“Everybody’s story should be represented at all times in television…That doesn’t just get solved by a show, it gets solved by the nature of what television is. A show can be a pillar that’s holding up representation for a period of time, but it can’t do it permanently, so the work continues”

Landgraf in Turchiano, 2021

Representation in films and tv shows can be done in a way that either accurately highlights the lives of a particular community in order to show an understanding and appreciation over that group, or it can completely misrepresent people, cultures, or topics, and portray them in a negative way to audiences.

For example, the show ‘Transparent’ received some backlash, not only due to the “lack of representation in the writes room”, but also for casting a “cis male actor” in a trans role, who was later accused of “abusive behaviour” towards his trans co-workers (Goddard and Hogg, 2020). This is a problem because not only was the character misrepresented by someone who didn’t have the knowledge, life-experience, or even care for the character they were playing, they also showed a blatant disregard for their trans co-workers, making the show more of a mockery than a true representation.

Transparent (2014-2019)

However, this is completely different in a show such as ‘Pose’, which involves trans media producers in the process of creating accurate representation, while dismantling stereotypical tropes of transgender people as “dangerous psychopaths and sexual predators” (Koch-Rein et al, 2020). Not only did they have transgender individuals directly involved in the casting, directing, and producing of the show, but they also provided audiences with a sense of authenticity by casting several “trans women of colour” in lead roles (Goddard and Hogg, 2020).

Pose (2018-2021)

Although ‘Transparent’ was a step toward exploring diversity and representation, especially in terms of transgender individuals, it can be argued that ‘Pose’ went about it the “right” way by involving trans individuals in every part of the production process and having an authentic story and cast. This is especially important seeing as misrepresentation can be detrimental to trans people in a multitude of ways. However shows like this continue to be made with these communities in mind, creating awareness and visibility for those that need it the most.

by Emilia Woznicka

BA Media and Communications

Bibliography:

Goddard, E. and introduced by M. and 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), pp.255–266. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/1749602020937566.

Koch-Rein, A., Haschemi Yekani, E. and Verlinden, J.J. (2020). Representing trans: Visibility and Its Discontents. European Journal of English Studies, 24(1), pp.1–12. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/13825577.2020.1730040.

Turchiano, D. (2021). How ‘Pose’ Paved the Way for Better TV Representation — in Front of and behind the Camera. [online] Variety. Available at: https://variety.com/2021/tv/features/pose-final-season-steven-canals-impact-legacy-representation-1234946630/ [Accessed 6 Nov. 2023].