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Original poster

Why is drag so popular now?

712 replies

Nothingcomesforfree · 17/08/2019 09:43

Genuine question. I have seen lots of posts on a Facebook this morning about attending some drag queen event. Mostly women and several bringing their teens ( both sexes)

It seems really popular but I have no idea why or what people going get out of it? Is it comedic or fashion or something else.

OP posts:
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15
LazyLemur · 17/08/2019 09:54

Isn't it just the "in thing" right now? Entertainment?
Drag queens do routines/performances/commentary etc.

Owls and zombies were the in thing 10 years ago. Zombies weren't fashion or comedy, They were just shit.
(Owls are still good)

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 17/08/2019 10:47

I enjoy a good drag queen (but I'm a queer woman, invariably going with LGBT friends)

They are entertainers at their core - they often have a trademark persona that they use, sing or lipsync, do a bit of a stand up comedy routine, audience participation and so on. It's an artform.

If you liked the Book of Mormon then you'd like Virgin Xtravaganzah; you also get more general performers like Fagulous who have a range of personas.

Hedgehogblues · 17/08/2019 10:53

It's Pride season

MagicKingdom17 · 17/08/2019 10:54

I can imagine that the popularity of RPDR has also contributed somewhat.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 17/08/2019 10:54

Not being goady but what exactly is a queer woman and why is that word used in particular?

sackrifice · 17/08/2019 10:56

The Black and White Minstrels were popular in their day too.

Original poster
Nothingcomesforfree · 17/08/2019 10:57

Thanks. So it’s the popular show type at the moment. I’m not a theatre/ show person so this has eluded me.

OP posts:
LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 17/08/2019 11:00

I don’t like to watch men parodying (the worst of) women to be honest.

Whatwouldbigfatfannydo · 17/08/2019 11:01

I find it's another case of men appropriating and bastardising womanhood, even worse that it's done for entertainment.
That probably makes me no fun but oh well!

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 17/08/2019 11:03

Men dressing up and pretending to be women always freaked me out - Panto was never much for for me as a child (I thought they were taking the piss out of women - and then the lead boy/girl thing always made me wonder what the hell was going on).

MrsSpenserGregson · 17/08/2019 11:03

Nor do I, LordProf. A friend of mine works as a drag queen and the more I see his (her) act, the more uncomfortable I feel. It's certainly not a compliment to women.

Having said that, apparently there are a few drag kings making their way onto the circuit. I am intrigued about this!

formerbabe · 17/08/2019 11:03

I've always found it quite sinister. I know lots of children find pantomimes scary and I often wonder if that's why?

VitreousHumour · 17/08/2019 11:03

It helps to reinforce trans/gender ideology via pop culture

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 17/08/2019 11:04

Remember back in the old days when there was a hooha about a right company using Paul O’Gradys legs? Back then you could comment on such things without death threats or police visits.

Themyscira · 17/08/2019 11:04

Drag makes a mockery of women. I don't like it at all. Worse still is children dressing in drag - highly sexualised versions of womanhood is ok aa long as boys do it? I disagree.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 17/08/2019 11:05

Tight not right

pottedshrimps · 17/08/2019 11:16

People think it's funny to see men parodying women. I find it offensive, like blackface. I suppose that was funny and entertaining at one time as well.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 17/08/2019 11:18

Who thinks it’s funny though? Why is it funny? It’s taking the loss surely? How is it different from me sticking a lampshade on my head and making fried rice jokes in a stupid voice?

I suspect the Drag Race show on tv has helped on the popularity.

0blio · 17/08/2019 11:22

People think it's funny to see men parodying women. I find it offensive, like blackface.

This ^^

Helenluvsrob · 17/08/2019 11:27

I dunno it’s always been a think I think. I was, by proxy from my parents, a Danny la rue fan in the 1970s. I’m sure he wasn’t the first “ bloke in a frock” to entertain.
Mind you he sang rather than lip sync !

EmmaGrundyForPM · 17/08/2019 11:28

As a woman I find it offensive. I grew up in the 70s when shows like the Black and White Minstrels were seen as as acceptable.
I think (and hope) that in years to come we'll look back on Drag and be horrified it was acceptable.

However, I seem to be in a minority. I've expressed my dislike of drag to friends and been accused of homophobia. It's good to know that there are some on MN who feel the same way I do

Rachelover40 · 17/08/2019 11:31

I didn't know it was an 'in' thing but drag acts have always been popular with women, hen nights and the like. I went to one many, many years and it was quite funny (two drag acts) but very crude.

StoatofDisarray · 17/08/2019 11:32

I'm another one who finds it analogous to blackface. It's not funny and it's not clever.

SweetPetrichor · 17/08/2019 12:26

Drag isn't denigrating femininity though...it's celebrating femininity. It's probably the most female positive performance out there! I don't think it's about laughing at women...it's about being beautiful like women.
Look at Violet Chachki - her drag is a celebration of vintage beauty. She's beautiful and has turned her drag to high fashion.

Straight culture has borrowed so much from drag...look at current makeup trends, they're highly influenced by drag makeup.

Likening drag to blackface is horrendously racist, I can't believe you can't see that!

MIdgebabe · 17/08/2019 12:34

AS with anything like this, I ask...does it go both ways. And here the answer is no. I have never seen drag where a women dresses as a man and takes the piss of certain male characteristics.

As to the comment about being beautiful ike women. That’s Offensive Like beauty in women is someth8ng to aim for , be proud of, be rewarded for.