Transgender Cinema

Transgender Cinema provides a comprehensive overview of how trans people have been portrayed on screen, from classic Hollywood cinema to various media outlets, and considers the ongoing controversies sparked by these movies. It reveals how film and television have shaped how the general public sees trans people and how trans people see themselves.

Format: Hardback
Length: 130 pages
Publication date: 30 April 2019
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

Transgender Cinema is a comprehensive exploration of the representation of transgender individuals on screen, spanning from classic Hollywood cinema to various media outlets. The book begins by tracing the history of trans tropes, including comic drag scenes, androgynous characters, and psycho killer queers. It then examines a wide range of trans portrayals across documentary films, television serials, and world cinema. Throughout the journey, the book analyzes significant milestones in trans representation, such as The Crying Game, Boys Don't Cry, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and A Fantastic Woman.

As the book delves into the evolution of trans people onscreen, it also considers the ongoing controversies sparked by these movies and series within LGBTQ communities and beyond. Ultimately, Transgender Cinema reveals how film and television have shaped not only how the general public perceives trans individuals but also how trans people perceive themselves.

Selected Filmography:

Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: A groundbreaking film that portrays a transgender woman's journey through the Australian outback.

All about My Mother: A Spanish drama that explores the relationship between a mother and her transgender son.

Anak: A Filipino film that tells the story of a young boy who undergoes gender affirmation surgery.

Austin Unbound: A documentary that follows the lives of four transgender individuals in Austin, Texas.

Becoming Chaz: A documentary that follows the life of Chaz Bono, a transgender man who became a public figure after transitioning.

The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros: A Colombian film that explores the experiences of a transgender man and his family.

Boy I Am: A Swedish film that follows the life of a young transgender man who faces discrimination and rejection from his family.

Boy Meets Girl: A German film that explores the relationship between a transgender woman and a heterosexual man.

Boys Don't Cry: A Dutch film that tells the story of a transgender woman who is murdered in a hate crime.

The Brandon Teena Story: A American film that portrays the life of a transgender man who is murdered in a hate crime.

A Busy Day: A French film that explores the daily struggles of a transgender woman.

Call Me Malcolm: A British film that follows the life of a transgender man who struggles with his identity.

Carlotta: A Spanish film that tells the story of a transgender woman who works as a prostitute.

Change over Time: A Canadian documentary that explores the experiences of transgender individuals over time.

The Crying Game: A British film that explores the relationship between a transgender man and a woman.

Dallas Buyers Club: A American film that portrays the lives of HIV-positive individuals who resort to illegal drugs to survive.

The Danish Girl: A biographical drama that tells the story of Lili Elbe, a transgender woman who underwent gender affirmation surgery in the early 20th century.

The Devil Is a Woman: A Spanish film that explores the relationship between a transgender woman and a man.

Drunktown's Finest: A American film that portrays the lives of three women who work as police officers in a small town.

Facing Mirrors: A Canadian documentary that explores the experiences of transgender individuals in the entertainment industry.

A Fantastic Woman: A Chilean film that tells the story of a transgender woman who falls in love with a man.

52 Tuesdays: A Australian film that explores the relationship between a teenage girl and her transgender mother.

Flesh: A Japanese film that explores the experiences of a transgender woman who works as a prostitute.

Girl Inside: A American documentary that follows the life of a transgender woman who was born male.

A Girl like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story: A American documentary that tells the story of Gwen Araujo, a transgender model who was murdered in a hate crime.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch: A American musical that tells the story of a transgender woman who travels to Berlin to pursue her dream of becoming a rock star.

I Was a Male War Bride: A Japanese film that explores the experiences of a Japanese man who married a Korean woman during World War II.

Kate Bornstein Is a Queer and Pleasant Danger: A American performance artist and author who discusses her experiences as a transgender woman.

Kumu Hina: A Hawaiian dance troupe that features transgender women as performers.

La Cage aux Folles: A French musical that portrays the lives of two drag queens who run a nightclub.

Ma Vie en Rose (My Life in Pink): A French biographical drama that tells the story of singer Edith Piaf.

The Masquerader: A American film that portrays the life of a transgender woman who works as a cabaret performer.

Myra Breckinridge: A American comedy that portrays the life of a transgender woman who undergoes a sex change operation.

Orlando: A British film that explores the relationship between a young man and a transgender woman.

Paris Is Burning: A American documentary that explores the drag subculture in New York City.

Playing with Gender: A Japanese film that explores the experiences of a transgender woman who works as a prostitute.

Psycho: A American horror film that portrays a serial killer who targets women.

Queen Christina: A Swedish film that portrays the life of Queen Christina of Sweden, who was known for her androgynous appearance.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show: A American musical that portrays the lives of two aliens who land on Earth and are welcomed by a group of eccentric characters.

In conclusion, Transgender Cinema provides a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the representation of transgender individuals on screen, from classic Hollywood cinema to various media outlets. The book offers valuable insights into the history, controversies, and milestones in trans representation, and how film and television have shaped not only how the general public perceives trans individuals but also how trans people perceive themselves. By examining a wide range of films and series, Transgender Cinema provides a valuable contribution to the understanding and appreciation of transgender identity and experiences.

Weight: 226g
Dimension: 121 x 185 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813597348