"Becoming Chaz"

[princessbelle]

Thank you Thinker for posting that link. Was a great read!!!!

A couple of things stand out to me in the documentary. One is when he was at the FtM meeting and he said something to the effect of (not a quote)....i don't have a lot to say because i'm new to this and i am learning. I thought that was commendable and basically was saying just because i'm famous don't mean i have any more to add...i'm just learning my way.

Another thing is, as far as i can tell, he did not edit this documentary. I realize he did give his approval but he was just the focus and not the one that put it all together. I agree some of the comments and references should not have made the final cut.

This is not to excuse any negative thoughts or words that were seen. I saw them too. I felt that tinge of icky when he said a few things that i knew would not be accepted in most of the community. If he were on this site i'm sure he would screw up and get called on it like we all are.

But, i still think he at least is out there and i applaud him for that. Even though he said he could not have hid it all and choose to come out under his own control, he didn't have to make the documentary and take us through his surgery and some very personal things that he did.

It certainly wasn't perfect, IMO, but it was at least a raising of awareness, a direction, a thought, a glass dome into one person's life going through a transition that lots and lots of people around the globe at least got a general definition of what FtM even is.

personal note: My 77 year old southern baptist republican mother watched it. Her words were "I had no idea that people felt they lived in the wrong body. That they felt their physical gender was not who they were on the inside". This opened up a discussion with us. It was an open door to try and explain some things about my community. It was wonderful and would not have happened if she hadn't seen something like this from someone that most everyone knows.

I hope, at the very least, it will get people talking, thinking and discussing.

[Linus]

I think one of the things that the doc does poorly is maintain the idea that T is the cause of all the anger, frustration, "personality changes", etc. Personality stays the same but we tend to attribute it to T when in fact it was always there. We just ignored it or downplayed it.

[BullDog]

Originally Posted by Linus

I think one of the things that the doc does poorly is maintain the idea that T is the cause of all the anger, frustration, "personality changes", etc. Personality stays the same but we tend to attribute it to T when in fact it was always there. We just ignored it or downplayed it.

Yeah and unfortunately Chaz is reinforcing these ideas in his interviews.

[Soon]

Originally Posted by Linus

I think one of the things that the doc does poorly is maintain the idea that T is the cause of all the anger, frustration, "personality changes", etc. Personality stays the same but we tend to attribute it to T when in fact it was always there. We just ignored it or downplayed it.

I totally agree. I really hate that he *went there* about chalking up temper tantrums to the T.

[The Oopster]

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

That really bothered me too. I have to say that when I got on my full dose of T, my basic personality and the way I interact with people didn't change much. [COLOR="Black"]I am still me, still careful about how my words and deeds affect people, and I have made it a priority to not become self-absorbed into my transition.[/COLOR] Whatever my friends and family are going through, I still try to be engaged in their lives and a source of support for them. I have always been sensitive to the feelings and needs of others, and that hasn't changed.

Originally Posted by Linus

I think one of the things that the doc does poorly is maintain the idea that T is the cause of all the anger, frustration, "personality changes", etc. Personality stays the same but we tend to attribute it to T when in fact it was always there. We just ignored it or downplayed it.

I believe our sense of character stays the same but testorone is a drug and hormone and it does have side effects. But how these manifest in each individual is different and irregardless of how they manifest it doesn't excuse a persons behavior.

I know if I take my shot and I haven't eaten or if I take it too late in the day I will have a similiar effect to drinking several pots of expresso. The couple times i had this reaction I laid low until it passed, took note and I don't take my shot on an empty stomach nor at night. I knew i was on the edge and knew to stay clear of people.

Otherwise it has had the opposite effect on me. I am way calmer and mellower then I ever was. I am far less emotional. This doesn't mean I still don't have them they just aren't as easily seen. I use to bawl when watching extreme makeover home edtion, I now may have a tear or two well up. I am still touched but how it manifests in me is different.

I use to have extreme hormonal mood swing and actually what I called the pms flue and all that is gone. When things happen that would have put me in a tizzy i'm not really anymore. Do I believe some it is due to personal growth? yes but some of it is due to the change in my hormones.

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

As for some of his sexist comments about women and men in general, and his seeming assumption that being an asshole is just a male trait, those are things that irritate me because I know they aren't necessarily true. They aren't true for me! I keep thinking, and I don't want to be lumped into that stereotype. It is an ugly one and it doesn't have to be that way for men. My father is nothing like that. He is a kind and gentle soul who is very other-centered. I get these traits from him. I was raised by a father who isn't a sexist, self-absorbed pig. A lot of the assumptions that those are male traits ignores that fact that these are social constructs.

I didn't like the general stereotypes also. What is really hard is this is an account of Chaz's transition and not a documentary on transition in general. So I do see where this is his experience. What is hard is the fact that it does reinforce common misconceptions. Also that most people won't say "oh this is just his experience" They will lump it into a one size fits all.

Originally Posted by princessbelle

Another thing is, as far as i can tell, he did not edit this documentary. I realize he did give his approval but he was just the focus and not the one that put it all together. I agree some of the comments and references should not have made the final cut.

I hope, at the very least, it will get people talking, thinking and discussing.

I guess I don't know what the complete role of a producer is but I would think that the producer would get a say in what goes in and what doesn't go in. On his facebook "Becoming Chaz" page he is listed as the producer. You are correct in that he isn't listed as an editor but wouldn't a producer still have a fair amount of say?