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. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. Rue finds out that Jules is trans in the third episode of Euphoria. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. We have life beyond this, and thats what were seeing with Jules. 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. 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. . Warning: spoilers abound! Reject Sabatini. 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. 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. Please enter a valid email and try again. Emanating a manic pixie trans girl energy unlike anything seen onscreen before, Jules floats magically through every frame in which she appears. I would go on set and see this representation that just felt so true and so right. 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. 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. 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. 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. Marginalized people want stories that represent the length and breadth of their experiences, good and bad. B. They really listened and they really represented as opposed to appropriating it for the sake of being trendy and looking cool, and you can always tell when shows do that because [the representation] is never quite right. 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. 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. I went to the premiere and it initially kind of shocked me. Its because that narrative was listened to. Women and trans women are more than just victims. 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. IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Jules (left) and Rue meet and become fast friends. This spring, she's the new face of Mugler's Angel Elixir . 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. When we see Jules in the series, she is a trans woman already comfortable in her gender identity. Close. 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.. Its the shows first sex scene, and the image of her vacant expression, head pressed down in the pillow as shes pounded from behind, is hard to shake, even eight episodes later. Most of all, they want their stories, especially the sensitive ones, to be told with respect. Its a true, authentic human connection and a state of human being that theyve managed to capture and that people love. 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.' It is not empowering or accepting: it creates a skewed view of homophobia that ultimately lets it slide. 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. All rights reserved. Weelaunee forest defender Tortugita was killed on January 18. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". To be able to look yourself in the eyes and be satisfied with who you are, inside and out; pure gender euphoria. 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 . The violence and lack of help that the protagonist, Brandon Teena, dealt with is nightmarish for most trans men. The results show three axes of representation that move away from the traditional portrayal of trans characters: (a) a narrative that moves beyond the "trans fact" and presents complex and plural stories, (b) a representation of the trans individual as an element of value and love, away from fetishism, and (c) a link between the trans realm and . 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). Editorial: Do no harm, Grossman. 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. Polygon spoke to Scott Turner Schofield, the trans consultant on the . That makes Euphoria the first trans show to employ a straight male gaze, the term coined by Laura Mulvey and popularized by Soloway. PHoto: Courtesy of HBO. Read on to get the full details on this fan-favorites backstory and find out when her gender identity is revealed. Especially, as he was completely absent in the new season. And I get it its dramatic and interesting and theres a lot of great TV drama there, but come on, catch up. Euphoria and Pose offer two very different trans . of Black boys and men as hyper-athletic in his first year of college. The May Test is intended to be stringent in the hopes that it inspires and produces more original, authentic, and positive representations of transgender people. Being listened to as a trans person is a powerful thing in and of itself. 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. 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. 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. Jules points out that Shyguy118 has a conservative mother and is known as a jock. Shes white, skinny, conventionally attractive, and passes well. 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. Id have these conversations with Sam and Hunter and Quintessa and Bobbi [Salvr Menuez]. 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 . Courtesy of Eddy Chen/HBO. Srishti Bungle is a junior at the College of Arts and Science majoring in history and minoring in creative writing and politics. 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. But its not precisely the new hue thats captivating viewers. 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. 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. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. But more than anything, it focuses on family and what that means when you get to pick . 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. . Jules is depicted as mentally unstable, her depiction rooted in negative cliches of what trans people are. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. RELATED: WATCH: Euphoria Takes The Homoerotic Locker Room Trope To Steamy New Heights. Jules transition journey isnt seen in the series, but her personal development and relationships are a fascinating part of the show. 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. Its usually us being rejected, or some sort of violence were facing., Euphoria is my favorite show right now. Rue was concerned for Jules safety and tried to convince her to meet this person somewhere public. The young persons guide to conquering (and saving) the world. Borderlands 3. Just take a look at queer icons like Britney Spears, Cher, and Madonna. However, HBO must not only involve a more diverse cast, but also writers who can bring relevant perspectives to the table. Hide Gif. trans, and is it ever clearly stated in the series? The show desperately needs LGBTQ+ writers, people who are part of the community. 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. Im trans, she says. Lysettes character in Transparent, Shea, is the closest parallel to a sexually desirable trans character like Jules. Had an exchange on twitter with someone who said, Im not even trying to be a woman, in that sense. Trans excellence is finally holding water on mainstream television. 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. 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. And one million people are watching. Please check your email to find a confirmation email, and follow the steps to confirm your humanity. Still, the majority of the cast is white, and some of the shows non-white fans want a more racially diverse main cast. HBOs Euphoria is one of the most compelling television series of 2019, and one of the few current teen dramas that not only gets, but respects, todays teens. "Pose" will undoubtedly leave a hole when it comes to transgender . Most of all, they want their stories, especially the sensitive ones, to be told with respect. Hunter Schafer, who plays trans teen Jules Vaughn on the hit HBO series Euphoria, is setting the record straight about her sexual identity. Euphoria's representation of its queer characters is becoming increasingly murky in season 2. Because of these little hints, viewers wondered, Is Jules from Euphoria trans?. Personally, yes, I do find "Euphoria" to be homophobic and transphobic. In early high school (during a more primary stage in my transition), I felt safer using the womens restroom and locker room., Schafer is critical of trans representation in Hollywood and would like to see trans roles played by trans actors because she feels they can bring their experiences forward to their performances. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. This was a deliberate choice one approved of by Hunter Schafer, the actress who plays Jules. Emanating a manic pixie trans girl energy unlike anything seen onscreen before, Jules floats magically through frame. Im not even trying to be a woman, in that sense twitter with someone who said, not. Email, and thats what were seeing with Jules with respect trans are... 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