{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Short description|American artist}} {{Infobox artist | name = Jules Trobaugh | image = John Trobaugh (self-portrait).jpg | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|11|20}} | birth_place = Lansing, Michigan | death_date = | death_place = | field = Photography, Drawing, Printmaking | training = 1996: BFA (Hons) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham<ref name="bio" /><br />2003: MFA from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa<ref name="bio" /><br />2019: EdD from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University<ref name="bio" /><ref name = EdD>{{cite web|url = https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/current-students/graduation/doctoral-convocation/doctoral-degrees#alt|publisher = Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University|title = Doctoral Degrees – Academic Years: 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022 – Administration, Leadership & Technology|year = 2023|access-date = April 16, 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220613163639/https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/current-students/graduation/doctoral-convocation/doctoral-degrees|archive-date = June 13, 2022}}</ref> | movement = Queer theory | works = "Double Duty Series" | patrons = The University of Alabama Birmingham Visual Art Gallery Collection | influenced by = | influenced = | awards = | birth_name = John Trobaugh }} '''Jules Trobaugh''' (born '''John Trobaugh''' on November 20, 1968) is an American artist specializing in photography.
While teaching at Sheldon State in Tuscaloosa Alabama, Trobaugh's work was censored before a planned exhibition.<ref name = WPHM>{{Cite web|first = Steve|last = Chiotakis|date = March 28, 2008|url = https://www.wbhm.org/News/Public_Arts_Funding.html|title = Public arts funding|work = NPR News and Classical Music|publisher = WPHM|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080723115731/https://www.wbhm.org/News/Public_Arts_Funding.html|access-date = December 4, 2019|archive-date = July 23, 2008}}</ref> The decision attracted comment and criticism from sources both local<ref name = WPHM /><ref name="cruz" /> and from further afield,<ref name = NYArtsMag>{{cite web|url = https://nyartsmagazine.net/john-trobaugh/|title = John Trobaugh|work = NY Arts Magazine| date=December 12, 2006 |access-date = April 16, 2023}}</ref><ref name = ChronHigherEd /><ref name = Kennicott /> including a resolution titled "Defend Academic Freedom at Shelton State" from the University of Alabama Faculty Senate.<ref name = BirmFreePress /> The censorship was seen as part of ongoing culture wars viewing same-sex attraction and gay marriage as issues about love rather than sex.<ref name = Kennicott />
==Education== Trobaugh received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1996 with honors from University of Alabama at Birmingham and went on to study photography at the School of Visual Arts. In 2003, she received her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Alabama. In 2019, she received her Doctorate of Education from New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development,<ref name="bio">{{Cite web |title=Jules Trobaugh, MFA, EdD |url=https://www.umassmed.edu/dio/about/meet-the-team/jules-trobaugh/ |access-date=April 14, 2023 |website=University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School |date=December 17, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414171511/https://www.umassmed.edu/dio/about/meet-the-team/jules-trobaugh/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name = EdD /> who also awarded her a "Distinguished Problem of Practice in Leadership and Innovation Award" in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/current-students/graduation/awards/2022-departmental-awards|publisher = Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University|title = 2022 Departmental Awards|year = 2023|access-date = April 16, 2023|archive-date = June 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613161708/https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/current-students/graduation/awards/2022-departmental-awards}}</ref>
==Work== In 2003, Trobaugh became an adjunct professor at Shelton State Community College.<ref name="cruz">{{cite news|last = Cruz|first = Gilbert|title = Censoring free speech or setting standards?|url = https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2003/10/23/censoring-free-speech-or-setting-standards/27850400007/|access-date = 15 April 2023|work = The Tuscaloosa News|date = 23 October 2003}}</ref> The college, on the order of its president, removed Trobaugh's "Double Duty" photograph exhibit of Ken and G.I. Joe dolls embracing each other from a public gallery.<ref name = WPHM /><ref name="cruz" /> The figures depicted were "completely clothed, and doing nothing that would earn even the most puritanical parent's disapproval," according to the ''Washington Post''.<ref name = Kennicott /> The college said the removal was because the content was controversial and because the exhibition coincided with the College theatre's production of ''Arsenic and Old Lace'' (which it described as a "family comedy"), and not because of its homosexuality.<ref name="cruz" /><ref name = ChronHigherEd>{{cite magazine|magazine = The Chronicle of Higher Education|title = Sense and Censorship|first = Will|last = Potter|date = November 14, 2003|access-date = April 16, 2023|url = https://www.chronicle.com/article/sense-and-censorship-25103/|url-access = registration}}</ref><ref name = Kennicott /> Art History Professor Richard Meyer stated that the work "challenges a common concept of masculinity" through a suggestion of homoeroticism and "not because of any graphic depiction of sexuality."<ref name = NYArtsMag /> Art critic Philip Kennicott described the work as being "as far from obscenity as the risque is removed from the romantic," and argued that, in portraying same-sex attraction as being about love rather than sex, Trobaugh's work became part of the neoconservative culture wars around gay marriage that were controversial at that time.<ref name = Kennicott>{{cite news|title = 'Gay' Art: Dolled Up and Still Dressed Down|newspaper = Washington Post|first = Philip|last = Kennicott|authorlink = Philip Kennicott|date = November 30, 2003|access-date = April 16, 2023|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/2003/11/30/gay-art-dolled-up-and-still-dressed-down/29d203a1-7063-4850-aa13-7887b2ff3ca8/}}</ref> The Chronicle of Higher Education described the College as having a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in relation to G.I. Joe, also placing Trobaugh's work as a target in ongoing culture wars.<ref name = ChronHigherEd /> The Faculty Senate at the University of Alabama defended Trobaugh, voting 23-13 to pass a resolution to "Defend Academic Freedom at Shelton State".<ref name = BirmFreePress>{{cite news|url = https://birminghamfreepress.com/v4.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = December 14, 2005|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051214174504/https://birminghamfreepress.com/v4.html|title = Trobaugh Photos Banned in Alabama|date = Spring 2004|first = Stephen|last = Smith|work = Birmingham Free Press|volume = 4}}</ref>
In 2005, Space One Eleven exhibited Trobaugh's work alongside Karen Graffeo for ''"In This Place"''. M. K. Matalon organized this exhibition to investigate place and location in relationship to contemporary Southern issues.<ref>[http://www.spaceoneeleven.org/pr/Graffeo_and_Trobaugh_SOE_Press_Release.html "''Graffeo/Trobaugh''" ''"In This Place''"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929034351/http://www.spaceoneeleven.org/pr/Graffeo_and_Trobaugh_SOE_Press_Release.html |date=September 29, 2007 }}</ref>
Trobaugh's work was selected to be part of ''Patterns of Nature'' in Denver, Colorado.<ref>[http://math.colorado.edu/~farsi/conference/slide_trobaugh.html ''Patterns of Nature''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612172359/http://math.colorado.edu/~farsi/conference/slide_trobaugh.html |date=June 12, 2010 }}</ref>
Trobaugh was included in "Politics, Politics: Nine Artists Explore the Political Landscape" curated by Anne Arrasmith and Peter Prinz of Space One Eleven. This exhibition was funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and included Pinky Bass, Clayton Colvin, Peggy Dobbins, Randy Gachet, binx Newton, Arthur Price, Paul Ware, and Stan Woodard.<ref>[http://www.spaceoneeleven.org/press_releases.html Space One Eleven Press Release] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020194416/http://www.spaceoneeleven.org/press_releases.html |date=October 20, 2006 }}</ref>
Trobaugh was a presenter for ''Photography in the Digital Age'' by The Society For Photographic Education South Central Regional Conference, 2003. This meeting took place at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Birmingham Museum of Art in Birmingham, Alabama<ref>[http://www.uab.edu/scrcphoto/SPE_PDF.pdf Society For Photographic Education South Central Regional Conference] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060508220308/http://www.uab.edu/scrcphoto/SPE_PDF.pdf |date=May 8, 2006 }}, 2003</ref>
In 2009, Trobaugh moved to Worcester, Massachusetts with her husband and son. Trobaugh became involved in Worcester civic life first through Worcester Pride, a local LGBTQ+ organization, then by running for school committee.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Trobaugh|first=John|date=April 7, 2011|title=The Lists Lengthen|work=Worcester Mag|url=https://issuu.com/worcestermag/docs/040711wm/11|access-date=January 15, 2019}}</ref> Trobaugh works in the Diversity and Inclusion Office at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.<ref name="bio" />
== Personal life == In March 2023, Trobaugh came out as a transgender woman.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mudambi |first=Veer |date=April 1, 2023 |title=Pride, support take stand at Trans Day of Visibility rally in Worcester |work=Telegram & Gazette |url=https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/worcester/2023/04/01/trans-day-of-visibility-rally-held-outside-worcester-city-hall/70060959007/ |access-date=April 14, 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20061209140511/http://www.ncac.org/censorship_news/20040203~cn092~Tuscaloosa_College_Bans_Photos.cfm National Coalition Against Censorship] Winter 2002–2003 Example of Trobaugh's work * [http://www.sito.org/cgi-bin/egads/segads?idonly=tro SITO] Examples of Trobaugh's work * [http://www.almalopez.net/ORnews2/041100ap.html ''After the Culture Wars''] Richard Meyer, Art Papers This became a 150-page catalog documenting the exhibition in 2006
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Trobaugh, John}} Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:American portrait photographers Category:American transgender artists Category:Artists from Lansing, Michigan Category:Censorship in the arts Category:Photographers from Alabama Category:Photographers from Michigan Category:Photography controversies