Asian American Transmasculinity as Palimpsest, or Adam's Ethan

• In Event: Trans Politics and Aesthetics

Abstract

This paper reads the relationship between Asian American transmasculinity and white cismasculinity through palimpsest theory in Rhys Ernst’s film Adam (2019) based off of Ariel Schrag’s 2014 novel of the same name. Drawing on M. Jacqui Alexander's work on palimpsests, and Jack Halberstam’s theory of the trans gaze allows viewers to unpack the ways Asian American trans man Ethan’s position as a masculine role model for white cis teenage boy Adam in the film seems to be premised on notions of stealth and erasure but actually subverts Adam’s hegemonic understandings of masculinity.

Presenter

• Jacob Roberts Lau, California State University Northridge