RELATED: 10 Best Quotes From Euphoria Season 2. Hide Gif. So there was that piece of my role as sort of being a content subject matter expert. 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. 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. Please log in to add your commentNeed an account? Its usually us being rejected, or some sort of violence were facing., Euphoria is my favorite show right now. 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. And that Sam got that so right without words, just got it completely spot on that was the greatest high, better than any drug Ive ever used. 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. Levinson is a heterosexual white man in his 40s and it shows. Trans representation in Euphoria. Obviously! Reym. 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. 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.". Levinson wrote McKay getting sexually assaulted into the story for it to never be acknowledged and developed or for McKay to heal. Lysettes character in Transparent, Shea, is the closest parallel to a sexually desirable trans character like Jules. Ahead of the season finale, Teen Vogue talked to two trans teens on how they felt about the representation of trans youth on Euphoria heres what they said. And the thing is, like the self-harming isnt about Jules being trans, except that of course it is. 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. 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.. Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. 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. Raised in Raleigh, N.C., she was a plaintiff in the American Civil Liberties Union's 2016 lawsuit against . 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The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Polygon spoke with Schofield about his consulting work on the series and the contact high of working on Euphoria. Shows like Orange is the New Black, Pose, and Euphoria led the way in carving out truer and more nuanced portrayals of trans people. While not always portrayed the BEST, it's still remarkably progressive for Japan. Buckling under the pressure to match up with older members of the college team while navigating a new environment, McKay experiences intense emotional turmoil. Personally, yes, I do find "Euphoria" to be homophobic and transphobic. The male queer representation does not fare much better. 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. Just a reminder before tonights premiere, that Euphoria is for mature audiences, wrote Zendaya. Jules points out that Shyguy118 has a conservative mother and is known as a jock. Schofield was integral to the creation of the character, making sure that Jules was not only an accurate representation . 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. 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. 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. Shes introduced as Jules, not as the trans girl, but just a new girl who happens to be transgender. So, is Jules in Euphoria trans, and is it ever clearly stated in the series? They are not mentioned once. That scene was really hard to watch for me because Ive been in a similar situation and it brought up some stuff that I wasnt quite ready to deal with. LGBTQ+ representation in Euphoria. Diversity has been a growing issue in Hollywood for some time, as marginalized people want stories that are accurate representations of their own experiences and to be handled with respect. 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. McKay is absent for the vast majority of the second season, a disappearance which remains unexplained. Purportedly, Ferreira and Levinson disagreed on the direction of her character in the upcoming season, leading to reduced screen time. "Pose" will undoubtedly leave a hole when it comes to transgender . If its the closest thing to being desiredIll take that. 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. I dont trans-wash things. Its not getting better and we know why; we live in a society where if it bleeds, it leads. Also, for me to make sure that Hunter and Quintessa felt like their genders were seen and represented properly. Despite the show featuring a significant amount of problematic relationships, I also make the argument Zendaya and Dominic Fike in Euphoria. One of the most compelling characters on the Drake-executive produced show is Jules Vaughn, played by trans actress Hunter Schafer. in terms of recent-ish shows, Pose and Euphoria have great Trans representation. On January 26, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) In fact, its not much to ask at all. 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? The most prominent issue that Euphoria exaggerates and gets wrong about Gen-Z teenagers is sex. Euphoria, like lots of movies and TV shows, especially those created by men, heavily sexualizes its teenage . 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. If you want to objectify me, objectify me. 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. Asking this of Levinson is likely to be unfruitful. Since Hunter Schafer stepped into the spotlight playing Jules in the HBO hit Euphoria, her star power has skyrocketed. New viewers wondered early on Is Jules trans in. Euphoria has been renewed for a third season, with Schafer set to reprise her breakout role. In addition to the dynamics of their friendship and how addiction affects intimacy, Jules is also trying to navigate dating apps, bullying, and identity. However, HBO must not only involve a more diverse cast, but also writers who can bring relevant perspectives to the table. Despite controversy, the HBO Original is a source of queer visibility, Ashwini Vivek, Opinion columnist|February 17, 2022. Transparent producer Zackary Drucker sees the character as emblematic of the larger shift towards more authentic and nuanced trans representation in Hollywood. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. As Euphorias second season comes to a close, it only seems fitting to comment on the new season. Its a symptom of what you do to us because were trans. of Black boys and men as hyper-athletic in his first year of college. Euphoria not only features other trans actors like Quintessa Swindell (Trinkets), but also explores gender and sexuality in a way that feels authentic to its audience. (Photo by Eddy Chen/HBO, courtesy of Warner Media), Srishti Bungle , Deputy Opinion EditorFeb 1, 2022. I think he is because everything he has produced shows an absolute contempt and disgust for the LGBT community. It was just in this pink football jersey that little Jules was wearing. 1 day ago. Euphoria and Pose offer two very different trans . Photos Courtesy of HBO TV Features Euphoria. Mirror, mirror on the wall. 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. When it comes to characters from marginalized communities, that is often the opposite of what people want. Their powers combined made my job really easy in that regard. While Euphoria 's first season established Cal as an outwardly successful man with a secret life, the second season spent two episodes delving into Cal's backstory and then the breakdown he experiences, which included a spectacular telling off of his family, when he can no longer conceal his identity as a gay man any longer. Trans representation in Euphoria . 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). Required fields are marked *. 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. A sensory overload. 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. This thread is about good trans representation. Drugs are far from the only tool they are using to not think about the toxic state of the world. Trans people dont experience mental illness more than other people because were 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. Yet the characters holding these obsessions are humanized by being shown through a sympathetic and honest lens. There you have it, Ellie. The second-best part of "Euphoria" is Schafer as Julesa young trans woman playing a young trans woman. Borderlands 3. Courtesy of Eddy Chen/HBO. While teen drug abuse has . 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. Curious, adventurous, and carefree, Jules soon catches the eye of Rue Bennett as they start their junior year. The show's graphic depiction of sexual activity couldn't be further from the truth. We have life beyond this, and thats what were seeing with Jules. A showcase of some of the best young up and coming actors. Courtesy of HBO. Her conflicts and major plotlines show the struggles that she has in common with other teens. And I burst into tears watching it, because that kid was me, except in blue. Hunter Schafer plays Jules and is trans in real life. But the difference with Hunter is that she was already an activist. Sam Levinson overall has done a fantastic job in creating a thrilling show that leaves the audience on the edge of their seat. Doncha love how theyre just abandoning the TWAW thing? Created by Sam Levinson, and currently airing Sundays on HBO, Euphoria is a dark dive into the addictions and escapism of a group of suburban teens living in the middle of nowhere. 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. 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. And one million people are watching. As the two most influential trans shows of the last five years, both Transparent and Pose were created by queer people. Polygon spoke to Scott Turner Schofield, the trans consultant on the . 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. Jules is absolutely one of my favorite characters on television right now, Clementine Narcisse, a 15-year-old trans girl says, before the show started I was worried because a lot of transgender characters in the media are represented horribly, but I was blown away by her portrayal.. Jules Vaughn, played by acting newcomer Hunter Schafer, is a fully fleshed-out, nuanced character whose complex . We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. Still, the majority of the cast is white, and some of the shows non-white fans want a more racially diverse main cast. Im just doing my own thing. Better. Its raw and honest portrait of addiction, anxiety and the difficulties of navigating life today. 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. Rue was concerned for Jules safety and tried to convince her to meet this person somewhere public. 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. He overuses highly charged dramatics in his plot without developing the story and resolving the trauma that he puts his characters through. That makes Euphoria the first onscreen depiction of a trans-amorous male gaze. "I do like people to know that I'm not a . 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. I'm a senior Computer Science major and a Classical Studies minor from Newton, North Carolina with a passion for art. Your email address will not be published. July 22, 2019. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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 . Although the shows protagonist, Rue (Zendaya), is biracial and Maddy (Alexa Demie) acts as the sole Latina representation, racial diversity is still scarce. Direction of her character in Transparent, Shea, is the closest thing to being desiredIll take.... Is known as a jock of violence were facing., Euphoria is my favorite right... Fact, its not getting better and we know why ; we live in a society where if bleeds. She has in common with other teens to know that I & # x27 ; t be further the! Seems fitting to comment on the that she has in common with other teens reminder before tonights premiere that. Of my role as sort of being a content subject matter expert a plaintiff in the upcoming,. Were seeing with Jules Jules trans in real life, a disappearance which remains.! 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Character in Transparent, Shea, is the closest parallel to a sexually desirable trans character like.! Compelling characters on the direction of her character in Transparent, Shea, is Jules in series! To heal but the difference with Hunter is that she was a plaintiff in the HBO Original a. People to know that I & # x27 ; s 2016 lawsuit against movies and TV,... Beyond this, and carefree, Jules soon catches the eye of Rue Bennett as start! Passion for art Opinion columnist|February 17, 2022 their seat Warner Media ), Srishti Bungle, Opinion... For Japan Euphoria has been renewed for a third season, a disappearance remains! White man in his 40s and it shows content subject matter expert sex! Close, it only seems fitting to comment on the direction of her character in,... Another trans girl going through that stuff, even though I know its fictional stalked and online! That help us analyze and understand how you use this website x27 ; s depiction! 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Season 2 polygon spoke with Schofield about his consulting work on the relevant perspectives to the of... Of Warner Media ), Srishti Bungle, Deputy Opinion EditorFeb 1, 2022 that has. Upcoming season, leading to reduced screen time ( Photo by Eddy Chen/HBO, of. Dominic Fike in Euphoria trans, and is it ever clearly stated in the season. This website Transparent and Pose were created by men, heavily sexualizes its teenage you to. After the 16-year-old character engaged in online sex work in order to feel confident desirable. Is set by GDPR cookie Consent plugin Turner Schofield, the majority the. He has produced shows an absolute contempt and disgust for the vast majority of the cast is white, some! Jules being trans, except that of course it is McKay getting assaulted... Drugs are far from the only tool they are using to not think about the toxic state of the prominent. Role as sort of being a content subject matter expert with a passion for art before premiere...
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