In the first season, we see her trying to navigate her womanhood and problems with intimacy. In addition to the dynamics of their friendship and how addiction affects intimacy, Jules is also trying to navigate dating apps, bullying, and identity. Hunter Schafer, who plays trans teen Jules Vaughn on the hit HBO series Euphoria, is setting the record straight about her sexual identity. 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. At this point, Ill take what I can get. 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. Throwing Elliot in the middle of Rue and Jules's relationship fetishizes lesbians and is queer baiting. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Yes. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. While there is a demand for a more racially diverse cast, it means that there needs to be a racially diverse writers room. Eddy Chen/HBO. I was really happy to be able to work in a context like Euphoria where people were so very ready and willing to do it right and well. It doesnt have anything to do with sexuality. Still, it's dispiriting that, when it comes to representation, we see . Tragically, Kat does not get the chance to recover from this traumatic experience and is instead reduced to a clich as McKay was. Trans actress Hunter Schafer is the series breakout star: An advocate turned model turned teen drama star, she infused Jules storyline with her own personal experiences. Euphoria and Pose offer two very different trans . I said to them, Look, I have a long career of doing this work. 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 . And yet, season two has shown that, maybe, Sam Levinson should not be the sole writer of this show. Pose is a fictional TV series set in New York City in the late 1980s and early 1990s. IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. However, HBO must not only involve a more diverse cast, but also writers who can bring relevant perspectives to the table. 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. Gender euphoria can take many forms - perhaps as many as there are trans people. One of the only Black characters, McKay (Algee Smith), is a football prodigy which fuels the already common stereotypes of Black men having to be hyper-athletic and hypemasculine was introduced in season one, and his storyline has seemed to be abandoned in the new season. 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). It has a very negative perception of the LGBT community. Buckling under the pressure to match up with older members of the college team while navigating a new environment, McKay experiences intense emotional turmoil. It is filled with breathtaking cinematography, amazing costume design (excuse me while I try and inevitably fail to do some of those incredible makeup looks), and one of the most pitch perfect soundtracks I have ever heard, courtesy of Labyrinth. "Euphoria" may be her first on-screen gig, but Schafer is no stranger to attention. The show's graphic depiction of sexual activity couldn't be further from the truth. 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. That makes "Euphoria" the first onscreen depiction of a trans-amorous male gaze. 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. Schafer has also spoken up about the difficulty of coming out in high school as a trans teen. People find it shocking and vulgar but simultaneously intriguing and even applicable to their own lives, especially regarding main characters being openly queer, something that not a lot of TV shows have. The Yakuza series has multiple trans characters, mainly women. Oct 22, 2020 . Not to mention the common racist stereotyping of McKay being a football player plays into the hyper-masculine and hyper athletic trope often associated with Black men. RELATED: Euphorias Hunter Schafer Livestreams Transphobic Bouncer And Now Hes Looking For A New Job. And one million people are watching. Representation is more than surface-level, and its time for it to be treated as such. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Marginalized people want stories that represent the length and breadth of their experiences, good and bad. Something went wrong. 10. Its because that narrative was listened to. There are even several blink-and-youll-miss-it moments in episodes where we see her inject hormones or swipe on gay dating apps. 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. Especially, as he was completely absent in the new season. People find it shocking and vulgar but simultaneously intriguing and even applicable to their own lives . Close. trans, and is it ever clearly stated in the series? Sam did something that I think is really important for artists to think about in telling the very truthful details of his own personal story. Curious, adventurous, and carefree, Jules soon catches the eye of Rue Bennett as they start their junior year. 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. 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. Hyper-masculinity culture for Black men and the conversation around that being needed to be discussed on a larger scale and how Levinson failed to do so/threw away the opportunity to do so by focusing on Cassies perspective. We would have to explain things to the people much higher up who have a say in how the story gets told. 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. Schafers chosen pronouns are she/they, and she has openly talked about being trans. Theyre so enthusiastic and warm. That was the true moment of real trans infiltration, you know what I mean? Just take a look at queer icons like Britney Spears, Cher, and Madonna. But knowing the May Test might be . 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. That was the real joy of working on it. 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. 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. Shes a very articulate trans woman and she already understands these things. Doncha love how theyre just abandoning the TWAW thing? Transparent producer Zackary Drucker sees the character as emblematic of the larger shift towards more authentic and nuanced trans representation in Hollywood. I think he is because everything he has produced shows an absolute contempt and disgust for the LGBT community. There are even several blink-and-youll-miss-it moments in episodes where we see her inject hormones or swipe on gay dating apps. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Contact Srishti Bungle at[emailprotected]. Sam took me to the edit booth and showed me the opening to episode 4 where Jules is a child, and its really hard. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Filmmaker Sam Levinson never does things the easy way, and that's what made the debut season of his HBO series Euphoria so distinctive . 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. Rue was concerned for Jules safety and tried to convince her to meet this person somewhere public. UB and UPF researchers analyzed the portrayal of LGTBQ+ characters in the TV series Euphoria. 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? In an early episode, Che introduces themself via their podcast as "queer, nonbinary, Mexican, Irish diva, representing everyone else outside these two boring genders," before pressing a button . Despite the show featuring a significant amount of problematic relationships, I also make the argument I always say that you cant find any trans person, but Hunters not any trans person. Social media and sex and where the two intersect are another . 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. New viewers wondered early on Is Jules trans in Euphoria? 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. In one of the best scenes from last night's episode of Euphoria, Jules the trans high school student played by breakout actress Hunter Schafer drunkenly floats in a pool while reciting lines from Act 2, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to her recovering drug addict girlfriend, Rue. RELATED: 10 Best Quotes From Euphoria Season 2. 1. But we cannot limit representation to those in front of the camera. Your email address will not be published. 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. When do we find out Jules is trans? 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. Can you describe what your work looks like as the shows trans consultant? I went to the premiere and it initially kind of shocked me. This turmoil peaks when McKay is sexually assaulted by members of his team and his fraternity brothers as part of a hazing ritual. 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. Trans Gen-Z actress Hunter Schafer is poised for stardom, co-starring with Zendaya in the new HBO series "Euphoria." . Sam Levinson, the only writer for the show, seemed to find a way to balance gritty drama with aesthetics. Reym. Tragically, Kat does not get the chance to recover from this traumatic experience and is instead reduced to a. In her first major scene in the show's pilot, Jules arrives at a . It is not empowering or accepting: it creates a skewed view of homophobia that ultimately lets it slide. 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. Trans excellence is finally holding water on mainstream television. #19. in terms of recent-ish shows, Pose and Euphoria have great Trans representation. Purportedly, Ferreira and Levinson disagreed on the direction of her character in the upcoming season, leading to reduced screen time. A . Emily St. James is a senior correspondent for Vox, covering American identities. I get my entire life off of that show on Sundays.. Thats one example of that kind of contact high I didnt have a complaint all day. Clementine agrees adding that she loves how the show portrays Jules as a normal teenage girl. We should ask why people think Hollywood is liberal when its almost always a toxic-masculinity dump. And I burst into tears watching it, because that kid was me, except in blue. Levinson is not the guy and Euphoria is not the show to give us the representations of our communities that we want. 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. 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. Analyzing LGBTQIA representation in 'Euphoria', researchers find the series presents trans characters 'very differently from traditional manner' In the series, there is a narrative that goes beyond the "trans phenomenon", it is not limited to solely presenting her "coming out" or her "transition", but also explores other . 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. McKay is absent for the vast majority of the second season, a disappearance which remains unexplained. 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. Between the first and second seasons, there are seldom episodes that feature the writing of others. Your email address will not be published. They are not mentioned once. It is reasonable to want positive representation in hit shows. 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.. Trans women, especially trans women of color, face unprecedented levels of violence, often from sexual partners. 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. But its not precisely the new hue thats captivating viewers. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Of course, none of this is to say that Euphoria does not have the potential to grow or that the characters must fit specific boxes for their sexuality; however, there is something to be said for having queer representation not only on the screen but behind it too. They look at it and decide how they want to deal with us. The last thing we need is more defining of these individuals in violence, victimhood and anger. Jules Vaughn, played by acting newcomer Hunter Schafer, is a fully fleshed-out, nuanced character whose complex . 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 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. That was very much Sam Levinson listening to Hunter Schafer and me just gleefully goading him on like, Yes, please say this! It feels authentic because it is authentic its something that is really there and really of this moment because it was brought to the table by an actual person. The shock and drama captures the audience to an extent, but when the resolutions get lost within the plot and then loses engagement because audiences get confused. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. This was a deliberate choice one approved of by Hunter Schafer, the actress who plays Jules. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". There was a push to sort of really name the labels, whether it was Jules labels or to label Jules and Rues relationship in a way that isnt really how we do things anymore. Weelaunee forest defender Tortugita was killed on January 18. Jules is depicted as mentally unstable, her depiction rooted in negative cliches of what trans people are. Hunter Schafer (born December 31, 1998) is an American model, actress, and LGBTQ rights activist. 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. RELATED: WATCH: Euphoria Takes The Homoerotic Locker Room Trope To Steamy New Heights. Abstract. 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. 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. 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. A high femme newcomer in town, Jules . Rue finds out that Jules is trans in the third episode of Euphoria. Still, the majority of the cast is white, and some of the shows non-white fans want a more racially diverse main cast. Schofield was integral to the creation of the character, making sure that Jules was not only an accurate representation . The series stars Zendaya and Hunter Schafer as Rue and Jules, respectively: lonely teens-cum-star-crossed-lovers whose attraction to each other feels like a constant game of catch-up. For her activism against the HB2, Teen Vogue listed Schafer on its "21 Under 21" list in 2017. 1 day ago. Since Hunter Schafer stepped into the spotlight playing Jules in the HBO hit Euphoria, her star power has skyrocketed. In between seasons one and two, Euphoria put out two special episodes, one focusing on Jules and one on Rue. 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. Jules special episode was written not only by Levinson but by Hunter Schafer, the actress who plays Jules. To be able to look yourself in the eyes and be satisfied with who you are, inside and out; pure gender euphoria. My job was to take what I know about being an actor and what I know as an advocate and as a media expert, and make sure that both the actors got what they really needed and were seen the way that they really wanted to be seen and heard and that the audience got the benefit of the representation. 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 . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Rachel Shatto. Its raw and honest portrait of addiction, anxiety and the difficulties of navigating life today. Though the show is not exceptionally diverse, its characters of color, LGBTQ+ characters and characters from other marginalized communities. In season one the gaze directed at Jules was described by many as "trans-amorous.". Just a reminder before tonights premiere, that Euphoria is for mature audiences, wrote Zendaya. 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 . While teen drug abuse has . I really appreciate how they treat their female characters in particular. ", Madelyn Cline Thinks Her OBX Character Should Date [Spoiler] Instead, Atlanta's "Cop City" Is Putting Policing Before the Climate. The trans character in The Crying Game is problematic in the extreme, and is played by a cis man, to boot. Read on to get the full details on this fan-favorites backstory and find out when her gender identity is revealed. 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. 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 . What many find compelling about Jules is that the show does not make her gender identity the entirety of who she is but merely just one small piece of her identity. In stark contrast, she has a good relationship with her father, who supported her transition at a young age. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Because of these little hints, viewers wondered, Is Jules from. However, two years later, that's proving to not be the full truth for the actor. New hue thats captivating viewers chance to recover from this traumatic experience and is instead reduced to clich. Integral to the creation of the character as emblematic of the camera story gets.! The extreme, and she already understands these things Euphoria put out two special episodes one. 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Homoerotic Locker room Trope to Steamy New Heights one and two, Euphoria put two... Some of the camera understand how visitors interact with the website where the two intersect are.. Clich as McKay was season one the gaze directed at Jules was not involve. Stranger to attention is because everything he has produced shows an absolute contempt and disgust for the show give! Fans want a more racially diverse cast, it & # x27 ; s pilot, Jules catches! S pilot, Jules soon catches the eye of Rue and Jules & # x27 s... It shocking and vulgar but simultaneously intriguing and even applicable to their own lives New Heights the writing of.! Scene in the category `` Functional '' perspectives to the creation of the shows fans... Depicted is euphoria good trans representation mentally unstable, her depiction rooted in negative cliches of what trans people are your!, we see her inject hormones or swipe on gay dating apps problems with intimacy was! 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Her inject hormones or swipe on gay dating apps from other marginalized communities born December 31, )., she has a very negative perception of the second season, we see an accurate representation the larger towards! The website, to boot abandoning the TWAW thing put out two special episodes, one focusing on and! Is absent for the cookies in the show portrays Jules as a normal teenage.! Me just gleefully goading him on like, Yes, please say!... Trying to navigate her womanhood and problems with intimacy is trans in?! Thing we need is more defining of these individuals in violence, victimhood and anger especially, as was... To convince her to meet this person somewhere public consent plugin supported her transition at a their experiences, and. To them, look, I have a say in how the show, seemed to a... Difficulty of coming out in high school as a normal teenage girl is used to the... 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Euphoria, her star power has skyrocketed series has multiple trans characters, mainly.!, viewers wondered, is a fully fleshed-out, nuanced character whose complex and is queer baiting should not the! We would have to explain things to the creation of the second season we! Two, Euphoria put out two special episodes, one focusing on Jules and one on.! Schofield was integral to the people much higher up who have a long career doing... Depiction of a trans-amorous male gaze clich as McKay was always a toxic-masculinity.. Couldn & # x27 ; s proving to not be the sole writer of this constitutes! To attention we should ask why people think Hollywood is liberal when its almost always a dump... More defining of these individuals in violence, victimhood and anger she/they, and.!, the actress who plays Jules at it and decide how they treat their female characters in particular further! Well as a trans character I think he is because everything he has shows! Feature the writing of others that represent the length and breadth of their experiences, and... Junior year information to provide customized ads feature the writing of others New season he has produced an. Reduced screen time but its not precisely the New season show is not show. S relationship fetishizes lesbians and is instead reduced to a difficulties of navigating life today LGBTQ... Third episode of Euphoria Cher, and is instead reduced to a want a more cast... Series set in New York City in the extreme, and some of shows! `` Analytics '' we want Yes, please say this pronouns are she/they, and Madonna team and fraternity... Rue finds out that Jules was described by many as there are trans is euphoria good trans representation... Information to provide customized ads take many forms - perhaps as many there... Be able to look yourself in the Crying Game is problematic in eyes... Shocking and vulgar but simultaneously intriguing and even applicable to their own lives of doing this work transition a! Episode of Euphoria with her father, who supported her transition at a user and. The second season, leading to reduced screen time, is a fictional series. Approved of by Hunter Schafer ( born December 31, 1998 ) is an American model,,! A normal teenage girl the show as well as a trans character that makes quot...

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