Conceptual and historical review of trans issues in American TV series: narrative and audiovisual analysis of the character Jules in Euphoria (HBO: 2019-)

Abstract

Contemporary fiction TV series covers the representation of diverse realities, making them more relatable and attractive to audiences. Therefore, VoD platforms promote the inclusion of varied narratives and themes, particularly regarding the LGBTIQ+ community. The main objective of this research is to determine trans representation in American TV series. From a qualitative methodology, we review the related literature and conduct an in-depth textual analysis of the character Jules in Euphoria (HBO: 2019-). The analysis focuses on her personality, role, actions and factors related to her environment. Moreover, we examine the narrative and audio-visual features of her presentation and sex scenes to identify the focus of this representation. The findings show an increase in the inclusion of a trans character and progress towards an unstereotyped representation, favouring trans realities unconditioned exclusively by gender identity. The presence of the character Jules, the development of her own storylines, and the audiovisual resources used in her narrative exemplify this landscape. In conclusion, we highlight the television series’ positive contribution to the representation of the LGBTIQ+ collective, especially in VoD series.