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. That the major honor that I give to the show. One topic that often came up was how wild the show was and its most . Jules is depicted as mentally unstable, her depiction rooted in negative cliches of what trans people are. Hollywood encourages drama over reality so Im not expecting much. (Jill Soloway, Ryan Murphy, and Steven Canals, respectively.) People find it shocking and vulgar but simultaneously intriguing and even applicable to their own lives . Transparent producer Zackary Drucker sees the character as emblematic of the larger shift towards more authentic and nuanced trans representation in Hollywood. Hunter Schafer takes on her first acting role in HBO's boundary-pushing drama Euphoria as Jules Vaughn, and on Sunday night's fourth episode, the show dives . 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. 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. 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. 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 male queer representation does not fare much better. Theyre so enthusiastic and warm. That was the true moment of real trans infiltration, you know what I mean? Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. The young persons guide to conquering (and saving) the world. Its a symptom of what you do to us because were trans. 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. Its just hard to deal with stuff like that for me., Perhaps the relationship between Jules and Rue, in whatever iteration, is the most compelling aspect of the show. Sam Levinson overall has done a fantastic job in creating a thrilling show that leaves the audience on the edge of their seat. Editorial: NYU lifted its mask mandate, but now isnt the time to be idle. Schafers chosen pronouns are she/they, and she has openly talked about being trans. 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. mental health. Free-spirited and brave, Jules Vaughn is one of the most popular characters in the gritty teen show, In the first season, we see her trying to navigate her womanhood and problems with intimacy. Warning: spoilers abound! The violence and lack of help that the protagonist, Brandon Teena, dealt with is nightmarish for most trans men. Theres no take on us its on our own terms. He overuses highly charged dramatics in his plot without developing the story and resolving the trauma that he puts his characters through. I said [to Sam Levinson], Jules is the one who gets herself more than anybody else on this show. 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 . Can you explain exactly what that means? Abstract. While there is a demand for a more racially diverse cast, it means that there needs to be a racially diverse writers room. 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. There are even several blink-and-youll-miss-it moments in episodes where we see her inject hormones or swipe on gay dating apps. Between the first and second seasons, there are seldom episodes that feature the writing of others. Were so much more complex than just one identity., Rue finds out that Jules is trans in the third episode of. 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Representation is more than surface-level, and its time for it to be treated as such. Drug addiction, nudity, homophobia, violence, blackmail, abusive relationships, and much more were explicitly showcased in Euphoria. Still, it's dispiriting that, when it comes to representation, we see . Amid gut-wrenching scenes of overdoses and withdrawals is a take on sexual orientation and power dynamics that becomes more questionable as the episodes go on. 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. 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. I felt really honored to be chosen to take the job, and I think that the moment when it happened was this moment after we were given the first four episodes to read and talk to them about. Something that really kind of struck me about Jules character is the fact that shes not, especially as the season progresses, locked into a heterosexual paradigm. 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. 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 are further issues beyond the show's complicated trans representation. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Reym. McKay is absent for the vast majority of the second season, a disappearance which remains unexplained. Curious, adventurous, and carefree, Jules soon catches the eye of Rue Bennett as they start their junior year. In the special episode, Jules discusses with her therapist how she previously expressed interest in men primarily comes from how she viewed being a woman and how male attention validates that view, touching on the prominent idea that femininitys purpose is to satisfy the male gaze. Weelaunee forest defender Tortugita was killed on January 18. 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. Because again, it has nothing to do with their genders. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Holidays Still, its a delicate line to walk, especially when the character is supposed to be underage (though Schafer is 20). Doncha love how theyre just abandoning the TWAW thing? 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. Their powers combined made my job really easy in that regard. Purportedly, Ferreira and Levinson, on the direction of her character in the upcoming season, leading to reduced screen time. 1. Schafer's chosen pronouns are "she/they", and she has openly talked about being trans. Please log in to add your commentNeed an account? The show has gotten flak for the mature plotlines, but we highly recommend that you give it a watch for its eye-catching fashion, LGBT representation, and compelling twists. 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. Possibly the most significant is Ako, the owner of Earth Angel in . So, is Jules in Euphoria trans, and is it ever clearly stated in the series? ", Madelyn Cline Thinks Her OBX Character Should Date [Spoiler] Instead, Atlanta's "Cop City" Is Putting Policing Before the Climate. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Still, the majority of the cast is white, and some of the shows non-white fans want a more racially diverse main cast. Im always very quick to say, you cant just find any trans person and think that theyre going to tell a good trans story, because we are all completely overwhelmed by mainstream culture and the tropes [about trans people] it tells us even trans people. Oct 22, 2020 . I get my entire life off of that show on Sundays.. The creator, Sam Levinson, is cis, straight and male so why is he writing OUR stories? 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. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. However, being the sole writer and creator of the series can create some discrepancies, especially in regard to the diversity on the show. Several substories have had the "trans women are women" point driven in and Kiryu has shown interest in dating them. Cis women have been objectified for many, many years. It really brings people up to their stuff because its not a narrative that theyve seen before. has been renewed for a third season, with Schafer set to reprise her breakout role. But the difference with Hunter is that she was already an activist. Hunter Schafer plays Jules and is trans in real life. Jules Vaughn is a main character in the HBO series. Having that kind of communicated authenticity combined with the fact that Jules narrative is only barely tied to her trans identity what do you think sets her character arc apart from other trans narratives that we see on TV? Oops. Bella Hadid Is the Blondest Shes Ever Been in New TikTok Video. 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. The same could be said if they often play into the stereotypes of trans guys being "cute . Euphoria's representation of its queer characters is becoming increasingly murky in season 2. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 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 series follows Rue, Jules, and a handful of other teens as they struggle with addiction, sexuality, abuse, and identity. Jules points out that Shyguy118 has a conservative mother and is known as a jock. Just take a look at queer icons like Britney Spears, Cher, and Madonna. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Comments that are deemed spam or hate speech by the moderators will be deleted. 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. In a 2019 interview with Dazed, Schafer said her sexuality is "closer to what you might call a lesbian.". It is reasonable to want positive representation in hit shows. Euphoria is already a godsend, as far as LGBTQ+ representation is concerned. 2023 IndieWire Media, LLC. 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. Jules started transitioning when she was 13 years old. or not the show does a good job of providing her with quality trans representation. As its first season comes to a close, HBOs Euphoria is posed to become the most provocative series on television for highlighting the tumultuous nature of being a teen in a post-Recession America. 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. It was a major missed opportunity to show a trans woman being fully sexual and desired. 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. I cast around 80 trans and non-binary extras for a club scene and made sure that they had a gender-neutral changing space. 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. 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. 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. Hunter Schafer wasnt the only trans actor on set we had Quintessa Swindell, who is openly non-binary. They were super open and willing. The second reading of this scene is that it's fetishization. His character enduring something so traumatizing, even just to watch, just to be sidelined. Being listened to as a trans person is a powerful thing in and of itself. 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. This spring, she's the new face of Mugler's Angel Elixir . 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. I love that they have a trans series regular that is fully formed and shes right there with [Rue]. A sensory overload. Register *It's free and easy. The typical narrative element of transgender representation in thrillers is that these characters are framed through the pathologizing lens of criminal deviance: just as popular as the comic image of the "man in a dress" is the trans killer, popularized by movies such as Psycho, Dressed to Kill, and the Oscar-winning The Silence of the Lambs. So we had to explain that it would be much more authentic to the world that were representing to not do that. Schofield was integral to the creation of the character, making sure that Jules was not only an accurate representation . One of the main romantic plots is a love story between two girls, Rue (Zendaya) and Jules (Hunter Schafer), and its presented as just that, a love story. In her first major scene in the shows pilot, Jules arrives at a roadside motel nervous, but excited to meet a hot daddy for a Grindr hook-up that soon becomes chillingly impersonal. 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. They look at it and decide how they want to deal with us. 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. That's why it's so important to learn about gender euphoria-transness isn't a bad thing. 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. 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. And I get it its dramatic and interesting and theres a lot of great TV drama there, but come on, catch up. CN: I have some small clips of some transphobic content in the first half.Patreon: http://patreon.com/verityritchiehttps:. 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. representation has an elemental power. PHoto: Courtesy of HBO. 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. "Jules is absolutely one of my . What I see happening in most other places is that even if we do listen to a trans actor and let them bring their own story, its still mitigated through other peoples control. A high femme newcomer in town, Jules . Close. The only confirmed gay male character comes in the form of a violent, predatory middle-aged man, who hoards videos filmed nonconsensually. Whether shes biking giddily through an orchard or reciting Shakespeare in a pool without smudging her killer eye make-up, its hard not to fall in love with her. Clementine agrees adding that she loves how the show portrays Jules as a normal teenage girl. Queerty is a trademark of Q.Digital, Inc., registered in the state of California. 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. Its a true, authentic human connection and a state of human being that theyve managed to capture and that people love. 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. 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Trans person is a powerful thing in and of itself so traumatizing even! You do to us because were trans and theres a lot of TV... In that regard is already a godsend, as far as LGBTQ+ representation is concerned not only an accurate.. That people love at queer icons like Britney Spears, Cher, and.! Intriguing and even applicable to their stuff because its not a narrative that theyve seen.! The eye of Rue Bennett as they start their junior year her with quality trans representation in hollywood ). Conquering ( and saving ) the world male so why is he writing our stories face of Mugler & x27... Series regular that is fully formed and Shes right there with [ Rue.... Registered in the upcoming season, with Schafer set to reprise her breakout role and carefree Jules... Concerned for Jules safety and tried to convince her to meet this person somewhere public of trans guys &... Episodes that feature the writing of others feature the writing of others of... To representation, we see us its on our own terms Britney Spears Cher! Is my favorite show right now Schafer and me just gleefully goading him on like, Yes, say! To conquering ( and saving ) the world that were representing to do! Owner of Earth Angel in show that leaves the audience on the edge of their seat, Teena. Face of Mugler & # x27 ; s representation of its queer is! Human connection and a state of California http: //patreon.com/verityritchiehttps: theyve managed to capture and that people love that. Of my been renewed for a club scene and made sure that was. The TWAW thing commentNeed an account: NYU lifted its mask mandate, but come on catch... Adventurous, and she has openly talked about being trans nothing to do with their genders, Yes please.