5.2 Trans Identities and Representation in Popular Culture

The Social Construction of Gender through Pop Culture

  • Gender and Media as a Learning Tool:

    • Gender is socially formed and understood rather than being purely biological.

    • The learning process of gender roles occurs in various institutions, such as schools and families.

    • Media and pop culture are primary sites for this learning. Everything we consume—from entertainment and movies to the social media accounts we follow—provides specific "pictures and ideas" about gender ideals.

    • These ideals dictate social expectations regarding:

    • Attire and clothing choices.

    • Physical appearance and aesthetics.

    • Appropriate career paths or professions.

  • Pop Culture and Trans Identities:

    • Pop culture constructs the understanding of gender for both cisgender and transgender individuals.

    • Transgender identity is defined as identifying with a gender other than the one assigned at birth.

    • For trans individuals growing up, media serves as a mirror to find representation that "looks like [them]" or feels "correct."

    • Trans people often pay close attention to the movements, mannerisms, and behaviors of the gender they feel aligned with through media observation.

Historical Context of Trans Identities

  • Longitudinal Existence:

    • Trans identities are not a contemporary phenomenon; queer and trans people have existed in spaces like Hollywood since its inception.

    • Key 20th-century examples include:

    • Christine Jorgensen.

    • Billy Tipton (sometimes referred to as Tiptonsen in the transcript).

    • Records of gender diversity extend much further back into history, though the specific term "transgender" is contemporary.

  • The Issue of Historical Archives:

    • There is a common misconception that trans identities are "newfangled" or a modern trend.

    • Historical records often lack trans and queer representation because individuals frequently hid these parts of themselves due to ongoing social policing.

    • This connection is similar to the challenges faced with the HIV/AIDS archive, where much history was lost or obscured.

    • Gender diversity is a fundamental part of human history and the natural world; dismissing it as "new" is considered misguided and ignorant.

Common Tropes and Representation in Media

  • Intertwining of Gender and Sexuality:

    • Performance of gender is often closely linked to sexual orientation in media representation.

    • Historical prejudices, such as the Hays Code (Hollywood Production Code), have shaped how these identities are portrayed.

  • The "Cis Actor in a Trans Role" Trope:

    • There is a long history of casting cisgender actors to play transgender characters. Examples include:

    • Hilary Swank as Brandon Teena in Boys Don't Cry (1999).

    • Jeffrey Tambor in Transparent.

    • Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl.

    • Felicity Huffman in Transamerica.

    • Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club.

    • The Complexity of Casting:

    • In the late 1990s (e.g., during the release of Boys Don't Cry), trans identity was highly marginalized, and it was often dangerous for trans actors to be "out and proud."

    • In contemporary times, the failure to cast talented trans actors is seen as a missed opportunity and potentially harmful.

    • Harmful Effects: Cis actors playing trans roles can suggest that gender is merely something one "puts on," potentially resulting in performances that are exaggerated, tokenizing, or missing the nuances of the lived trans experience.

    • Actor Complexity: The speaker mentions that Jeffrey Tambor received critical acclaim for his role in Transparent, despite his later reputation as a "bad person" outside of his acting roles (similar to the complexity of enjoying his work in Arrested Development).

  • The Villain or Monster Trope:

    • Trans and gender-nonconforming characters are often cast as the antagonist or the "monster."

    • Buffalo Bill (Silence of the Lambs): This character is highly debated; some trans people reclaim the character, while others denounce it as harmful. The character notably does not explicitly call themselves trans, but the label is often applied.

    • Pretty Little Liars: Mentioned as having a problematic plot involving trans identities (referenced via a YouTube series by Mike's Mic).

    • Historical Punishment: Under the Hays Code, queer characters were only permitted if they faced punishment or a "comeuppance" by the end of the narrative.

  • The Deception Trope:

    • Portraying transness as a "deception" that is "traumatizing and horrific" for others.

    • Ace Ventura: Cited as a primary example of this harmful narrative of deception.

  • The Tragic Narrative Trope:

    • Trans stories in media frequently end in death, tragedy, or a sad life.

    • This lack of positive representation can be devastating for young trans people trying to understand their future.

The Importance of Context: Ivan Coyote and Lou Reed

  • Ivan Coyote and "Rebent Sinner":

    • Ivan Coyote is an artist, writer, and former instructor at Western University.

    • They emphasize that while activism and speaking out against harmful representation are necessary, context matters.

  • The Lou Reed Controversy:

    • Coyote recounts a story of a university pride group attempting to ban the song "Walk on the Wild Side" by Lou Reed due to its language and perceived harm to trans people.

    • However, many trans and queer people pushed back, arguing the song was historically important and a lifeline for them.

    • Coyote's Experience: Growing up as a 12-year-old trans kid in the Yukon with no words for their identity, hearing Lou Reed sing about "Jackie thinking like James Dean" was transformative.

    • Verbatim Quote: "I felt those words enter my ears and slip into my blood, and that blood found its way into my heart to make it pound and drink oxygen, and all of a sudden, someone else like me existed in the world."

    • Lesson: Imperfect representation is often better than no representation, and past creators should not always be judged by modern linguistic standards.

Cult Classics and Language Evolution

  • The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975):

    • A cult classic known for gender-bending and gender-nonconforming representation.

    • While some modern audiences critique it for "problematic language" or the depiction of sexual violence, it was revolutionary for its time.

    • The term "transgender" was not widely used in 1975. The song "Sweet Transvestite" uses the language available at the time.

    • Historical figures like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera also used the terminology of their era to refer to themselves, and those choices should be honored.

  • Key Media Recommendations:

    • Lou Reed: "Walk on the Wild Side."

    • The Rocky Horror Picture Show: The introduction of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (played by Tim Curry, featuring Susan Sarandon).