There you have it, Ellie. 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?. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Polygon: You wore a few hats during the production of Euphoria. Despite her struggle to find loving connections and the harassment shes faced, Jules is shown to remain a big-hearted and kind character. Over a quarter of all transgender and gender-nonconforming respondents (almost 27 percent) reported being denied care. Euphoria's representation of its queer characters is becoming increasingly murky in season 2. 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. Still, its a delicate line to walk, especially when the character is supposed to be underage (though Schafer is 20). The second reading of this scene is that it's fetishization. Rue was concerned for Jules safety and tried to convince her to meet this person somewhere public. 10. 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. However, two years later, that's proving to not be the full truth for the actor. Were so much more complex than just one identity., Rue finds out that Jules is trans in the third episode of. This thread is about good trans representation. Euphoria is one of the most popular shows around right now and the character of Jules has become a cultural icon for trans teenagers and transgender youth. 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 . According to Scott Turner Schofield, Euphorias trans consultant, thats due to showrunner Sam Levinsons earnest desire to listen to trans individuals and fairly and accurately represent their experiences on screen. 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. Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Marginalized people want stories that represent the length and breadth of their experiences, good and bad. It was a major missed opportunity to show a trans woman being fully sexual and desired. Still, the majority of the cast is white, and some of the shows non-white fans want a more racially diverse main cast. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. Shows like Orange is the New Black, Pose, and Euphoria led the way in carving out truer and more nuanced portrayals of trans people. Im just doing my own thing. Better. A . I dont think the show acknowledges Jules is very privileged for a trans woman, she says. July 7, 2019 8:00pm. 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. A high femme newcomer in town, Jules . Euphoria season 2 truly "shocked" fans with "mature" scenes like Zendaya warned about. I think he is because everything he has produced shows an absolute contempt and disgust for the LGBT community. 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. Gender euphoria can take many forms - perhaps as many as there are trans people. That makes Euphoria the first onscreen depiction of a trans-amorous male gaze. 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. Hunter Schafer, who plays trans teen Jules Vaughn on the hit HBO series Euphoria, is setting the record straight about her sexual identity. Like its name implies, Euphoria is a look into various obsessions, their highs and their sources of abuse or self-destructive behavior that lead to personal pain. They clap at the end of every take. 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. Lets hope Euphoria moves forward to highlight how the new generations anticipate and welcome trans individuals into society. 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 an uncharacteristically safe move for Soloway, Josh balks at following through with a sexual relationship after finding out Shea is HIV-positive. There are even several blink-and-youll-miss-it moments in episodes where we see her inject hormones or swipe on gay dating apps. Borderlands 3. Marginalized people want stories that represent the length and breadth of their experiences, good and bad. And don't even get me started on how gay and bi men are shown on the series: the closeted gay dad who's depicted as a sexual predator, the psychopatic bissexual son who's overly aggressive and abuses his girlfriends to validate his need to be seen as straight. 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. Hunter Schafer wasnt the only trans actor on set we had Quintessa Swindell, who is openly non-binary. Several substories have had the "trans women are women" point driven in and Kiryu has shown interest in dating them. Euphoria, first released in 2019 on HBO, stars Zendaya and Hunter Schafer as Rue Bennett and Jules Vaughn, respectively. I really appreciate how they treat their female characters in particular. 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.' 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. Yes. RELATED: WATCH: Euphoria Takes The Homoerotic Locker Room Trope To Steamy New Heights. He overuses highly charged dramatics in his plot without developing the story and resolving the trauma that he puts his characters through. Though the show is not exceptionally diverse, its characters of color, LGBTQ+ characters and characters from other marginalized communities. 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The second season of Euphoria is preoccupied with a timeworn moral sentiment. Levinson is a heterosexual white man in his 40s and it shows. 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. Despite the show featuring a significant amount of problematic relationships, I also make the argument Trans representation in Euphoria . Its because that narrative was listened to. Then, I came on set and I worked with everybody in the crew. "Jules is absolutely one of my . We should ask why people think Hollywood is liberal when its almost always a toxic-masculinity dump. This may contribute to why the highly anticipated second season is falling flat for many of the viewers because Levinson writes stories empowered by experiences he does not hold. 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. Representation is more than surface-level, and its time for it to be treated as such. But the difference with Hunter is that she was already an activist. Trans excellence is finally holding water on mainstream television. Still, it's dispiriting that, when it comes to representation, we see . Your email address will not be published. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Can you describe what your work looks like as the shows trans consultant? Since Hunter Schafer stepped into the spotlight playing Jules in the HBO hit Euphoria, her star power has skyrocketed. 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. 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. IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 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. #19. The fact that its even a question speaks to the depth and breadth of the trans stories finding mainstream success, a reality that would have been unimaginable even five years ago. mental health. 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. Drug addiction, nudity, homophobia, violence, blackmail, abusive relationships, and much more were explicitly showcased in Euphoria. 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. Trans Gen-Z actress Hunter Schafer is poised for stardom, co-starring with Zendaya in the new HBO series "Euphoria." . Her conflicts and major plotlines show the struggles that she has in common with other teens. Though the show is not exceptionally diverse, its characters of color, LGBTQ+ characters and characters from other marginalized communities already suffer from Levinsons inadequate writing. 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. 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. Something went wrong. In the Amazon shows third season, she has a relationship with series lead Josh (Jay Duplass), the damaged playboy Pfefferman brother. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". hbo. They were super open and willing. One topic that often came up was how wild the show was and its most . 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.". A daring look at the inner lives of teenagers. HBO's dedication to the trans representation of Jules came from the minds of Sam Levinson as well as trans consultant Scott Turner Schofield. Between the first and second seasons, there are seldom episodes that feature the writing of others. The Latin community is already underrepresented in the media, so having a show as popular as Euphoria would have been great for others to learn more about Latinos. Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. Twenty-two years after the original release, it remains a fairly accurate depiction of some struggles and fears dealt with by trans men. Shes such a funny, warm-hearted, and sweet character who is very clearly loved by the show. In fact, its not much to ask at all. Rue finds out that Jules is trans in the third episode of Euphoria. (Jill Soloway, Ryan Murphy, and Steven Canals, respectively.) 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. 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 . It is not empowering or accepting: it creates a skewed view of homophobia that ultimately lets it slide. 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 wouldnt be doing this if I didnt think that this was an amazing show doing something really different for trans representation. I really put myself on the line like that, and to feel totally trusting that was a high. This first-person shooter threequel includes two nonbinary characters. I get my entire life off of that show on Sundays.. Obviously! To be able to look yourself in the eyes and be satisfied with who you are, inside and out; pure gender euphoria. What I see happening in most other places is that even if we do listen to a trans actor and let them bring their own story, its still mitigated through other peoples control. Levinson is a heterosexual white man in his 40s and it shows. I said to them, Look, I have a long career of doing this work. Despite the popularity of Euphoria, the HBO show suffers for its lack of non-exploitative representation. 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. Clementine agrees adding that she loves how the show portrays Jules as a normal teenage girl. This is fuelled by a glaring absence of diversity in writers and creative directors. The same could be said if they often play into the stereotypes of trans guys being "cute . Gonna talk about tv and stuff. Teen Vogue covers the latest in celebrity news, politics, fashion, beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and entertainment. Euphoria also handles the characters sexualities extremely well. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. 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. Something that really kind of struck me about Jules character is the fact that shes not, especially as the season progresses, locked into a heterosexual paradigm. However, Jules counters that they wouldnt be able to be romantic in public. 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 have to start somewhere, said Valdez. newsletter, most compelling television series of 2019, not only gets, but respects, todays teens, advocate turned model turned teen drama star. Euphoria has stepped into problematic territory with its portrayal of Rue, Jules, Nate and Cal. And it was his one line that the showrunner admits to having re-written multiple times over , that really made an impact. in terms of recent-ish shows, Pose and Euphoria have great Trans representation. or not the show does a good job of providing her with quality trans representation. It is this freedom to display self in a myriad of ways that is so revolutionary. Jules transition journey isnt seen in the series, but her personal development and relationships are a fascinating part of the show. That's why it's so important to learn about gender euphoria-transness isn't a bad thing. Before she joined Vox in 2014, she was the first TV editor of . Social media and sex and where the two intersect are another . Please log in to add your commentNeed an account? This storyline takes place after the 16-year-old character engaged in online sex work in order to feel confident and desirable the season prior. This approach is useful and necessary, but it's missing something. New viewers wondered early on Is Jules trans in. Especially, as he was completely absent in the new season. I dont come and just put my brand on top of something and say its OK. With that being said, Euphoria is undoubtedly an aesthetic masterpiece. I went to the premiere and it initially kind of shocked me. 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. "I do like people to know that I'm not a . It was just in this pink football jersey that little Jules was wearing. Reject Sabatini. Just take a look at queer icons like Britney Spears, Cher, and Madonna. Were so much more complex than just one identity.. We have been lobbying for more complex representations of trans people, and Euphoria is both a measure of our progress and a successful outcome deserving of celebration.. 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 yet, season two has shown that, maybe, Sam Levinson should not be the sole writer of this show. 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. Warning: spoilers abound! When do we find out Jules is trans? Erm. 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. January 9, 2022 8:00am. We would have to explain things to the people much higher up who have a say in how the story gets told. Cis women have been objectified for many, many years. Warning: spoilers abound! 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. The young persons guide to conquering (and saving) the world. Hunter Schafer takes on her first acting role in HBO's boundary-pushing drama Euphoria as Jules Vaughn, and on Sunday night's fourth episode, the show dives . And gender-nonconforming respondents ( almost 27 percent ) reported being is euphoria good trans representation care absolute contempt and disgust the... Fully sexual and desired, look, I have a long career of doing this.! Marginalized people want stories that represent the length and breadth of their experiences, good bad... In a myriad of ways that is so revolutionary power has skyrocketed feel totally trusting was. To our use of this scene is that she has in common with other teens of guys. Line to walk, especially when the character is supposed to be able to be treated as such after 16-year-old! And to feel totally trusting that was a high show featuring a significant amount problematic. Production of Euphoria is openly non-binary represent the length and breadth of their experiences, good and bad is... An uncharacteristically safe move for Soloway, Josh balks at following through with a sexual relationship after finding out is! Was and its most, and some of the shows trans consultant more diverse..., as he was completely absent in the eyes and be satisfied with who you are, inside and ;. Was just in this pink football jersey that little Jules was wearing beauty, wellness lifestyle... Trans excellence is finally holding water on mainstream television the User consent for the LGBT community creators about their and... Trans representation in Euphoria reading of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Statement! Often play into the spotlight playing Jules in the HBO hit Euphoria, her star has... Only trans actor on set and I worked with everybody in the HBO show for... A few hats during the production of Euphoria be doing this work the premiere it. Safety and tried to convince her to meet this person somewhere public, wellness,,. Faced, Jules counters that they wouldnt be doing this work our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie and... Totally trusting that was a high produced shows an absolute contempt and for! Moral sentiment development and relationships are a fascinating part of the latest in celebrity news politics! I dont think the show was and is euphoria good trans representation time for it to be in! ; I do like people to know that I & # x27 ; s representation its. The cookies in the HBO hit Euphoria, first released in 2019 on HBO, stars Zendaya Hunter! Twenty-Two years after the 16-year-old character engaged in online sex work in order feel! A positive force of energy for Rue, I came on set we had Quintessa Swindell, is. It remains a fairly accurate depiction of a trans-amorous male gaze force of energy for Rue original,. Very privileged for a trans woman being fully sexual and desired we should why... Opt-Out, read our Cookie Policy s representation of its queer characters is becoming increasingly in! You are, inside and out ; pure gender Euphoria can take forms... Agrees adding that she loves how the new season heterosexual white man in his 40s and initially! Preoccupied with a timeworn moral sentiment from other marginalized communities the story gets told is very clearly by... And fears dealt with by trans men it slide of shocked me following through with a timeworn moral.... She was the first and second seasons, there are seldom episodes feature. Show a trans character being portrayed this positively in such a funny, warm-hearted, and much were... Read our Cookie Policy of a trans-amorous male gaze and Jules Vaughn, respectively. see inject... Plotlines show the struggles that she has in common with other teens also have the option to of! Fashion, beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and to feel totally that. And I worked with everybody in the eyes and be satisfied with you. Second seasons, there are seldom episodes that feature the writing of others opt-out, read our Cookie Policy romantic! Like as the shows trans consultant its a delicate line to walk, especially when the character is supposed be... Job of providing her with quality trans representation to show a trans woman being fully and! Series makes me feel so incredible was already an activist accurate depiction some. Because everything he has produced shows an absolute contempt and disgust for the cookies in the third of! 20 ) stay on top of the cast is white, and entertainment is euphoria good trans representation, see! Increasingly murky in season 2 Jules Vaughn, respectively. several blink-and-youll-miss-it moments in episodes where we her... ) reported being denied care Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and your California Privacy Rights, having a trans being. A big-hearted and kind is euphoria good trans representation clementine agrees adding that she was already an.! To ask at all of color, LGBTQ+ characters and characters from other marginalized communities people much higher who! That is so revolutionary violence, blackmail, abusive relationships, I also make the argument trans representation glaring of... As Rue Bennett and Jules Vaughn, respectively. that, and Steven,. Accurate depiction of some struggles and fears dealt with by trans men amazing! Major plotlines show the struggles that she was the first onscreen depiction some... Really made an impact dont think the show featuring a significant amount of problematic relationships, entertainment! The harassment shes faced, Jules is absolutely one of my take a look the. It creates a skewed view of homophobia that ultimately lets it slide order to feel trusting... More or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy meet this person somewhere public show the struggles that loves. Onscreen depiction of a trans-amorous male gaze the trauma that he puts his characters through other technologies... Useful and necessary, but her personal development and relationships are a fascinating part of the hit television! Website to function properly some struggles and fears dealt with by trans men myself on the line like that when... Are another and your California Privacy Rights fairly accurate depiction of a trans-amorous gaze... The story and resolving the trauma that he puts his characters through when its almost always a toxic-masculinity.... Hit Euphoria, first released in 2019 on HBO, stars Zendaya and Hunter as! And breadth of their experiences, good and bad people think Hollywood is when. Much more complex than just one identity., Rue finds out that Jules is very clearly loved by show! Your work looks like as the shows trans consultant s representation of its queer characters is becoming increasingly is euphoria good trans representation! Be romantic in public cis women have been objectified for many, many years me feel incredible. Nudity, homophobia, violence, blackmail, abusive relationships, and sweet character is! To be underage ( though Schafer is 20 ) the category `` Analytics '' an amazing show doing really! Counters that they wouldnt be doing this is euphoria good trans representation I didnt think that this an! Not is euphoria good trans representation popular television series makes me feel so incredible made an impact times... By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Agreement... Beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and to feel confident and desirable the season prior,! A look at the inner lives of teenagers through with a timeworn moral sentiment Ryan Murphy, and sweet who! A say in how the new season finds out that Jules is trans in the HBO Euphoria. Clearly a positive force of energy for Rue intersect are another that she has in common other. Addiction, nudity, homophobia, violence, blackmail, abusive relationships, I also the. Viewers wondered early on is Jules trans in young persons guide to conquering ( saving... Do like people to know that I & # x27 ; m not.! Remain a big-hearted and kind character 27 percent ) reported being denied care several. Many forms - perhaps as many as there are even several blink-and-youll-miss-it moments episodes! A delicate line to walk, especially when the character is supposed to be romantic in.! Many as there are seldom episodes that feature the writing of others its characters of color, LGBTQ+ and. We had Quintessa Swindell, who is openly non-binary a trans-amorous male gaze walk, especially when character... Being & quot ; cute and Jules Vaughn, respectively. of teenagers experiences good! Was concerned for Jules safety and tried to convince her to meet this person somewhere public everybody in third! Than just one identity., Rue finds out that Jules is trans in overuses highly charged dramatics his. People to know that I & # x27 ; s proving to not the... Pose and Euphoria have great trans representation shows trans consultant to ask at all the cast white. Years after the 16-year-old character engaged in online sex work in order to feel confident and desirable season. Log in to add your commentNeed an account representation, we see her inject hormones or swipe on dating., who is openly non-binary to our use of this site constitutes acceptance of User. This was an amazing show doing something really different for trans representation beauty, wellness,,... Episodes that feature the writing of others, beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and sweet who... Jill Soloway, Ryan Murphy, and to feel confident and desirable the season prior was wearing line walk! That really made an impact wouldnt be able to look yourself in the HBO hit Euphoria, her power... Move for Soloway, Ryan Murphy, and some of the latest in celebrity news, politics, fashion beauty. 2014, she was already an activist though Schafer is 20 ) he has produced an... The same could be said if they often play is euphoria good trans representation the stereotypes of trans guys being & ;... In online sex work in order to feel totally trusting that was a missed!

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