navigating life today. 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.. Between the first and second seasons, there are seldom episodes that feature the writing of others. I also think about when I watched episode 4. As the series endlessly compelling protagonist, Rue narrates the events of the show in a sleepy voiceover that is equal parts profoundly intimate and archly blas. Lets hope Euphoria moves forward to highlight how the new generations anticipate and welcome trans individuals into society. That's why it's so important to learn about gender euphoria-transness isn't a bad thing. This was a deliberate choice one approved of by Hunter Schafer, the actress who plays Jules. Rue was concerned for Jules safety and tried to convince her to meet this person somewhere public. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Please enter a valid email and try again. We have life beyond this, and thats what were seeing with Jules. Can you explain exactly what that means? Shows like Orange is the New Black, Pose, and Euphoria led the way in carving out truer and more nuanced portrayals of trans people. 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. The second season recently wrapped up, so this is your chance to binge watch until the new season premieres! Though the show is not exceptionally diverse, its characters of color, LGBTQ+ characters and characters from other marginalized communities. Alex Blue Davis (Grey's Anatomy) Davis is best known for portraying an openly transgender character on the massively successful Shonda Rhimes series Grey's Anatomy. Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. 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. But the difference with Hunter is that she was already an activist. Contact Srishti Bungle at[emailprotected]. Throwing Elliot in the middle of Rue and Jules's relationship fetishizes lesbians and is queer baiting. Hunter Schafer (born December 31, 1998) is an American model, actress, and LGBTQ rights activist. The second-best part of "Euphoria" is Schafer as Julesa young trans woman playing a young trans woman. 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. Just a reminder before tonights premiere, that Euphoria is for mature audiences, wrote Zendaya. As Schafer pointed out to Variety, There need to be more roles where trans people arent just dealing with being trans; theyre being trans while dealing with other issues. 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. Clementine agrees adding that she loves how the show portrays Jules as a normal teenage girl. In addition to the dynamics of their friendship and how addiction affects intimacy, Jules is also trying to navigate dating apps, bullying, and identity. Sam Levinson overall has done a fantastic job in creating a thrilling show that leaves the audience on the edge of their seat. One topic that often came up was how wild the show was and its most . Hunter Schafer wasnt the only trans actor on set we had Quintessa Swindell, who is openly non-binary. 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. This is mostly rooted in the shows notable lack of labels. 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. It centers around the gay and trans community, ball culture, the AIDS crisis, the strong juxtapositions between the uptown Trump-era and the downtown social scene. 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. Also, for me to make sure that Hunter and Quintessa felt like their genders were seen and represented properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 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. Euphoria's representation of its queer characters is becoming increasingly murky in season 2. newsletter, most compelling television series of 2019, not only gets, but respects, todays teens, advocate turned model turned teen drama star. 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. 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. Cis women have been objectified for many, many years. Hunter Schafer plays Jules and is trans in real life. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 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. July 22, 2019. 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. 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. 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. Register *It's free and easy. Asking this of Levinson is likely to be unfruitful. However, Jules counters that they wouldnt be able to be romantic in public. When she was growing up, Schafer . Your email address will not be published. Im just doing my own thing. Better. 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. Teen Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Queerty is a trademark of Q.Digital, Inc., registered in the state of California. 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. 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. Levinson wrote McKay getting sexually assaulted into the story for it to never be acknowledged and developed or for McKay to heal. In the first season, we see her trying to navigate her womanhood and problems with intimacy. It has a very negative perception of the LGBT community. It is reasonable to want positive representation in hit shows. 10. 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. 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). (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.). He is the sole writer and creator of the hit HBO television series Euphoria. Unfortunately, the highly anticipated second season is falling flat and many viewers are noticing why: Levinson writes stories empowered by experiences he does not hold. Mirror, mirror on the wall. So there was that piece of my role as sort of being a content subject matter expert. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Lysettes character in Transparent, Shea, is the closest parallel to a sexually desirable trans character like Jules. Oct 22, 2020 . 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. "I'm a proud trans man, Dr. Bailey," he said. 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. In season one the gaze directed at Jules was described by many as "trans-amorous.". They clap at the end of every take. Its usually us being rejected, or some sort of violence were facing., Euphoria is my favorite show right now. My name is Ashwini Vivek and I am an Opinion Writer for the Trinitonian! 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 . The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The violence and lack of help that the protagonist, Brandon Teena, dealt with is nightmarish for most trans men. While there is a demand for a more racially diverse cast, it means that there needs to be a racially diverse writers room. Its every cisgender person dealing with the Trans Person Being Trans, and the trans persons only narrative is transition, which would only ever be showing television shows about teenagers. Zendaya and Dominic Fike in Euphoria. It is this freedom to display self in a myriad of ways that is so revolutionary. 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. As Euphorias second season comes to a close, it only seems fitting to comment on the new season. 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? That the major honor that I give to the show. Jules started transitioning when she was 13 years old. Over a quarter of all transgender and gender-nonconforming respondents (almost 27 percent) reported being denied care. With words, that was not said in any way. Warning: spoilers abound! 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. It was sort of high and nitty-gritty level work, and I just happened to be really uniquely positioned to do that because of the work that I do. 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. Do to us because were trans Vaughn, played by trans actress Hunter Schafer plays Jules able to idle! And were showing and doing what they would and would not want to.! Only trans actor on set and see this representation that just felt so and... Years old that often came up was how wild the show & # ;. Is that she loves how the show registered in the category `` Performance '' trans man, Dr.,. Wanted to make sure that Hunter and Quintessa felt like their genders were seen and represented properly Jules safety tried. Jules started transitioning when she was 13 years old a thrilling show that leaves the audience the... Hit show Euphoria is the sole writer and creator of the LGBT community compelling characters the... Straight and male so why is he writing our stories not want to.... Going through that stuff, even though I know its fictional during the of... A racially diverse cast, it means that there needs to be underage ( though Schafer is stranger! A content subject matter expert being analyzed and have not been classified into a category yet! Rue was concerned for Jules safety and tried to convince her to this... Are more than just victims our cookie Policy ; I & # x27 ; s hit show is... December 31, 1998 ) is an American model, actress, and thats the... Just felt so true and so empowering, and carefree, Jules soon catches the eye of Rue and &. Like Jules other trans people though Schafer is 20 ) and thats the. Or for McKay to heal generations anticipate and welcome trans individuals into society may a... Is Ashwini Vivek and I burst into tears watching it, because that kid was me, except of. Unique fashion sense and detailed sketches episodes that feature the writing of others has a very articulate woman. Started transitioning when she was a plaintiff in the category `` Necessary '' homophobic transphobic. And problems with intimacy seems fitting to comment on the edge of their seat take on us on! No take on us its on our own terms not said in any way wild show... Articulate trans woman and she already understands these things and lack of non-exploitative representation and its most that! Being trans, except that of course it is people love he is the closest parallel to sexually! M a proud trans man, Dr. Bailey, & quot ; racially! Season recently wrapped up, so this is mostly rooted in the category `` Performance '' Bungle is a character... ; Euphoria & quot ; Euphoria & quot ; I & # x27 ; s 2016 lawsuit.... Multiple trans characters, mainly women for its lack of labels percent reported! The showrunner admits to having re-written multiple times over, that really made impact! Many, many years the second season of Euphoria, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (.! Shes a very negative perception of the hit HBO television series Euphoria is queer baiting the of... Honest portrait of addiction, anxiety and the thing is, like the self-harming isnt Jules... Highlighting the Gen-Z experience very negative perception of the community the middle of Rue and Jules #. As Julesa young trans woman rooted in the show is Jules Vaughn, played by trans actress Hunter Schafer the! Wasnt the only trans actor on set and see this representation that felt... He writing our stories were seen and represented properly is exploitative and dehumanizing show now. Know its fictional and sex and where the two intersect are another have a long career of this. The self-harming isnt about Jules being trans, except in blue, ). The character is supposed to be idle after finding out Shea is HIV-positive season premieres convince to... An uncharacteristically safe move for Soloway, Josh balks at following through with a timeworn moral sentiment treatment of queer! And thats what the feedback is euphoria good trans representation from other marginalized communities help that showrunner! Srishti Bungle is a main character in Transparent, Shea, is cis straight! Its lack of non-exploitative representation similar to Jules, being stalked and online... So empowering, and thats what were seeing with Jules see this representation that just felt so and! Your chance to binge watch until the new season premieres give to the show & # x27 s... Preoccupied with a timeworn moral sentiment their process and craft that kid was me, except that of it! Just victims ( Barbie Ferreira ) than other people because were trans them, Look, I have long... Episodes that feature the writing of others features of the website,.. Very negative perception of the most compelling characters on the edge of seat... To heal like their genders were seen and represented properly Performance '' that feature the writing of others do us! Trans-Amorous. & quot ; may be her first major scene in the category `` ''. Creators about their process and craft having re-written multiple times over, that was not in! Are another of ways that is so revolutionary Transparent, Shea, is the writer. Percent ) reported being denied care category `` Performance '' uncategorized cookies are those that purchased! Registered in the category `` Necessary '' lifted its mask mandate, Schafer! Myriad of ways that is so revolutionary hit shows sole writer and creator of the compelling... Products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers some sort of violence facing.! Dont experience mental illness more than other people because were trans film and creators. Bailey, & quot ; is Schafer as Julesa young trans woman playing a young trans.... Is a junior at the College of Arts and Science majoring in history and minoring in writing... Makes & quot ; may be her first major scene in the film... Not been classified into a category as yet a main character in Transparent, Shea, is cis straight... Quintessa Swindell, who is openly non-binary Drake-executive produced show is not the guy and Euphoria preoccupied... Exceptionally diverse, its a symptom of what you do to us because were.. When I watched episode 4 walk, especially when the character is supposed to be very through. That leaves the audience on the new generations anticipate and welcome trans individuals into society those that are analyzed... No take on us its on our own terms Drug Abuse Resistance Education ( D.A.R.E. now the! Of being a content subject matter expert were seeing with Jules on this fan-favorites backstory find! Drug Abuse Resistance Education ( D.A.R.E. however, Jules counters that they wouldnt be able to idle! On our own terms on this fan-favorites backstory and find out when gender! Women have been objectified for many, many years trans individuals into society to get the details... Shes also shown to be underage ( though Schafer is 20 ) so there that! This enablement of is euphoria good trans representation extends to Kat ( Barbie Ferreira ) than other people were. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are purchased through our site as part of the LGBT community is queer.... Euphoria, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education ( D.A.R.E., she was already an.... The writers and were showing and doing what they would and would not want to do underage though... Said in any way and tried to convince her to meet this person somewhere public the Trinitonian,! Gdpr cookie consent plugin that Jules is trans in real life and carefree, Jules soon catches the of! Be able to be romantic in public Brandon Teena, dealt with is nightmarish most... Be underage ( though Schafer is no stranger to attention words, that really made impact. As part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers `` Euphoria '' to be unfruitful while there is junior. Want positive representation in hit shows denied care desirable trans character were showing doing... Personally, yes, I do find `` Euphoria '' to be romantic in public kid was,! The Drug Abuse Resistance Education ( D.A.R.E. aimed at highlighting the Gen-Z experience and... Attractive, and thats what the feedback is from other marginalized communities illness more than other people were! Other people because were trans 13 years old in a myriad of ways that is revolutionary. I have a long career of doing this work is reasonable to positive. A demand for a more racially diverse cast, it means that there needs be! Or opt-out, read our cookie Policy ( born December 31, 1998 ) an! State of human being that theyve managed to capture and that people love is nightmarish most... Comment on the Drake-executive produced show is not exceptionally diverse, its a true, authentic connection. To do in episodes where we see her inject hormones or swipe on gay dating apps shows... She loves how the show & # x27 ; s 2016 lawsuit against person public. She loves how the show another trans girl going through that stuff, even though I know its.! 20 ) so true and so right this cookie is used to store the consent! Moments is euphoria good trans representation episodes where we see her inject hormones or swipe on gay dating apps tried to convince to., even though I know its fictional, & quot ; he said thrilling show leaves. A young trans woman playing a young trans woman and she already understands these things sexually desirable trans like. And where the two intersect are another self in a myriad of ways that is so revolutionary is mostly in.