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Against Me's Laura Jane Grace slams Arcade Fire for transgender video Against Me's Laura Jane Grace slams Arcade Fire for transgender video
(about 1 hour later)
Against Me's Laura Jane Grace has reproached Arcade Fire for casting Andrew Garfield as a trans woman in their new music video. Grace, who is herself transgender, joined a chorus of criticism for the selection of a cisgendered male actor in the clip for We Exist.Against Me's Laura Jane Grace has reproached Arcade Fire for casting Andrew Garfield as a trans woman in their new music video. Grace, who is herself transgender, joined a chorus of criticism for the selection of a cisgendered male actor in the clip for We Exist.
"Dear @arcadefire, maybe when making a video for a song called 'We Exist' you should get an actual 'Trans' actor instead of Spider-Man?" Grace tweeted, adding later: "Dear @arcadefire, maybe when making a video for a song called 'We Exist' you should get an actual 'trans' actor instead of Spider-Man?" Grace tweeted, adding later:
The video for We Exist, which was released on 16 May, is described by the band as "the story of a young person's struggle with gender identity". Garfield plays a character who shaves his head and dons a wig and women's clothing before going out to a bar. There, confronted by yobs, he is kicked in the face; the ensuing fantasy sequence ends as Garfield's character joins Arcade Fire on stage at Coachella.The video for We Exist, which was released on 16 May, is described by the band as "the story of a young person's struggle with gender identity". Garfield plays a character who shaves his head and dons a wig and women's clothing before going out to a bar. There, confronted by yobs, he is kicked in the face; the ensuing fantasy sequence ends as Garfield's character joins Arcade Fire on stage at Coachella.
Grace is certainly not alone in criticising the casting of Garfield. "There seems to be a prevalent idea in Hollywood that viable transgender actors and actresses simply do not exist," wrote Bustle's Kat Haché. "This becomes particularly problematic when you’re casting a video for a song entitled We Exist. If so, where?"Grace is certainly not alone in criticising the casting of Garfield. "There seems to be a prevalent idea in Hollywood that viable transgender actors and actresses simply do not exist," wrote Bustle's Kat Haché. "This becomes particularly problematic when you’re casting a video for a song entitled We Exist. If so, where?"
Others have taken issue with the shape of We Exist's narrative. "I can’t help but feel the whole thing plays into the pervasive idea of trans characters as victims and freaks, destined to be oppressed by a world that doesn’t understand them," Tom Hawking wrote on Flavorwire. "Almost every time you see trans characters in popular culture, they’re either a) tragic, sensitive figures brutalized by the horrible world or b) flamboyant, hedonistic female impersonators who still end up as a) eventually." On Metafilter, a user called emmtee claimed Arcade Fire's clip reinforces the idea that trans people can only find "beauty, happiness [and] acceptance ... in death". Others have taken issue with the shape of We Exist's narrative. "I can’t help but feel the whole thing plays into the pervasive idea of trans characters as victims and freaks, destined to be oppressed by a world that doesn’t understand them," Tom Hawking wrote on Flavorwire. "Almost every time you see trans characters in popular culture, they’re either a) tragic, sensitive figures brutalised by the horrible world or b) flamboyant, hedonistic female impersonators who still end up as a) eventually." On Metafilter, a user called emmtee claimed Arcade Fire's clip reinforces the idea that trans people can only find "beauty, happiness [and] acceptance ... in death".
Win Butler has also complicated matters by saying that the song We Exist is "about a gay kid talking to his dad". "If the song’s about a gay kid, why is the character in the video trans?" asked Hawking. "Surely Arcade Fire don’t think they're the same thing?"Win Butler has also complicated matters by saying that the song We Exist is "about a gay kid talking to his dad". "If the song’s about a gay kid, why is the character in the video trans?" asked Hawking. "Surely Arcade Fire don’t think they're the same thing?"
Grace, who founded Against Me in 1997, made headlines in 2012 by revealing that she is transgender. She has become a leading spokesperson for trans rights and recently announced that she will be the subject of a new documentary TV series. So Much More will follow Grace's touring life and gender transition, as well as her conversations with other trans people. "I'm not the person I was yesterday, and I'm not the person that I'm going to be tomorrow," Grace told Rolling Stone. "I hope [the show] gives other people [the sense that] ... they're not alone in the world." Grace, who founded Against Me in 1997, made headlines in 2012 by revealing that she is transgender. She has become a leading spokesperson for trans rights and recently announced that she will be the subject of a new documentary TV series, So Much More, which will follow Grace's touring life and gender transition, as well as her conversations with other trans people.
"I'm not the person I was yesterday, and I'm not the person that I'm going to be tomorrow," Grace told Rolling Stone. "I hope [the show] gives other people [the sense that] ... they're not alone in the world."