Trans Cinema
Making Communities, Identities, and Worlds
Format:Paperback
Publisher:University of California Press
Published:14th Apr '26
Should be back in stock very soon
An exciting introduction to cinema by the trans creators who are innovating filmmaking to imagine a more inclusive world.
Since the 1990s, a largely underground upwelling of trans creativity has helped new trans identities, communities, and political movements come together. In Trans Cinema, Laura Horak provides an entryway to the wildly diverse and creative cinema made by trans creators, including those who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Overlooked until now, this rich collection of media ranges in genre from romantic comedies to horror films and asks essential questions about how to be human and how to craft a livable life in a world on fire.
Using the fundamentals of film studies, Horak reveals the innovative approaches taken by trans and gender-nonconforming artists to explore how we relate to other people, what it's like to have a body, and how we survive in an oppressive society. These filmmakers tackle the challenging paradox of representing trans lives when greater visibility is associated with ever-increasing levels of harm. In the process, they produce art that emphasizes trans survival and resilience and imagines a more expansive world for trans communities.
"This encouraging book is a fitting tribute to the artists who are raising awareness of the realities of transgender lives. . . . An important resource for highlighting transgender visibility."
* Kirkus Reviews *“Horak makes insightful interventions in each of her chapters, and I highly recommend reading the whole book to sit with the thought-provoking questions and ideas she offers us about each topic.”
* Autostraddle *“Whether you want a book that gives you an impeccably researched set of recommendations to add to your watchlist, to understand the complex ways in which trans filmmakers navigate the representability of gender, or to figure out how to cope with the frustration and terror of the current climate, Horak’s book is for you.”
* Sight and Sound *“Horak makes insightful interventions in each of her chapters, and I highly recommend reading the whole book to sit with the thought-provoking questions and ideas she offers us about each topic.”
* Autostraddle *“Whether you want a book that gives you an impeccably researched set of recommendations to add to your watchlist, to understand the complex ways in which trans filmmakers navigate the representability of gender, or to figure out how to cope with the frustration and terror of the current climate, Horak’s book is for you.”
* Sight and SouISBN: 9780520425101
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
408 pages