I Saw the TV Glow

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Fandom
Name: I Saw the TV Glow
Abbreviation(s): ISTTG
Creator: Jane Schoenbrun
Date(s): 2024
Medium: Live-action Film
Country of Origin: USA
External Links:
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I Saw the TV Glow is a 2024 live-action film. The film became meaningful to many trans people upon its release.

Canon

The two lead characters, Owen and Maddy, bond over their fannish interest in the monster of the week show The Pink Opaque, inspired by the director's love of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, among other things (at one stage in development, the film was going to focus on Frasier fandom[1]). The Pink Opaque's protagonists, Isabel and Tara, share a psychic link and fight monsters from opposite sides of their county. The fifth season of the show ends on a cliffhanger, with Tara and Isabel buried underground and sent to the Midnight Realm.

When Owen and Maddy reunite after eight years apart, Maddy tells Owen that she believes that they are Tara and Isabel and that their suburban town (and by extension, the rest of their universe) is the Midnight Realm. Maddy believes that they can return to the universe of The Pink Opaque by burying themselves alive.

Fanon

The film is widely regarded as illustrative of trans experience. Many fans also view the film as resonant with autistic, plural, and otherkin experiences.[2]

Gender

Fan Interpretations

Some fans disagree on what name and pronouns with which to refer to Justice Smith's character. Some fans consider the character to be definitively a trans woman named Isabel and believe the use of they/them pronouns to be degendering.[3] Others believe that since the writer and director is transfeminine and uses they/them pronouns, that might be an equally valid interpretation of the character's journey.

Mass Media Interpretations

Most press for the movie refers to Justice Smith's character as Owen and uses he/him pronouns. A not-insignificant portion of reviewers opt not to discuss the film's trans themes, instead shaping their discussion of the movie around fan culture.

Creator's Response

Jane Schoenbrun's response to fans feeling frustrated with divergent interpretations by mass media and other fans.

1. Trans and cis critics generally had different initial reads on the film, which is an interesting litmus test and fruitful to discuss.

2. And also there is absolutely no *correct* way to experience or interpret a work of art nor should there be.

Imho both things can be true![4]

Race

Some fans feel like the script should have done more to consider race, highlighting scenes where Maddy rebuffs Owen's non-existent advances, as well as the overarching theme of Owen's fear being informed by the transmisogynoir that creates more barriers for Black trans women wanting to transition.[5]

Asexuality

Some fans interpret Justice Smith's character responding to the question "Do you like girls or boys?" with "I think I like TV shows" as evidence that the character is ace. Others consider that to be more indicative of gender dysphoria than of asexuality.[6]

Fanworks

[eraserheadadult]
when you go to the gender clinic you can ask about being buried alive left to scream and claw at the lid of your coffin until you emerge into your real body & your real name but idk if it's covered by insurance[7]
[karmelarts]
so much of the horror genre is informed by the metaphor of queer/transness as monstrousness. especially emphasizing the amount of horror that depends on the audience's repulsion at seeing a human body changing into a new, other body. I Saw the TV Glow is about the horror of NOT transitioning. the horror of static. the horror of looking into yourself and being terrified of what you see. the horror of seeing who you are and choosing to do nothing about it. the horror of looking away. and by god is it terrifying.[8]

Fanart

Art of Fan Reactions

Fanvids

Meta

Webweaving

Zines

Resources & External Links

References

  1. ^ https://www.tumblr.com/joculine/751356791323082752/oh-my-god-so-real-for-this-i-know-a-guy-like?source=share
  2. ^ https://letterboxd.com/kadybat/film/i-saw-the-tv-glow/
  3. ^ https://www.tumblr.com/isabelopaque/753824027664121856
  4. ^ https://x.com/sapphicspielbrg/status/1809644561053933612
  5. ^ https://letterboxd.com/bornfilmbear/film/i-saw-the-tv-glow/
  6. ^ https://www.tumblr.com/vriskadyke/753692386575745024/im-gonna-be-real-looking-at-the-scene-where
  7. ^ [1]
  8. ^ [2]
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