Review and Analysis of the Documentary Film “Transgeneration” by Jeremy Simmons

 

 • Other essays and articles on film can be found in the Arts Archives at ArticleMyriad •

 

The film “Transgeneration” by Jeremy Simmons does an excellent job of portraying the social and inner lives of three transgendered college students as they attempt to create and reconstruct their identities, both sexually and socially.  This documentary film “Transgeneration” by Jeremy Simmons offers viewers an intimate look at the daily struggles transgendered people face, however, despite the rich portrait of their social, family, and college lives, the medical aspects of being a transgendered person are virtually ignored and are only discussed in terms of hormone therapies and ways for students in the film can further reach their goal of becoming the opposite sex.

 

While this is not a problem necessarily, to be complete this particular documentary film by Jeremy Simmons, “Transgeneration” should have included more of these elements.  Perhaps if the families of these individuals, especially those without accepting mothers and fathers, understood the biological facts and issues related to being a transgendered person they might find acceptance of their children to be easier.  Furthermore, for viewers of The film “Transgeneration” by Jeremy Simmons may not be intimately aware of what being transgendered means, having some biological or medical discussion about the topic might be of use and might further the film’s apparent aim, which seems to be to present a transgendered persons in a way that makes viewers see they are just like us with similar goals, concerns, and the same wish to find acceptance and happiness.

 

Although there is a great deal of discussion about medical procedures in the documentary film “Transgeneration” by Jeremy Simmons, such as hormone therapies, gender reassignment surgery, and other medical methods used for transgendered persons to achieve their ideal gender, there is little explanation about what these procedures entail and perhaps more importantly, what the goal is aside from mere aesthetics or feeling like the other gender. Knowing the biological and medical benefits of such therapies and actions might help viewers of in the documentary film “Transgeneration” by Jeremy Simmons further understand the desire to have gender re-assignment surgery or to undergo hormone treatments—a need that was so great that one of the students got hormone drugs illegally.

 

Furthermore, by putting at least a few of the issues presented in a biological or medical light, it might help viewers of in the documentary film “Transgeneration” by Jeremy Simmons connect to what they’ve already learned about being transgendered because of the media attention to the topic. In recent years there have been several attempts by mass media to explore the topic of what it means to be transgendered.  This discussion came in the wake of arguments and debates about the biological basis for homosexuality in these conversations so continue. To accurately represent the full scope of the topic in in the documentary film “Transgeneration” by Jeremy Simmons, rather than just presenting the daily lives of these four college students, the film should have at least attempted to demystify some of the medical, biological, and more grounded issues related to being a transgendered person.

 

With that said however, in the documentary film “Transgeneration” by Jeremy Simmons is nonetheless an informative look into the lives of these four people as they struggle with their identity, not so much their own identity per se, but in terms of how their identity fits into the distinct male/female paradigm people are most comfortable with. As this analysis of the film states, espite its lack of exploration of the medical side of the issue of being a transgendered person, what the film does do a great job of is demonstrating how difficult it can be to be different in our culture.  Interestingly, it is not just American society that harbors these biases.  For example in in the documentary film “Transgeneration” by Jeremy Simmons, T.J. comes from a traditional Greek family they cannot accept that their child is transgendered.  This lack of acceptance carries over into American society and affects all four characters in similar ways, making them sometimes ashamed and sometimes aggressive about defending who they feel they are.

 

In short, despite some of the weaknesses discussed in this analysis of in the documentary film “Transgeneration” by Jeremy Simmons it is certainly true that this film shows how difficult it is to be accepted and to make one’s way without a firm sense of identity that is accepted and points out problems in our societies that revolve around a lack of understanding which lead to a lack of acceptance. With medical details, this might still be the case but there would be more information, at the very least.

Here you will find one of the many informative random articles, essays, or rants located here at Article Myriad. Clicking on any of the titles will magically transport you to the land of random articles, essays, and general tidbits--all of which have been painstakingly written and researched by one of us here at Article Myriad. A better system of organization of essays and pieces will eventually develop, we promise, but until that time, just enjoy the hodge-podge effect and let it help you meander rather than barrel through the site as if you have some kind of purpose. Because you don’t have a purpose here, do you? You’re just procrastinating—putting something off, aren’t you? ....  We thought so.

Again, if you you find an article or essay that makes your life better, easier, or just plain happier / enriched, please don’t hesitate to support your friends here with a small donation. It keeps us able to write. Visit our homepage for more on that matter and thanks!