Jules Vaughn is a main character in the HBO series Euphoria. She made her acting debut as transgender high school student Jules Vaughn in the HBO teen drama television series Euphoria (2019-present), which earned her critical praise and nominations for a Shorty . 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. Holidays Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. 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. 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 . Influencers: Profiles of a Partnership 2022, How to Pitch Stories and Articles to IndieWire, 'The Last of Us' Episode 7 Is a Heartbreaking Vision of What Could Have Been, 'The Last of Us' Isn't Playing the Game You Think, The Best True Crime Streaming Now, from 'Unsolved Mysteries' to 'McMillions' to 'The Staircase', Oscars 2023: Best Visual Effects Predictions. Schafer, like Jules, is a trans and queer woman with acute insight into Jules character and what she might be feeling throughout the show by virtue of experience. 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.. Read on to get the full details on this fan-favorites backstory and find out when her gender identity is revealed. 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. The Yakuza series has multiple trans characters, mainly women. Euphoria season 2 truly "shocked" fans with "mature" scenes like Zendaya warned 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. already suffer from Levinsons inadequate writing. This thread is about good trans representation. Clementine agrees adding that she loves how the show portrays Jules as a normal teenage girl. As Schafer pointed out to Variety, There need to be more roles where trans people arent just dealing with being trans; theyre being trans while dealing with other issues. Its every cisgender person dealing with the Trans Person Being Trans, and the trans persons only narrative is transition, which would only ever be showing television shows about teenagers. Marginalized people want stories that represent the length and breadth of their experiences, good and bad. It does not store any personal data. A showcase of some of the best young up and coming actors. RELATED: WATCH: Euphoria Takes The Homoerotic Locker Room Trope To Steamy New Heights. Most characters on the show are all about participating in the most raunchy sexual relations, but according to a 2019 article in The New York Times, the percentage of real-life teens having sex is lower than ever before. 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 used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. In her first major scene in the show's pilot, Jules arrives at a . 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. Levinson is a heterosexual white man in his 40s and it shows. We have to start somewhere, said Valdez. Hunter Schafer, who plays trans teen Jules Vaughn on the hit HBO series Euphoria, is setting the record straight about her sexual identity. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. There are further issues beyond the show's complicated trans representation. But its not precisely the new hue thats captivating viewers. Euphoria also handles the characters sexualities extremely well. "Jules is absolutely one of my . The young persons guide to conquering (and saving) the world. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Rue finds out that Jules is trans in the third episode of Euphoria. In a 2019 interview with Dazed, Schafer said her sexuality is "closer to what you might call a lesbian.". 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. Please check your email to find a confirmation email, and follow the steps to confirm your humanity. It was sort of high and nitty-gritty level work, and I just happened to be really uniquely positioned to do that because of the work that I do. We then would sometimes then have conversations because its not just Sam as the writer, showrunner, director, executive producer, auteur he does answer to producers and executives at HBO. Oops. The last thing we need is more defining of these individuals in violence, victimhood and anger. Warning: spoilers abound! 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Levinson has 0 love for the LGBT community. Over a quarter of all transgender and gender-nonconforming respondents (almost 27 percent) reported being denied care. It's hard not to fall in love . At The Discos breakup, Review: The pain and beauty of modern intimacy in Closer Baby Closer, Review: Im Glad My Mom Died offers a new take on memoirs, Review: Suad Amirys Mother of Strangers powerfully portrays Palestinian life, Reading Guide: Fall in love with Deborah Levy, Review: Klara and the Sun examines humanity through the eyes of a machine, Review: The Sorrow and the Pity: Once illegal, now in theaters, Hello, You: A fresh new season filled with love and murder, Listen To This: beabadoobees Glue Song is a sticky earworm, Review: With This Is Why, Paramore continues to exceed expectations, Review: Yo La Tengo takes matters into their own hands with This Stupid World, The unexpected connection between Adam Himebauch, Adam Lucas and Hanksy, Q&A: Marjan Neshat on Sandra and her Iranian identity, Q&A: Foodmasku on channeling emotions into food mask art, Review: Oscar yi Hous East of sun, west of moon celebrates artistic autonomy, Review: FUKT reminds us that its never too late to redefine ourselves, Review: Return to Monkey Island is a nostalgic pirate adventure game, Call of Duty brings subtle yet impactful changes with new season, Halo Infinite multiplayer: the revival of a franchise, Review: Call of Duty: Vanguard beta revives the first-person shooter, Call of Duty: Vanguard demands historical distortion, Opinion: NYU needs to talk about gentrification, Opinion: Finals week schedules shouldnt be a mystery, Off-Third: Students wash clothing one article at a time to protest laundry conditions, Opinion: ChatGPT has untapped potential for use in the classroom, Opinion: NYU Admissions Ambassadors deserve more respect, Editorial: New York needs you to vote tomorrow, Editorial: NYUs adjunct union tentative contract shouldnt have taken this long. Photos Courtesy of HBO TV Features Euphoria. Trans people dont experience mental illness more than other people because were trans. July 7, 2019 8:00pm. One of the most compelling characters on the Drake-executive produced show is Jules Vaughn, played by trans actress Hunter Schafer. Now it's been renewed for season 3 after viewership went up by 100%. The male queer representation does not fare much better. Drugs are far from the only tool they are using to not think about the toxic state of the world. Sam Levinson overall has done a fantastic job in creating a thrilling show that leaves the audience on the edge of their seat. Polygon spoke with Schofield about his consulting work on the series and the contact high of working on Euphoria. Raised in Raleigh, N.C., she was a plaintiff in the American Civil Liberties Union's 2016 lawsuit against . Still, its a delicate line to walk, especially when the character is supposed to be underage (though Schafer is 20). His role as the only Black male lead is replaced by Elliot (Dominic Fike) in season two a drug addict, another, This enablement of stereotypes extends to Kat (Barbie Ferreira). Despite her struggle to find loving connections and the harassment shes faced, Jules is shown to remain a big-hearted and kind character. 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. One of them was Cal Jacobs, Nates father, who didnt know she was a minor. With that being said, Euphoria is undoubtedly an aesthetic masterpiece. Editorial: NYU lifted its mask mandate, but now isnt the time to be idle. And the thing is, like the self-harming isnt about Jules being trans, except that of course it is. I would go on set and see this representation that just felt so true and so right. Yes. However, subtle details in the semi-biopic film push it into bad representation territory. Most of all, they want their stories, especially the sensitive ones, to be told with respect. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Comments that are deemed spam or hate speech by the moderators will be deleted. 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. When she was growing up, Schafer . 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. Feels So Real, Even When It Isn't Realistic. Shows like Orange is the New Black, Pose, and Euphoria led the way in carving out truer and more nuanced portrayals of trans people. 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 . It is reasonable to want positive representation in hit shows. Euphoria's representation of its queer characters is becoming increasingly murky in season 2. Although many are appalled (myself included) by its graphic nature, it cannot be denied that the series paints a deeply authentic picture of queer people in a way that many shows have been unable to capture. And one million people are watching. It is not empowering or accepting: it creates a skewed view of homophobia that ultimately lets it slide. 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. In season one the gaze directed at Jules was described by many as "trans-amorous.". Elsa: Humor, Sunglasses, and a Bag of Chips. I went to the premiere and it initially kind of shocked me. 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. Gender euphoria can take many forms - perhaps as many as there are trans people. 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. 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. Editorial: The New York Times article on Maitland Jones was incomplete. Personally, yes, I do find "Euphoria" to be homophobic and transphobic. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. The only confirmed gay male character comes in the form of a violent, predatory middle-aged man, who hoards videos filmed nonconsensually. 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.". Editorial: Do no harm, Grossman. The show's graphic depiction of sexual activity couldn't be further from the truth. 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?. Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. 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 . That was the real joy of working on it. As Euphorias second season comes to a close, it only seems fitting to comment on the new season. Levinson does not give the character fair time to process, grieve or truly react. 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. But I understand that thats what a lot of teens are dealing with these days. With words, that was not said in any way. I dont think the show acknowledges Jules is very privileged for a trans woman, she says. newsletter, most compelling television series of 2019, not only gets, but respects, todays teens, advocate turned model turned teen drama star. "Euphoria" may be her first on-screen gig, but Schafer is no stranger to attention. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Asking this of Levinson is likely to be unfruitful. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Firstly, it is important to note that Euphoria is one of the most diverse shows on HBO at the moment, and at the same time it isnt. 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. A . What I love about [Euphoria] is that it just broke through all of that. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Please enter a valid email and try again. Newly sober at 16 after an overdose that nearly tore her family apart, Rue has found the one thing that can rival drugs for her affection: Jules. Yet the characters holding these obsessions are humanized by being shown through a sympathetic and honest lens. Jules transition journey isnt seen in the series, but her personal development and relationships are a fascinating part of the show. Luckily, representation of trans characters has improved with time. 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. 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. I said [to Sam Levinson], Jules is the one who gets herself more than anybody else on this show. Curious, adventurous, and carefree, Jules soon catches the eye of Rue Bennett as they start their junior year. Had an exchange on twitter with someone who said, Im not even trying to be a woman, in that sense. In an uncharacteristically safe move for Soloway, Josh balks at following through with a sexual relationship after finding out Shea is HIV-positive. Were so much more complex than just one identity.. The second season of Euphoria is preoccupied with a timeworn moral sentiment. 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. 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.. Still, the majority of the cast is white, and some of the shows non-white fans want a more racially diverse main cast. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Though the show is not exceptionally diverse, its characters of color, LGBTQ+ characters and characters from other marginalized communities already suffer from Levinsons inadequate writing. It has a very negative perception of the LGBT community. Content warning: This article mentions sexual assault. Also, for me to make sure that Hunter and Quintessa felt like their genders were seen and represented properly. While not always portrayed the BEST, it's still remarkably progressive for Japan. When do we find out Jules is trans? An internet sensation. Shes a very articulate trans woman and she already understands these things. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Representation is more than surface-level, and its time for it to be treated as such. 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. Still, it's dispiriting that, when it comes to representation, we see . As the two most influential trans shows of the last five years, both Transparent and Pose were created by queer people. Can you explain exactly what that means? Orange is the New Black (2013-2019) Netflix. but by Hunter Schafer, the actress who plays Jules, In season two, Sam Levinson tries to humanize this character. 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. Also, the show could better about sexual representation. 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. hbo. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Jules Vaughn is a main character in the HBO series. In terms of representing the LGBTQ+ community, Euphoria receives full marks as it is a pinnacle of positive representation. Photograph: Alexis Desaulniers-Lea. I dont trans-wash things. This was a deliberate choice one approved of by Hunter Schafer, the actress who plays Jules. Teen Vogue covers the latest in celebrity news, politics, fashion, beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and entertainment. Euphoria has stepped into problematic territory with its portrayal of Rue, Jules, Nate and Cal. Then, I came on set and I worked with everybody in the crew. 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. Jul 15, 2019 1,662. Marginalized people want stories that represent the length and breadth of their experiences, good and bad. When Jules recognized Nate from a photo of his wife and young sons on his phone, she quickly left after their encounter. 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. 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. Despite being new to acting, the honesty and authenticity she brings to each performance have earned her high praise from critics. Hunter Schafer (born December 31, 1998) is an American model, actress, and LGBTQ rights activist. 10. Euphoria and Pose offer two very different trans . 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. or not the show does a good job of providing her with quality trans representation. 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 . 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. 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. 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. Because again, it has nothing to do with their genders. A high femme newcomer in town, Jules . 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 the first season, we see her trying to navigate her womanhood and problems with intimacy. 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. 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. Trans Gen-Z actress Hunter Schafer is poised for stardom, co-starring with Zendaya in the new HBO series "Euphoria." . Its raw and honest portrait of addiction, anxiety and the difficulties of navigating life today. We wanted to make sure that everybody knew the writers and were showing and doing what they would and would not want to do. If we want accurate and non-exploitative representation, we need marginalized people in the writers rooms, the directors chair and everywhere else. 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. In stark contrast, she has a good relationship with her father, who supported her transition at a young age. Emily St. James is a senior correspondent for Vox, covering American identities. 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. Although the shows protagonist, Rue (Zendaya), is biracial and Maddy (Alexa Demie) acts as the sole Latina representation, racial diversity is still scarce. Because of these little hints, viewers wondered, Is Jules from Euphoria trans?. Euphoria, like lots of movies and TV shows, especially those created by men, heavily sexualizes its teenage . This spring, she's the new face of Mugler's Angel Elixir . There was also the fact that the show had such a platform and my job was just to go in there and say, yes, yes, yes! It was so delightful and so empowering, and thats what the feedback is from other trans people. This first-person shooter threequel includes two nonbinary characters. It was just in this pink football jersey that little Jules was wearing. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Jules transition journey isnt seen in the series, but her personal development and relationships are a fascinating part of the show. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Euphoria Resolved Season 1's Biggests Cliffhanger In The Most Underwhelming Fashion. Before she joined Vox in 2014, she was the first TV editor of . Euphoria. Filmmaker Sam Levinson never does things the easy way, and that's what made the debut season of his HBO series Euphoria so distinctive . Doncha love how theyre just abandoning the TWAW thing? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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 . 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. Eddy Chen/HBO. But am I saying Levinson is homophobic and transphobic? Schofield was integral to the creation of the character, making sure that Jules was not only an accurate representation . 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). Posted by. 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. Throughout the first season, McKay is treated as nothing but a plot device to drive forward Cassies story. 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. 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. One topic that often came up was how wild the show was and its most . While teen drug abuse has . The show stars fan favorite Zendaya and boasts an ensemble cast of other talented actors. Why is he using his negative views of people like us for this show? 1. 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. 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. 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. Polygon: You wore a few hats during the production of Euphoria. Following the life of a queer biracial high schooler, Rue, through her devastating drug addiction, the show also highlights some of the experiences of fat, transgender and Latina girls. Throwing Elliot in the middle of Rue and Jules's relationship fetishizes lesbians and is queer baiting. This turmoil peaks when McKay is sexually assaulted by members of his team and his fraternity brothers as part of a hazing ritual. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. trans, and is it ever clearly stated in the series? Trans excellence is finally holding water on mainstream television. 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.