Trans Media
TRANS MEDIA is discussion of trans representation, trans stories and allegories, and all other ways media (movies, television, books, music, etc.) speaks to and about trans people.
Begin Transmission: The Trans Allegories of the Matrix – I wrote a series of twenty-four essays that initially appeared as twitter threads. Those got me a book deal, and this is that book!
Includes deep dives into The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, The Animatrix, The Matrix Revolutions, and The Matrix Resurrections, tracking one person’s transition journey – from Thomas Anderson, to Neo… to Trinity.
Each movie’s allegory is deeply layered, building from movie to movie, and speaks to a different aspect of trans existence. You’ll learn how color is used to convey more than you realize, how Neo’s psyche is personified in the people around him, how no other mass media franchise speaks as truly, deeply, and honestly to the trans experience, and exactly why these movies are beloved and vital to the trans community (and their cis allies).
Free your mind, and see just how deep the rabbit hole goes.
Finding Our Own Representation (P!nk)
Implicit Queerphobia (A League of Their Own is great actually)
The New Past (KJ in Paper Girls, finding our own rep)
Physical Representation (the Hollywood ideal, Cara Dune, She-Hulk, finding our own rep)
This is Not for You 2 (let trans people have things, aka yes the Matrix is trans get over it)
Trans Representation (when it goes bad and the harm it causes, Lovecraft Country)
Trans Representation (when it’s done well and the good it does, Cyberpunk 2077)
Trans Representation in 2022 media
Trans Representation in 2023 media part 1: movies
Trans Representation in 2023 media part 2: tv part 1
Trans Representation in 2023 media part 3: tv part 2
Trans roles and stories (and who gets to tell them)
Interview with Maya Deane, author of Wrath Goddess Sing, part 1
Interview with Maya Deane, author of Wrath Goddess Sing, part 2
Interview with Shakina, writer/director of Quantum Leap episode Let Them Play
The Intentional (!?) Trans Allegory of Barbie, part 1
The Intentional (!?) Trans Allegory of Barbie, part 2
The Intentional (!?) Trans Allegory of Barbie, part 3
The Intentional (!?) Trans Allegory of Barbie, part 4
The Intentional (!?) Trans Allegory of Barbie, part 5
The Intentional (!?) Trans Allegory of Barbie, part 6
The Intentional (!?) Trans Allegory of Barbie, part 7
The Intentional (!?) Trans Allegory of Barbie, part 8
The Intentional Trans Allegory of I Saw the TV Glow, part 1
The Intentional Trans Allegory of I Saw the TV Glow, part 2
The Intentional Trans Allegory of I Saw the TV Glow, part 3
The Intentional Trans Allegory of I Saw the TV Glow, part 4
The Intentional Trans Allegory of I Saw the TV Glow, part 5
The Intentional Trans Allegory of I Saw the TV Glow, part 6
The Intentional Trans Allegory of I Saw the TV Glow, part 7
The Intentional (?) Trans Allegory of The Little Mermaid’s “Part of Your World”
The Intentional Trans Allegory of Real Genius, part 1
The Intentional Trans Allegory of Real Genius, part 2
The Intentional Trans Allegory of Real Genius, part 3
The Intentional Trans Allegory of Real Genius, part 4
The Intentional (?) Trans Allegory of The Twilight Zone’s “Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room”
The Unintentional (?) Trans Allegory of Silo s1, part 1
The Unintentional (?) Trans Allegory of Silo s1, part 2
The Unintentional (?) Trans Allegory of Silo s1, part 3
The Unintentional (?) Trans Allegory of Silo s1, part 4
The Unintentional (?) Trans Allegory of Silo s1, part 5
The Unintentional (?) Trans Allegory of Silo s1, part 6
The Unintentional (?) Trans Allegory of Silo s1, part 7
The Unintentional (?) Trans Allegory of Silo s1, part 8
The Unintentional (?) Trans Allegory of Silo s1, part 9
The original social media versions of my Matrix trans allegory essays are still up, and my intent is for these to remain available. However the book goes deeper, and includes things that aren’t in the threads.
If you’ve enjoyed or been helped by my essays, which will be free forever but are incredibly time-intensive and require a lot of work, please consider getting a copy of the book to help support what I do! Thank you!
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