Background
Drag does not have one sole origin and is not derived from only a singular kind of theatrical modality. According to Thais De Oliveira, drag has a strong a connection to classical manifestations of the ancient scenic world, oriental folklore, medieval Christian staging and now pop culture entertainment.
The Catholic Church used theatrical plays as a strategy for Evangelization, due to woman not being a big part of theatre during this time young boys were trained to interpret asexual angles or Marys.
When looking at human history there are many instances where the act of dressing up in drag aside from being an artistic and political position it is also a scenic need imposed by society and morality. From classical Greece to present day, men have personified the feminine image in different aspects from the most realistic way to the most exaggerated way.
Oliveira also says that since ancient times going back as far as to Greco-Roman civilizations thought the Western medieval cultures and oriental contexts (Japan, India, etc.) both drag performance and drag queens have interacted significantly with social issues.
Drag queens hold a special place in the LGBTQ+ community, they are often considered a pioneer of the Stonewall Riots.
Definition
Definition: Feminine attire worn by a man; also, apart or dance attended by men wearing feminine attire; hence., clothes, clothing. Slang.
People define drag as gay men who dress and perform as but do not to be women or have women(Schmid and Payam). Though this is a problematic definition it recreates binary categories of gender and sexual orientation. There must be a definition that is capable of encompassing the complexity of drag. Most drag queens identify as gay cisgender men and do not want to be women, however there is a variety of other gender identities and sexual orientations within the drag communities. A possible alternative definition is “self-identification as a drag queen is the best characteristic to distinguish drag performers from others who cross-dress or who parody gender in public arenas” (Schmid and Payam). A vague definition that is not held by preexisting categorizations.
Drag is also the deconstruction of masculinity. In the traditional sense the male assumption of intentionally implausible and outrageous femininity through make up, wigs, clothing, speech, demeanor, etc.(Paul).
Linguistics
Drag queen is a pretty transparent subsequent formation but the early dichotomy in significations of the second component should be borne in mind: queen, a ruler in her own right thus a public figure surrounded by pomp and regalia, queen originally a woman a female, later a bold or insolent woman. (Sayers). This able to combine the essence of drag queens where they are both elegant and bold.
The nominal use of drag was extended to impersonation on the stage as well as at events, with the prejudice of its times expressed adjectively.(Sayers). The term drag queen has changed over time, in the past drag had a negative connotations, though in today’s world it has a more positive connotation depending on the source.
Post moderen reveal other terms commonly used to designate practices related to this gender ambiguity, other ways of being transgender such as being a drag artist, queer, etc.
Examples
Influence of RuPaul’s Drag Race
The show popularized and stylizing drag culture eon television since 2009. Each season has a new record for audience size and gains more sponsors, exporting aesthetic consumption patterns to an increased broad public and lifting from marginalization artists whose work involves this type of performance.(Oliveira). RuPaul’s Drag Race has prominent themes of individuality, authenticity, and liberation all which can be therapeutic.
Major component of this show is about taking pride in drag and being part of the LGBTQ+ community. Throughout the competition the drag queens express pride in some often presented through journey related metaphors. They are able to take pride in who they are even more so then they already were. In some instances they are able to find new identities that align with them.
This show also promotes the idea of taking up space and taking pride in who you are. Being visible is not about being egotistical desire of ebbing seen as an individual, but the refusal to remain hidden and a claim for the right to exist in a public space and public eye unapologetically. (Marjanovic). Contestants and drag queens as a whole, refusing to tone themselves down.
Drag and Politics
Recently, drag culture has left the underground and entered the mainstream of adversiting and international standards of consumption. No surprise that American politics have started to take note of drag. In summer of 2022 there was “moral panic” over drag. Senator Marco Rubio wrote to the sector of the Air Force ro urge him to cancel a scheduled drag queen story hour at the Air Force base in Germany. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene promised to introduce bill preventing children from attending drag performances. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis filed a legal complaint against a Miami restaurant that hosted a “drag brunch” attend by children. (Paul). A major reason for these uprises is for “concern” for children, however these concerns are not because of the safety for children but due to homophobia.
This conservative political “panic” was a reaction to long standing liberal political appraise, especially from female cultual leaders. A reason for this is that drag can be seen almost feminist as it encourages and is a place where femininity can flourish and accepted.
The Self in Drag
The sigifinace of being a drag queen and the value is different for every performer the value of drag is assigned by them, drag can be liberating, fighting the patrichary and heteronormative ideas, an outlet for sexual social production.
The traits that are looked down upon or neglected are able to flourish within drag. A drag queen in a manner is intentionally flamboyant and public as to mock masculinity.(Paul). One of drag’s core element is the celebration of femininity. Drag is seen as challenging the established dichotomy between genders the subversive nature of drag can also be found in the reappropriation of the stigmatized femininity associated with gay men, which is embraced in drag and transforms into a strength. (Marjanovic). Emphasizing the sense of self of not being afraid of being scrutinized for being overly feminine, but rather praised for it. Drag is about authenticity the expression of the true self and belief in an equivalence between inner truth and its outer expression publicly. Drag queens if anything are as Kirsten Gillibrand says “unapologetically themselves”. (Paul).
Works Cited
De Oliveira, Thais Z.G. “IDENTIFYING as a DRAG QUEEN and the MEANING of WORK/IDENTIFICACAO E SENTIDO NO TRABALHO de DRAG QUEEN.” Galeapps.gale.com, go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=IFME&u=emory&id=GALE. Accessed 13 Oct. 2023.
Marjanovic, Natacha. “Be Proud, and Loud: Linguistic Markers of Pride in Drag Queens’ Spoken Discourse.” Discours. Revue de Linguistique, Psycholinguistique et Informatique. A Journal of Linguistics, Psycholinguistics and Computational Linguistics, no. 32, 22 June 2023, journals.openedition.org/discours/12425, https://doi.org/10.4000/discours.12425. Accessed 13 Oct. 2023.
Paul, D. E. “DRAG QUEENS: A MONTHLY JOURNAL of RELIGION and PUBLIC LIFE.” Www.proquest.com, www.proquest.com/docview/2765346061?parentSessionId=mwdaS9hZBOwavUpKQc80HETvprrBuzl4bMLbqIhE0zc%3D&accountid=10747. Accessed 13 Oct. 2023.
Sayers, William. “Drag and Drag Queen: Speculations on Origins.” ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes and Reviews, 12 Nov. 2021, pp. 1–2, https://doi.org/10.1080/0895769x.2021.2003178.
Schmid, Anna Theresa, and Shahin Payam. ““I Don’t Want to Have Sex as a Woman”: A Qualitative Study Exploring Sexuality and Sexual Practices of Drag Queens in Germany.” Journal of Homosexuality, 14 Mar. 2022, pp. 1–21, https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2022.2051117. Accessed 23 May 2022.