If you haven't heard about Orange is the New Black 's stunning portrayal of a black trans woman in prison, portrayed by the brilliant . They look at it and decide how they want to deal with us. Because of these little hints, viewers wondered, Is Jules from. Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. Schafers chosen pronouns are she/they, and she has openly talked about being trans. Shes such a funny, warm-hearted, and sweet character who is very clearly loved by the show. Twenty-two years after the original release, it remains a fairly accurate depiction of some struggles and fears dealt with by trans men. Oct 22, 2020 . Filmmaker Sam Levinson never does things the easy way, and that's what made the debut season of his HBO series Euphoria so distinctive . There are further issues beyond the show's complicated trans representation. Before she joined Vox in 2014, she was the first TV editor of . Photos Courtesy of HBO TV Features Euphoria. Srishti Bungle is a junior at the College of Arts and Science majoring in history and minoring in creative writing and politics. Gonna talk about tv and stuff. 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. Euphoria. Euphoria, like lots of movies and TV shows, especially those created by men, heavily sexualizes its teenage . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Teen Vogue covers the latest in celebrity news, politics, fashion, beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and entertainment. 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. They really listened and they really represented as opposed to appropriating it for the sake of being trendy and looking cool, and you can always tell when shows do that because [the representation] is never quite right. When do we find out Jules is trans? 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). Personally, yes, I do find "Euphoria" to be homophobic and transphobic. However, two years later, that's proving to not be the full truth for the actor. All Rights Reserved. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". We have life beyond this, and thats what were seeing with Jules. Editorial: NYU lifted its mask mandate, but now isnt the time to be idle. Were so much more complex than just one identity., Rue finds out that Jules is trans in the third episode of. Almost every episode was followed by a lengthy discussion across social media platforms. Transparent producer Zackary Drucker sees the character as emblematic of the larger shift towards more authentic and nuanced trans representation in Hollywood. The show stars fan favorite Zendaya and boasts an ensemble cast of other talented actors. Also, the show could better about sexual representation. Eddy Chen/HBO. 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. "I do like people to know that I'm not a . The second-best part of "Euphoria" is Schafer as Julesa young trans woman playing a young trans woman. With words, that was not said in any way. Theres no take on us its on our own terms. 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. Tragically, Kat does not get the chance to recover from this traumatic experience and is instead reduced to a. Levinson is a heterosexual white man in his 40s and it shows. 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. Despite the show featuring a significant amount of problematic relationships, I also make the argument Luckily, representation of trans characters has improved with time. PHoto: Courtesy of HBO. In a piece for i-D, 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. For her activism against the HB2, Teen Vogue listed Schafer on its "21 Under 21" list in 2017. 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. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Hide Gif. I truly believe that the thing that makes cis people love and admire trans people so much is the fact that we understand something really deep about ourselves, and thats actually really special. If you want to objectify me, objectify me. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Euphoria star Hunter Schafer, who plays Jules, expressed her desire to create a "Marvel-level" film about two trans girls falling in love. "Jules is absolutely one of my . 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. Cis women have been objectified for many, many years. Editorial: Do no harm, Grossman. I'm a senior Computer Science major and a Classical Studies minor from Newton, North Carolina with a passion for art. 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 . Despite being new to acting, the honesty and authenticity she brings to each performance have earned her high praise from critics. Having that kind of communicated authenticity combined with the fact that Jules narrative is only barely tied to her trans identity what do you think sets her character arc apart from other trans narratives that we see on TV? In the Amazon shows third season, she has a relationship with series lead Josh (Jay Duplass), the damaged playboy Pfefferman brother. I dont think the show acknowledges Jules is very privileged for a trans woman, she says. 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. What we see on TV right now is very much where our mainstream culture is. Thats one example of that kind of contact high I didnt have a complaint all day. Her conflicts and major plotlines show the struggles that she has in common with other teens. Sam took me to the edit booth and showed me the opening to episode 4 where Jules is a child, and its really hard. Taylor Swift Tarot Will Help You Understand Your Beautiful Ghosts. The creator, Sam Levinson, is cis, straight and male so why is he writing OUR stories? 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.' 26. Schafer, like Jules, is a trans and queer woman with acute insight into Jules character and what she might be feeling throughout the show by virtue of experience. 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?. He is manipulative and aggressive toward his wife, children and anyone who threatens to reveal his sexuality, using his power and wealth to threaten and demean anyone he deems less than him. 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. Shes white, skinny, conventionally attractive, and passes well. At this point, Ill take what I can get. "Pose" will undoubtedly leave a hole when it comes to transgender . 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. 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. That makes Euphoria the first trans show to employ a straight male gaze, the term coined by Laura Mulvey and popularized by Soloway. Jules is depicted as mentally unstable, her depiction rooted in negative cliches of what trans people are. Warning: spoilers abound! 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. From its first episode, the HBO original series "Euphoria" has drawn both excitement and controversy, debates sparking over its choices regarding explicit content and its portrayal of drug use. Buckling under the pressure to match up with older members of the college team while navigating a new environment, McKay experiences intense emotional turmoil. Sam Levinson overall has done a fantastic job in creating a thrilling show that leaves the audience on the edge of their seat. I also think about when I watched episode 4. Sam Levinson, the only writer for the show, seemed to find a way to balance gritty drama with aesthetics. 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. . Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Erm. Despite controversy, the HBO Original is a source of queer visibility, Ashwini Vivek, Opinion columnist|February 17, 2022. 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. Thats why its good. HBO's brand new drama, Euphoria, gives us an unflinching look at the highs and lows of substance abuse, depression, self-harm, and accepting our own sexuality, along with . I mean, it took everything: teaching people how to use they/them/their pronouns as a singular; making sure people understood that trans women are women; if someone asks you where to go to the bathroom, this is where you go. Despite her struggle to find loving connections and the harassment shes faced, Jules is shown to remain a big-hearted and kind character. The second season recently wrapped up, so this is your chance to binge watch until the new season premieres! While television shows Orange Is the New Black (OITNB) and Transparent have made headlines for their inclusion of trans performers and their debatably authentic takes on trans experiences, Euphoria signals a new era in trans representation, one that is defined by a "cool" trans aesthetic that epitomizes multiplatform television's investment in trans as an edgy brand marker. Under the current guidelines of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, hormone replacement therapy is reserved for children 16 and older, while puberty blockers are typically used for those under 16. 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. Euphoria has been renewed for a third season, with Schafer set to reprise her breakout role. Content warning: This article mentions sexual assault. The narrative in cinema and TV series has shown LGBTIQ+ people (lesbians, gays, bisexuals . (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.). Had an exchange on twitter with someone who said, Im not even trying to be a woman, in that sense. However, HBO must not only involve a more diverse cast, but also writers who can bring relevant perspectives to the table. Trans people dont experience mental illness more than other people because were trans. Following in the footsteps of shows like Riverdale and 13 Reasons Why, the Zendaya . Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Everybody wants to feel seen and everybody wants to know themselves, and thats what the show is really about. Rue was concerned for Jules safety and tried to convince her to meet this person somewhere public. Your email address will not be published. Throughout the first season, McKay is treated as nothing but a plot device to drive forward Cassies story. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. It is reasonable to want positive representation in hit shows. 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. 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. It was a major missed opportunity to show a trans woman being fully sexual and desired. 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. His character enduring something so traumatizing, even just to watch, just to be sidelined. When we see Jules in the series, she is a trans woman already comfortable in her gender identity. 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. Rue was concerned for Jules safety and tried to convince her to meet this person somewhere public. Member. It really brings people up to their stuff because its not a narrative that theyve seen before. Marginalized people want stories that represent the length and breadth of their experiences, good and bad. 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 . By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. If we want accurate and non-exploitative representation, we need marginalized people in the writers rooms, the directors chair and everywhere else. Trans women, especially trans women of color, face unprecedented levels of violence, often from sexual partners. I would go on set and see this representation that just felt so true and so right. Were so much more complex than just one identity.. Especially, as he was completely absent in the new season. but by Hunter Schafer, the actress who plays Jules, In season two, Sam Levinson tries to humanize this character. 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. Euphoria is a funhouse mirror, taking the very real experiences of present-day American teenagers and reflecting an exaggerated and dramatic image that tugs at the audiences emotions. It is this freedom to display self in a myriad of ways that is so revolutionary. Having queer individuals involved in the story and writing process of shows, not just Euphoria, allows for marginalized groups to have a way to tell their own stories, instead of people who have not gone through their experiences telling it for them. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Trans excellence is finally holding water on mainstream television. Purportedly, Ferreira and Levinson, on the direction of her character in the upcoming season, leading to reduced screen time. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". I went to the premiere and it initially kind of shocked me. While fundamentally flawed due to each having their own unresolved issues, they somehow still share a tender and romantic relationship without being sexualized in the way a lot of female/female relationships in media tend to be. 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. And one million people are watching. Warning: spoilers abound! This spring, she's the new face of Mugler's Angel Elixir . Photograph: Alexis Desaulniers-Lea. Jul 15, 2019 1,662. 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. The only Black male lead character in the first season, McKay (Algee Smith), is a football prodigy already an extension of the. Orange is the New Black (2013-2019) Netflix. But more than anything, it focuses on family and what that means when you get to pick . Emanating a manic pixie trans girl energy unlike anything seen onscreen before, Jules floats magically through every frame in which she appears. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Firstly, it is important to note that Euphoria is one of the most diverse shows on HBO at the moment, and at the same time it isnt. Euphoria was created by Sam Levinson; by all accounts a straight, cisgender, white guy who somehow made one of the most sexually fluid TV shows ever produced by Hollywood. On "Euphoria," the characters' digital and physical lives are constantly swirling around one another, usually in a downward spiral that ends in alienation and self-loathing. RELATED: 10 Best Quotes From Euphoria Season 2. Jules transition journey isnt seen in the series, but her personal development and relationships are a fascinating part of the show. His role as the only Black male lead is replaced by Elliot (Dominic Fike) in season two a drug addict, another racist stereotype. Register *It's free and easy. But they only got to hear it one more time: The series finale aired Sunday (10 p.m. EDT/PDT) after three groundbreaking seasons. 06.18.19. 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. I get my entire life off of that show on Sundays.. In just a few years, the runway model, activist for LGBTQIA+ rights and actress has become a recognizable name amongst teens and fashion industry professionals alike. Courtesy of HBO. Contact Srishti Bungle at[emailprotected]. Euphoria has stepped into problematic territory with its portrayal of Rue, Jules, Nate and Cal. Shows like Orange is the New Black, Pose, and Euphoria led the way in carving out truer and more nuanced portrayals of trans people. They were totally happy to be there and contribute to something. Shes a very articulate trans woman and she already understands these things. 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. This thread is about good trans representation. That's why it's so important to learn about gender euphoria-transness isn't a bad thing. Jules, the new kid at East Highland, is introduced to us at a house party gone awry when she runs into the schools jock, Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi). They are not mentioned once. There are even several blink-and-youll-miss-it moments in episodes where we see her inject hormones or swipe on gay dating apps. 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. Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. 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. Raised in Raleigh, N.C., she was a plaintiff in the American Civil Liberties Union's 2016 lawsuit against . It was just in this pink football jersey that little Jules was wearing. January 9, 2022 8:00am. , There need to be more roles where trans people arent just dealing with being trans; theyre being trans while dealing with other issues. I want to come on and play somebodys Auntie, said Transparent actress Trace Lysette, who is gearing up for the fall release of Hustlers, in which shell feature opposite Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu. Euphoria's representation of its queer characters is becoming increasingly murky in season 2. Asking this of Levinson is likely to be unfruitful. I had to work really carefully with their costumes and the head of wardrobe; we wanted to make sure that Quintessa felt really seen as non-binary person. 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. And one million people are watching. Pose is a fictional TV series set in New York City in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. 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. Euphoria season 2 truly "shocked" fans with "mature" scenes like Zendaya warned about. A weekly roundup of the best things from Polygon, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Euphorias trans consultant on why the series tells authentic trans stories, Sign up for the But am I saying Levinson is homophobic and transphobic? Oops. Your email address will not be published. Although many are appalled (myself included) by its graphic nature, it cannot be denied that the series paints a deeply authentic picture of queer people in a way that many shows have been unable to capture. IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. One of them was Cal Jacobs, Nates father, who didnt know she was a minor. In season two, Sam Levinson tries to humanize this character and instead falls into the trope of excusing violent and homophobic behavior just by virtue of the character being closeted. Just a reminder before tonights premiere, that Euphoria is for mature audiences, wrote Zendaya. 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. Shes introduced as Jules, not as the trans girl, but just a new girl who happens to be transgender. This turmoil peaks when McKay is sexually assaulted by members of his team and his fraternity brothers as part of a hazing ritual. Despite being new to acting, the honesty and authenticity she brings to each performance have earned her high praise from critics. 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. Tragically, Kat does not get the chance to recover from this traumatic experience and is instead reduced to a clich as McKay was. The second reading of this scene is that it's fetishization. representation has an elemental power. Its because that narrative was listened to. So, is Jules in Euphoria trans, and is it ever clearly stated in the series? A sensory overload. B. 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. All rights reserved. I dont trans-wash things. 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.
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