The evolution of RuPaul’s Drag Race across its seven seasons serves as a pretty decent reflection of the evolution of drag over the last several years. From the increased quality of the sets, to the quadrupling in prizemoney since season one, RPDR has moved from fringe entertainment to an almost mainstream, or at the very least cult, popularity.
The same goes for drag. While drag has been a staple on queer circuits for decades, RPDR has brought drag queens to a broader (read: straight) audience, as well as encouraged the rise of the international drag superstar – the touring queen who travels thousands of kilometres to lip sync in gay bars.
The format is now so well known, the scene so pervasive. Yet it hasn’t stagnated.
As well as documenting the increased popularity of drag, RPDR has also served to document the evolution of drag style, politics and performance. Where once queens were criticised for having stubble, in season seven a whole challenge was devoted to bearded queens.
In season one, during a rendition of Whitney Houston’s ‘Greatest Love Of All’, one queen, Shannel, lost her wig just before the crescendo. It was a dramatic moment. There were cuts to the horrified judges’ faces, dramatic drum beats and slow-mo as the wig fell, before the footage returned to normal speed as Shannel caught it, raw, her male head exposed, bursting into “The greeeaatttest love of alllll” with her arms stretched wide. The judges gave her a standing ovation. It was a true moment of ‘the show must go on’.
Now, it is so common for queens to strip during their lip syncs and reveal their male bodies that no-one blinks an eyelid.
It seems that drag is no longer a performance of exaggerated femininity. We’ve reached a point in our gender-political landscape that to camp up femininity as a man is no longer enough to push the boundaries required. The idea of the gender binary has been so worn down that an aspect of fluidity in drag performance is now almost expected.
This, to me, is far more interesting than a man in a dress. Drag has always been about questioning the nature of masculinity and femininity, so it stands to reason that these lines should remain firmly blurred. I don’t want to see how well a man can tuck his junk and contour his face; I want his masculinity on show, alongside her femininity.
As our society’s gender politics develop, controversies around drag queens and the role of drag alongside our trans community continue, with the most recent spate manifesting in the ban of drag queens from Glasgow’s alternative pride events.
I’m not in a position to comment on these issues with any real authority, but the very fact that these conversations are being had suggests a lot has changed since RPDR first aired. That we are now able to publicly debate the right of groups to claim certain words, or to access certain performances, is an indication of how much our political landscape has developed in recent years.
And drag develops alongside it, continually pushing those boundaries.
Where we’re headed next for a subversive performance style such as drag is always almost impossible to say. But having recently seen both mermaid drag and dog drag, I’d like to think the blurring between gender, human and beast is the Next Big Thing.
This Week…
If you’re into rock music, girl band Bandintexas are tearing up The Sly Fox this Thursday July 30.It’s free, and probably your best chance this week to pick up a girl in plaid.
The Underbelly Arts Festival is happening this weekend at Cockatoo Island. As with all arts and performance festivals, the best bits about it are queer, with appearances from the likes of Bhenji Ra and a whole host of amazing artists.
Also this Saturday August 1 is round three of the Sydney Roller Derby League. So I completely take back what I said earlier about Bandintexas being your only chance to pick up a plaid-clad girl. If that’s your thing, get down to Luna Park and cheer for Team Lumberjack.
Sunday August 2 sees the return of Poida’s Pavlova Bar. A tribute to Berlin’s Panorama, this House Of Mince daytime party will feature Phil Smart, Annabelle Gaspar and Jon Watts at the Lord Gladstone from 2pm.
