Boston Cinema/Media Seminar: “Trans Cinema” Book Talk [Online]
April 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
| Location: | Online |
| Cost: | Free |
The Boston Cinema/Media Seminar presents:
Laura Horak will discuss her new book, Trans Cinema: Making Communities, Identities, and Worlds (University of California Press).
Horak will give a 25-minute book presentation, which will be followed by a discussion and audience Q&A.
Here’s a description of Trans Cinema:
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.
To pre-order: Visit the UC Press site and use the discount code UCPSAVE30 for 30% off at checkout.
Email Vinicius Navarro <vinicius_navarro@emerson.edu> for a Zoom link to the talk.