- Author
- Florian Vanlee (UGent) , Frederik Dhaenens (UGent) and Sofie Van Bauwel (UGent)
- Organization
- Abstract
- This paper argues through a textual and contextual analysis of the first trans character in the Flemish soap opera Thuis that in Flanders, trans identities and practices are rendered intelligible trough inherently homogenizing and normative discourses. While these identities and practices are diverse by definition, this research shows that only a very specific configuration of them is validated and privileged – such as post-op transwomen – while all others – like transmen and genderqueer identities – are symbolically annihilated. Specifically, discourses on trans identities subscribe to hegemonic conceptions of gender, prescribing a full surgical transition from one monolithic gender to the other, while denying the possibility of a radically subversive queer space in between. This gender conformity is further enforced by the construction of physical beauty as the defining feature of a successful transition, and the representation of trans identities as simply “longing to be on the other side.” Finally, the apparent positive representation of trans identities collide with articulations of homonationalism – or transnationalism – that construct Flanders as a safe space for transpeople, while relegating all internal instances of transphobic violence to ethnic-cultural minorities.
- Keywords
- Television Studies, Transgender representations, Queer Theory, Flemish television fiction, Transnormativity
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Vanlee F. Franky reborn.pdf
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Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-8126560
- MLA
- Vanlee, Florian, et al. Franky Reborn : Discourses on the First Transgender Character in the Flemish Soap Thuis. IAMCR 2016: Memory, Commemoration and Communication, 2016.
- APA
- Vanlee, F., Dhaenens, F., & Van Bauwel, S. (2016). Franky Reborn : discourses on the first transgender character in the Flemish soap Thuis. Presented at the IAMCR 2016: Memory, Commemoration and Communication, Leicester, UK.
- Chicago author-date
- Vanlee, Florian, Frederik Dhaenens, and Sofie Van Bauwel. 2016. “Franky Reborn : Discourses on the First Transgender Character in the Flemish Soap Thuis.” In . Leicester, UK: IAMCR 2016: Memory, Commemoration and Communication.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- Vanlee, Florian, Frederik Dhaenens, and Sofie Van Bauwel. 2016. “Franky Reborn : Discourses on the First Transgender Character in the Flemish Soap Thuis.” In . Leicester, UK: IAMCR 2016: Memory, Commemoration and Communication.
- Vancouver
- 1.Vanlee F, Dhaenens F, Van Bauwel S. Franky Reborn : discourses on the first transgender character in the Flemish soap Thuis. In Leicester, UK: IAMCR 2016: Memory, Commemoration and Communication; 2016.
- IEEE
- [1]F. Vanlee, F. Dhaenens, and S. Van Bauwel, “Franky Reborn : discourses on the first transgender character in the Flemish soap Thuis,” presented at the IAMCR 2016: Memory, Commemoration and Communication, Leicester, UK, 2016.
@inproceedings{8126560, abstract = {{This paper argues through a textual and contextual analysis of the first trans character in the Flemish soap opera Thuis that in Flanders, trans identities and practices are rendered intelligible trough inherently homogenizing and normative discourses. While these identities and practices are diverse by definition, this research shows that only a very specific configuration of them is validated and privileged – such as post-op transwomen – while all others – like transmen and genderqueer identities – are symbolically annihilated. Specifically, discourses on trans identities subscribe to hegemonic conceptions of gender, prescribing a full surgical transition from one monolithic gender to the other, while denying the possibility of a radically subversive queer space in between. This gender conformity is further enforced by the construction of physical beauty as the defining feature of a successful transition, and the representation of trans identities as simply “longing to be on the other side.” Finally, the apparent positive representation of trans identities collide with articulations of homonationalism – or transnationalism – that construct Flanders as a safe space for transpeople, while relegating all internal instances of transphobic violence to ethnic-cultural minorities.}}, author = {{Vanlee, Florian and Dhaenens, Frederik and Van Bauwel, Sofie}}, keywords = {{Television Studies,Transgender representations,Queer Theory,Flemish television fiction,Transnormativity}}, language = {{eng}}, location = {{Leicester, UK}}, pages = {{18}}, publisher = {{IAMCR 2016: Memory, Commemoration and Communication}}, title = {{Franky Reborn : discourses on the first transgender character in the Flemish soap Thuis}}, year = {{2016}}, }