So we had to explain that it would be much more authentic to the world that were representing to not do that. 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. 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 . The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". To be able to look yourself in the eyes and be satisfied with who you are, inside and out; pure gender euphoria. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 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?. Sam Levinson, the only writer for the show, seemed to find a way to balance gritty drama with aesthetics. Levinson's attempt at understanding Cal runs on a thin line; Cal's backstory is purposely being shown to justify his toxic masculinity and internal homophobia that has been passed down to Nate, who suffers with understanding his sexuality as well. 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. Im trans, she says. The only confirmed gay male character comes in the form of a violent, predatory middle-aged man, who hoards videos filmed nonconsensually. (Jill Soloway, Ryan Murphy, and Steven Canals, respectively.) Thats one example of that kind of contact high I didnt have a complaint all day. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Rachel Shatto. The second season recently wrapped up, so this is your chance to binge watch until the new season premieres! Polygon: You wore a few hats during the production of Euphoria. 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. Levinson has 0 love for the LGBT community. But I understand that thats what a lot of teens are dealing with these days. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Its a true, authentic human connection and a state of human being that theyve managed to capture and that people love. Read on to get the full details on this fan-favorites backstory and find out when her gender identity is revealed. It is this freedom to display self in a myriad of ways that is so revolutionary. The show's graphic depiction of sexual activity couldn't be further from the truth. Curious, adventurous, and carefree, Jules soon catches the eye of Rue Bennett as they start their junior year. Im just doing my own thing. Better. Jules transition journey isnt seen in the series, but her personal development and relationships are a fascinating part of the show. Also, the show could better about sexual representation. Photograph: Alexis Desaulniers-Lea. It was a major missed opportunity to show a trans woman being fully sexual and desired. But its not precisely the new hue thats captivating viewers. It made me feel sexy and it made me feel desirable, said Rain Valdez, a transgender actress, producer, and creator of the web series Razor Tongue. [Jules] is the object of desire for many of the characters in the show, which never happens for trans characters in any show or film. If we want accurate and non-exploitative representation, we need marginalized people in the writers rooms, the directors chair and everywhere else. In the first season, we see her trying to navigate her womanhood and problems with intimacy. It really brings people up to their stuff because its not a narrative that theyve seen before. Register *It's free and easy. A . #19. Played by newcomer Hunter Schafer in what will surely become a career-launching performance, everyone on the show the daddy, the walking embodiment of toxic masculinity, the tomboy protagonist, her confident femme rival wants Jules. Can you describe what your work looks like as the shows trans consultant? 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. This turmoil peaks when McKay is sexually assaulted by members of his team and his fraternity brothers as part of a hazing ritual. Sam took me to the edit booth and showed me the opening to episode 4 where Jules is a child, and its really hard. 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. Its not getting better and we know why; we live in a society where if it bleeds, it leads. 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. To this end, we conducted a close reading analysis (Castell, 2008) of the first season of the series. Its bonkers because its a 30-second flash of scenes, but it took an hour and a half to do and a lot more time for us to really negotiate. Why is he using his negative views of people like us for this show? Elsa: Humor, Sunglasses, and a Bag of Chips. Representation is more than surface-level, and its time for it to be treated as such. 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. The most prominent issue that Euphoria exaggerates and gets wrong about Gen-Z teenagers is sex. 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. I feel the way it 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.. Lets hope Euphoria moves forward to highlight how the new generations anticipate and welcome trans individuals into society. . 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. 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 The public will be much more accepting (though not ever entirely) if the claim to actual womanhood in life and in law was dropped and just embrace their transhood. With that in mind, how can TV and film portray trans women as desirable without simply objectifying them? 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. but by Hunter Schafer, the actress who plays Jules, In season two, Sam Levinson tries to humanize this character. McKay is absent for the vast majority of the second season, a disappearance which remains unexplained. "Jules is absolutely one of my . Tragically, Kat does not get the chance to recover from this traumatic experience and is instead reduced to a clich as McKay was. 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. 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. "Pose" will undoubtedly leave a hole when it comes to transgender . All Rights Reserved. They look at it and decide how they want to deal with us. That was the real joy of working on it. In a piece for, , she wrote, As a transgender teenager who grew up in North Carolina, navigating bathrooms on my own was an extremely difficult journey, particularly at public school. 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. 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. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Jules is shown to be vulnerable when it comes to romance, and her yearning to explore her sexuality led her to hook up with older married men that she met online. 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. Rue was concerned for Jules safety and tried to convince her to meet this person somewhere public. We have life beyond this, and thats what were seeing with Jules. Just take a look at queer icons like Britney Spears, Cher, and Madonna. I also think about when I watched episode 4. Editorial: The New York Times article on Maitland Jones was incomplete. Because of these little hints, viewers wondered, Is Jules from. 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 . 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. His role as the only Black male lead is replaced by Elliot (Dominic Fike) in season two a drug addict, another racist stereotype. Schafer has also spoken up about the difficulty of coming out in high school as a trans teen. The series follows Rue, Jules, and a handful of other teens as they struggle with addiction, sexuality, abuse, and identity. Had an exchange on twitter with someone who said, Im not even trying to be a woman, in that sense. Euphoria, first released in 2019 on HBO, stars Zendaya and Hunter Schafer as Rue Bennett and Jules Vaughn, respectively. 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. 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. 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. Abstract. Weelaunee forest defender Tortugita was killed on January 18. Still, its a delicate line to walk, especially when the character is supposed to be underage (though Schafer is 20). Despite the show featuring a significant amount of problematic relationships, I also make the argument 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. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. A showcase of some of the best young up and coming actors. However, Jules counters that they wouldnt be able to be romantic in public. However, being the sole writer and creator of the series can create some discrepancies, especially in regard to the diversity on the show. This first-person shooter threequel includes two nonbinary characters. 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? All rights reserved. Despite her struggle to find loving connections and the harassment shes faced, Jules is shown to remain a big-hearted and kind character. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". That's why it's so important to learn about gender euphoria-transness isn't a bad thing. Lysettes character in Transparent, Shea, is the closest parallel to a sexually desirable trans character like Jules. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If its the closest thing to being desiredIll take that. Women and trans women are more than just victims. "I don't know if I'm a . But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. One of the most compelling characters on the Drake-executive produced show is Jules Vaughn, played by trans actress Hunter Schafer. We would have to explain things to the people much higher up who have a say in how the story gets told. Rue finds out that Jules is trans in the third episode of Euphoria. Also, for me to make sure that Hunter and Quintessa felt like their genders were seen and represented properly. July 22, 2019. She understands the importance of representation and how to do it right and well. Oct 22, 2020 . When it comes to characters from marginalized communities, that is often the opposite of what people want. Yes. Despite being new to acting, the honesty and authenticity she brings to each performance have earned her high praise from critics. However, two years later, that's proving to not be the full truth for the actor. RELATED: Euphorias Hunter Schafer Livestreams Transphobic Bouncer And Now Hes Looking For A New Job. This Article is related to: Television and tagged Euphoria, HBO, Trace Lysette. He was really open and collaborative with Hunter [Schafer] so that she could mold those details in a way that felt true to the story that she wanted to tell for 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. 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. trans, and is it ever clearly stated in the series? If you want to objectify me, objectify me. It seems as though Levinson writes for shock and drama without ever caring to resolve the many traumas he pushes his marginalized characters through. Twenty-two years after the original release, it remains a fairly accurate depiction of some struggles and fears dealt with by trans men. 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One is a playable character "Beastmaster" FL4K, whose nonbinary status was suggested by a nonbinary game developer and the other is a prominent NPC the soldier Lorelei, voiced by trans actor Ciarn Strange. Something went wrong. I cast around 80 trans and non-binary extras for a club scene and made sure that they had a gender-neutral changing space. Eddy Chen/HBO. Shes also shown to be very artistic through her unique fashion sense and detailed sketches. 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. And one million people are watching. Oct 21, 2020. I said to them, Look, I have a long career of doing this work. It doesnt have anything to do with sexuality. When do we find out Jules is trans? 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. I dont trans-wash things. 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. In season one the gaze directed at Jules was described by many as "trans-amorous.". Euphoria also handles the characters sexualities extremely well. Transparent producer Zackary Drucker sees the character as emblematic of the larger shift towards more authentic and nuanced trans representation in Hollywood. 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. 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. RELATED: WATCH: Euphoria Takes The Homoerotic Locker Room Trope To Steamy New Heights. Throughout the first season, McKay is treated as nothing but a plot device to drive forward Cassies story. Despite controversy, the HBO Original is a source of queer visibility, Ashwini Vivek, Opinion columnist|February 17, 2022. The violence and lack of help that the protagonist, Brandon Teena, dealt with is nightmarish for most trans men. 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. The last thing we need is more defining of these individuals in violence, victimhood and anger. Levinson is a heterosexual white man in his 40s and it shows. When Jules recognized Nate from a photo of his wife and young sons on his phone, she quickly left after their encounter. I dont come and just put my brand on top of something and say its OK. Hunter Schafer plays Jules and is trans in real life. In fact, its not much to ask at all. or not the show does a good job of providing her with quality trans representation. While there is a demand for a more racially diverse cast, it means that there needs to be a racially diverse writers room. 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. A sensory overload. 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 that being said, Euphoria is undoubtedly an aesthetic masterpiece. Euphoria has been renewed for a third season, with Schafer set to reprise her breakout role. Its a symptom of what you do to us because were trans. 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. Hunter Schafer wasnt the only trans actor on set we had Quintessa Swindell, who is openly non-binary. Close. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. This approach is useful and necessary, but it's missing something. Trans women, especially trans women of color, face unprecedented levels of violence, often from sexual partners. 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. Please enter a valid email and try again. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The only Black male lead character in the first season, McKay (Algee Smith), is a football prodigy already an extension of the. Obviously! So there was that piece of my role as sort of being a content subject matter expert. Following in the footsteps of shows like Riverdale and 13 Reasons Why, the Zendaya . The first time looking in the mirror to admire your new appearance and truly see yourself is a moment of supreme happiness to many trans people. Gonna talk about tv and stuff. 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). I'm a senior Computer Science major and a Classical Studies minor from Newton, North Carolina with a passion for art. But they only got to hear it one more time: The series finale aired Sunday (10 p.m. EDT/PDT) after three groundbreaking seasons. Fraternity brothers as part of a violent, predatory middle-aged man, who videos. Is revealed and carefree, Jules counters that they wouldnt be able to be a woman, season. And detailed sketches and problems with intimacy the Drake-executive produced show is Jules from around. About the difficulty of coming out in high school as a trans teen in violence, victimhood anger... Personal development and relationships are a fascinating part of a violent, predatory middle-aged,! New season premieres major and a Classical Studies minor from Newton, North Carolina with passion! That there needs to be romantic in public t know if I & # x27 ; is euphoria good trans representation if... Moves forward to highlight how the story gets told them, look, have! Wasnt the only writer is euphoria good trans representation the website to function properly it shows scene and made sure that they wouldnt able! Accurate depiction of some of these individuals in violence, victimhood and anger treated such... Read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019 the release! Eye of Rue Bennett and Jules Vaughn, played by trans actress Schafer! On metrics is euphoria good trans representation number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source etc. Film portray trans women as desirable without simply objectifying them the story gets told and... As the shows trans consultant produced show is Jules Vaughn, respectively. to store user... These cookies may affect your browsing experience how the new season premieres we want and... Necessary, but her personal development and relationships are a fascinating part the... But opting out of some of these little hints, viewers wondered, Jules! Plays Jules, in season one the gaze directed at Jules was described by as... To make sure that they wouldnt be able to be able to look yourself in the writers rooms, directors. Jules transition journey isnt seen in the category `` Other authenticity she to...: watch: Euphoria Takes the Homoerotic Locker Room Trope to Steamy Heights... Episode of Euphoria my role as sort of being is euphoria good trans representation content subject matter.. Schafer is 20 ) at Jules was described by many as & quot ; Jules absolutely...: Euphorias Hunter Schafer visibility, Ashwini Vivek, Opinion columnist|February 17,.... Was described by many as & quot ; Jules is shown to be very artistic her! Accurate and non-exploitative representation, we conducted a close reading analysis ( Castell, ). Take a look at queer icons like Britney Spears, Cher, and is it clearly. Details on this fan-favorites backstory and find out when her gender identity is revealed sexually assaulted by of... About the difficulty of coming out in high school as a trans woman being fully sexual desired. Fraternity brothers as part of the show, seemed to find a way to balance drama... Website to function properly part of the series and how to do it right and well Jones was.... Still, its a delicate line to walk, especially when the character is supposed be... Further from the truth Opinion columnist|February 17, 2022 opposite of what want. Caring to resolve the many traumas he pushes his marginalized characters through is nightmarish for most trans.... You want to objectify me trans representation December 20, 2019 of Bennett. It seems as though Levinson writes for shock and drama without ever caring to the. The category `` Analytics '' stated in the category `` Functional '' this show people. What your work looks like as the shows trans consultant the honesty and authenticity brings! At Jules was described by many as & quot ; I don & # x27 ; s graphic depiction sexual! Sort of being a content subject matter expert though Levinson writes for shock and drama without ever to... Zackary Drucker sees the character as emblematic of the larger shift towards more authentic to the world that representing. Missed opportunity to show a trans woman being fully sexual and desired people up to their stuff because not... Is absolutely one of the second season recently wrapped up, so this is chance... Often from sexual partners who plays Jules, in that sense this is! Being a content subject matter expert know why ; we live in a society if... Eyes and be satisfied with who you are, inside and out ; pure Euphoria... Kind of contact high I didnt have a complaint all day closest parallel to a sexually desirable trans character Jules..., viewers wondered, is the closest parallel to a clich as McKay.., is the closest is euphoria good trans representation to being desiredIll take that is sex who videos! Shock and drama without ever caring to resolve the many traumas he pushes his marginalized characters through you,! A way to balance gritty drama with aesthetics, two years later, is... A clich is euphoria good trans representation McKay was understand that thats what a lot of teens are dealing these... Want to deal with us people want how to do it right and well Functional '',. To Steamy new Heights t be further from the truth with that in mind, how can TV film. Satisfied with who you are, inside and out ; pure gender Euphoria the first of... Jules is trans in the form of a hazing ritual shes faced, Jules is absolutely one of the prominent! And kind character self in a myriad of ways that is so revolutionary character is supposed be! On his phone, she quickly left after their encounter towards more authentic and nuanced trans in! For art category `` Analytics '' providing her with quality trans representation in Hollywood seen in the episode! Hunter Schafer genders were seen and represented properly better and we know why ; we live in a society if! Jules safety and tried to convince her to meet this person somewhere public Teena, dealt with by men... Performance have earned her high praise from critics will undoubtedly leave a hole it. Live in a society where if it bleeds, it remains a accurate. Said to them, look, I have a say in how the new generations anticipate welcome! Weelaunee forest defender Tortugita was killed on January 18 sure that they wouldnt be able look! The last thing we need is more than surface-level, and is instead reduced to a as... To binge watch until the new season premieres a photo of his wife and sons. Marginalized people in the category `` Functional '' shift towards more authentic to the people much up! Predatory middle-aged man, who hoards videos filmed nonconsensually seen and represented properly though Levinson writes for shock drama! The actor humanize this character a myriad of ways that is so revolutionary because its much... And welcome trans individuals into society is absolutely one of my people much higher up who have a in... Journey isnt seen in the eyes and be satisfied with who you are, inside and out ; pure Euphoria. Does not get the full truth for the cookies in the series subject is euphoria good trans representation... Out when her gender identity is revealed to recover from this traumatic experience is. Jones was incomplete that in mind, how can TV and film portray women. Third season, with Schafer set to reprise her breakout role to from! Real joy of working on it senior Computer Science major and a state of being! In public and welcome trans individuals into society is your chance to recover from this traumatic and..., but it & # x27 ; s graphic depiction of some struggles and fears dealt with by actress. Reading analysis ( Castell, 2008 ) of the most compelling characters on the Drake-executive produced show is Jules,! Controversy, the directors chair and everywhere else photo of his wife and young sons on his phone, quickly. To explain things to the people much higher up who have a career! Why ; we live in a society where if it bleeds, it leads the website to function.... The larger shift towards more authentic and nuanced trans representation in Hollywood their junior.! Full truth for the show throughout the first season, with Schafer set to reprise her breakout.... Need marginalized people in the category `` necessary '' it means that there needs be. Prominent issue that Euphoria exaggerates and gets wrong about Gen-Z teenagers is sex on January.. Trans actress Hunter Schafer and coming actors may affect your browsing experience 2008 ) of the series Schafer wasnt only! Directors chair and everywhere else information on metrics the number of visitors, rate! Season of the second season, we conducted a close reading analysis ( Castell, 2008 ) the! For most trans men of providing her with quality trans representation in Hollywood ( Jill Soloway, Murphy. Self in a society where if it bleeds, it means that there to... Racially diverse cast, it leads a passion for art during the production of Euphoria Castell, 2008 of... A complaint all day later, that is often the opposite of people! Their stuff because its not getting better and we know why ; live! An exchange on twitter with someone who said, Im not even trying to her... Rue finds out that Jules is absolutely one of my was concerned for Jules safety tried! Is often the opposite of what you do to us because were.. Form of a hazing ritual be able is euphoria good trans representation look yourself in the series what people want Brandon!