2023
Transgender Networked Counterpublics Against the Backdrop of a Cis-Heteronormative Public Discourse
Master’s Thesis · Communication, Culture, and Technology Program · Georgetown University
Questions: (1) What are the salient themes and topics that emerge within the top 5 highest-scoring posts for each month between January 2021 and December 2022 on the subreddit, r/asktransgender? (2) In what ways do the technological affordances and networked aspect of Reddit facilitate and enhance counterpublic discourse with r/asktransgender?
Methods: Digital ethnography · Inductive content analysis · Close textual analysis
Findings: Prevalent themes and topics discussed in r/asktransgender between January 2021 and December 2022 include experiencing transphobia, politics, and the nuances of gender dysphoria and gender euphoria. Furthermore, my research highlighted compelling recurring phenomena, such as the significant participation of cisgender relatives and romantic partners of transgender individuals. This work also found that the networked aspect of r/asktransgender facilitates counterpublic discourse by transcending geographical boundaries and enabling anonymity, which can be beneficial for transgender people seeking advice from those who share their lived experiences and cisgender family members and partners looking for advice on how to support a transgender loved one.
2022
Saturated in Myth: The Silence of the Lambs’ Buffalo Bill & Anti-Transgender Legislations Across the United States
Conference Paper & Presentation · Backward Glances 2022: Saturation · Northwestern University
Questions: (1) What myths and ideologies do historical and contemporary media representations of transgender women construct and convey in mainstream American society? (2) What parallels can be drawn between these forms of representation and the political discourse surrounding anti-transgender laws across the United States?
Methods: Close textual analysis · Discourse analysis
Findings: In this work, I coined the term “Buffalo Bill Myth” to describe the stereotypical representation of transgender women as sexual deviants who threaten the safety of cisgender women and children, as portrayed in The Silence of the Lambs (1991). This conference paper draws parallels between this representation and the language used by supporters of anti-transgender laws. I argue that the political discourse supporting laws seeking to restrict bathroom access, transgender youth’s participation in sports, and gender-affirming care are akin to the historical popular media representation of transgender people (particularly trans women) as sinister and depraved.
2022
“Screaming at the Television: How Pose Fans Interrogate Cross-Gender Relationships Between Transgender-Cisgender Couples Through Networked Counterpublics”
Peer-Reviewed Academic Article · Gnovis Journal · Georgetown University
Questions: (1) How do fans of Ryan Murphy’s period drama series, Pose (2018 – 2020), analyze and discuss the depiction of intimate romantic and sexual relationships between cisgender people and transgender people within the fan community, r/PoseFX, on Reddit? (2) What do these fan discussions within r/PoseFX suggest about the representation of cross-gender relationships in popular media?
Methods: Audience study · Digital ethnography · Close textual analysis
Findings: This audience study made three crucial findings: (1) new media can complement traditional media by extending the discussion beyond the screen and to a shared space; (2) LGBTQ+ fans want to see accurate portrayals of their experiences, especially its more lighthearted aspects; and (3) queer-dominated online communities like r/PoseFX serve as networked counterpublics that challenge the dominant cis-heterocentric narrative and ideologies of the mainstream society.
2018
The Stories and Disciples of the Jesus of Suburbia: Political Discourse in Green Day’s American Idiot
Undergraduate Honors Thesis · Media Studies Program · University of California, Berkeley
Question: What elements of Green Day’s album, American Idiot (2004), appealed to fans at a time when its anti-establishment and anti-war themes and messages were unpopular in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks?
Methods: Audience study · Survey design and analysis · Close textual analysis
Findings: Based on the survey that was conducted, American Idiot (2004) remains a highly regarded album amongst Green Day fans, even for survey participants who indicated a different album as their favorite out of Green Day’s discography. The participants’ responses also suggest that American Idiot‘s commercial success at a time when its subversive themes were relatively out of the mainstream can be attributed to its themes of disenfranchisement: a sentiment that resonated with fans both personally (as teens when the album came out) and politically (in growing up in post-9/11 America). Moreover, the timelessness of the album’s theme and relevance during the first Trump administration in the United States also contributed to the American Idiot‘s continued popularity 14 years later.
Robin Calleja 