Videos

This page endeavors to capture some of the things that are way too complicated for words to describe. Surrounding the videos, you will see my own commentary and reflection that will helps readers to start navigating the visual terrain with words.

Christian Example: Peterson Toscano

Peterson’s Identity Piece (below) shows eight different identities in two minutes. It is a demonstration of how many people work to be comfortable with themselves. Peterson navigates external changes versus internal changes. This can be applied to trans-the( )logies by considering acceptance of our diverse expression as a manifestation of the divine.

Peterson also has put together Transformations, a one person play reflecting on gender transgressions within the Bible. I've seen the show, it is a site to behold! For more information on Transformations, check out Peterson’s Website: http://www.petersontoscano.com/transfigurations

Muslim Example: Tales of the Waria

Tales of the Waria is a documentary based on four transgendered people in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world. Below is the trailer for this documentary:

Even in this short clip, we can see how cultural and religious ideas have affected the lives of transwomen in Indonesia. "This is Akmal. We were together for seven years. He told me that if I had been a woman, he would have married me. I was just a place to stop until he found a woman." How incredibly sad!

Not all stories must be this way though. Below is the "Queen of the World" Music Video. In it, we see one of these Waria being fabulous and the star of the show! Although yes, there is some trans-phobia with the dancer who does not understand why grabbing her boob would be nice, this Waria is the star of this show! She definitely reads as having "the soul of a woman."

For more information about Tales of the Waria, please visit the documentary’s website: http://www.thewaria.com/

Jewish Example: Joy Ladin

What I find striking about this video is the sound of Joy's voice. She discusses being a teacher at a Jewish university, on being the only openly transgendered person at any modern orthodox institution in the world, the psalms, and more.

Joy Ladin brings an academic voice to the conversation on trans-theologies. Just as Judith Butler made people pay attention to gender studies by writing about it in a highly scholarly way, Joy Ladin is also speaking about trans-theologies in an academic way. Joy's approach is more accessible, however, because she works in some more personal stories. It is a great balance between authority and accessibility.