The introduction of digital technologies such as internet-distributed television or ‘SVOD’ has radically changed how the production, distribution and consumption process takes place. Contemporary television is now the likes of Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime and HBO to name a few. The undergoing change and transformation in Television also mean a change in representation over time. 

Trans TV indicates the transformation and the emergence of televisual representations of transgender characters (Goddard & Hogg, 2020, p. 256) therefore with the induction of new sexual identities and practices, television has moved away from the toxic masculinity like in tv shows Man Men (2007 -2015) and Breaking Bad (2008 – 2013) now with internet distributed television the step to change and progression means the representation of more diverse characters: such as trans and queer etc.

There have been many different representations of trans tv within television some of which are negative and present a mocking stereotype of the LGBTQ+ community. However, there is progressive change happening, in recent internet-distributed shows there have been more fair representation, and LGBTQ+ are presented in a multidimensional way. Using the example Euphoria, popular tv series by the platform HBO Max showcases trans tv in contemporary television. Euphoria’s described as being “a tv series that “normalizes and shows the trans character as ordinary, it shows Jules as a multidimensional teenager” the idea that she is a teenager first and is trans, it does not define her entire being and shows she has problems like any other teenager.

Euphoria moves away from the general and traditional narrative of LGBTQ+ characters, which would be a typical coming out the closet story or the transitional stage, instead in this series we see the reality and can view Jules as a normal teenager with complex storylines. The difference between this character and the stereotypical others could be the fact, Jules is in a space of freedom away from a negative or violent space, the character is also present to have value and not a sexual or fetishist objectification. 

References

Goddard, E. a. i. b. M., & Hogg, C. (2020). Introduction: Trans TV dossier, III: Trans TV re-evaluated, part 2. Critical Studies in Television: The International Journal of Television Studies, 15(3), 255–266. 

Hogg, C. and Goddard, M. (2018) Introduction: Trans TV as Intervention into Contemporary Television, Trans TV Dossier 1: Platform Television, Netflix and Industrial Transformations. Critical Studies in Television: The International Journal of Television Studies. 13 (4), pp. 470-474.

‘Euphoria’ and the portrayal of trans characters – Universitat de Barcelona. (2022). Universitat de Barcelona.

euphoria. (2019, July 8). euphoria | unfiltered: hunter schafer on jules vaughn | HBO [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJG5Q32INpA

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