Quick Facts
Biography
Jules Rosskam is an American trans filmmaker, author, educator, activist, and artist. He is best known for his film Against a Trans Narrative (2008). Jules Rosskam has been noted as a filmmaker whose work has been a large part of the trans narrative discussion in the twenty-first century. His use of stories, poetry, and other forms of art in combination with an experimental documentary style offers a provocative and educational look into the struggles, medical decisions, and lives of transgender people.
Biography
Rosskam was born in 1979. In 2001 he received a BA in Visual Arts at Bennington College.
Career
Rosskam wrote an article titled, The Ties that Bindin November 2010 published by Women & Performance: A Journal of Feminist Theory. This article is an account of the struggle to state the issues trans peoples fight without the negative appeal of the media. Rosskam strives to represent the trans community in an honest light that strives to do justice to all.
In November 2014, Rosskam also had an article published by TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly titled "Porous Cels." Rosskam provokes a nonsensical view of the way in which the media and society look at the relationships of trans peoples. He reveals and identifies the hardships, triumphs, and overall misunderstood conception around trans relationships.
Rosskam is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor in Film/Video Production at the Hampshire College He is also the co-chair of the Division III: QPOCALYPSE committee at the college.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Roles | Distributor | Screenings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | TransParent | Director | MamSir Productions | 2009 : Manchester Pride Film Festival 2008: Kansai Queer Film Festival (Japan) WTTW Public Broadcasting (Chicago) 2007: Out and Equal Workplace Summit 2006: Hamburg International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival 2005: San Francisco International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival |
| 2008 | Against a Trans Narrative | Director, and Film Editor. | Video Data Bank | |
| 2012 | Thick Relations | Director | ||
| 2013 | No Place but Between Us | Director | ||
| 2015 | Paternal Rites | Director |
TransParent was released in 2004. It looks at the conventional structures of what makes someone "female" or "male" and the ways in which gender forms the perspectives of who and what you are.
Against a Trans Narrative was released in 2008. The running time is 61 minutes. This film is a personal look into the collective lives of trans peoples stories that is displayed in a non-linear format that attests to Rosskam's experimental style. Rosskam looks to go against the normal conventions of storytelling to bring a piece that is able to generate a discussion around the topics gender identity in society.
Thick Relations was released in 2012. The running time is 85 minutes. Rosskam takes an original look at the queer communities within cities. Rather than define the relationships and lives of these peoples Rosskam looks to provide a candid representation that is open to ones personal understanding.
No Place But Between Us was released in 2013.
Paternal Riteswas released in 2015. This is an essay style film focusing on the issues and complexity of family connections.