Tuesday, August 10, 2021

THE DRAG OF IT

I had gotten a email from a newer follower a while back asking if I had a beef about drag race, since I do pick on and ridicule the show some. There are many differing opinions within the LGBT community and drag scene itself.  With it's elaborate costumes, breath taking  and sometimes raunchy performances, and social commentary it's no wonder people want to get involved. While mainstream shows have done good to bring drag out to the masses, shows like Drag Race have also seriously damaged the drag community by actively excluding trans, female, and other queer performers as not "traditional" drag, and only seem to be obsessed with a huge budget wardrobe, over showing performance...but it is getting better. 

 I just know what I like to do, and enjoyed what I did. I used to like to do my own performance and look. I got asked a lot if I would have ever considered going on the show back when it started,  or if I had been approached to go on, I would have passed. It would so not have been me... I have never been concerned with judging other queens and their style, or being judged. It's all art really when you come down to it, so how can one really judge someone's art. Art has always been subjective.  Some of these younger queens spend hours and hours on their make up, the most expensive of make up, specialty products and lace front wigs....and their far more fishy and polished then I ever was. I was never known for the contour and precision make up these queen do these days, while I have done it.  The one thing that bugs me about the whole drag explosion  is that we spend so much time talking about drag and judging it, old drag verses new drag,  what do you think of this kind of drag etc etc ect, judging drag, that we're no longer doing drag. Drag Race is some ways devalues the only reason I did drag and am interested in drag. Performance.  On the show, you often have two queens perform the same song, which is usually never done in a show, in any drag situation, it doesn't make sense. If your a black queen, your probably not going to nail  a country and western song, in the same way, that a Broadway queen is not going to nail a hip hop jam.  

Why yes...Drag Race UK 3 is sealed!

So that doesn't make sense to me. That doesn't really enable both queens to shine on stage either.  I think part of the problem is to much talk about what's right and wrong with drag and all this talking about drag. One only performs on drag race if you lose challenges, which to me de-empathizes the performance. I would rather see more performance and less of these acting and non sense challenges that drag queens just don't do in shows. I would rather a talent show for drag instead.  But then people want to see the drama and in fighting I guess. Before drag race there were about 10-30 really well known queens, who traveled the country, or the world, doing their act. Now why did they travel the country and the world?  Because their act was that good. Now we have got queens who get booked because their on a tv show, and their act is not necessary a good one, sometimes there great,like Jinkx or Sasha Velour,  but their booked everywhere because people have seen them on tv.  I have seen it, and have seen talented local queens get bumped for a mediocre Drag Race queen. And in the end, the crowd didn't care about the performance, they just wanted to see the queen in person, or get their photo. Well... they need to go to Drag Con in that case. And sometimes the show goers and clients becomes more concerned and excited about a meet and greet then they are about a performance. So in my opinion, that is not a good development for drag and the art of it. If your not concerned with the performance of a show we have problems. And it sometimes puzzles me why RuPaul books the so -so performers and not the great ones? There is young great ones, old greats ones,  Why some of these clubs book some of the drag race girls is beyond me when some of them can't even walk to a beat.  But over all, I do like the show... it's good for fledging queens, and ones that don't necessarily find a easy path to get their name out there. I still think the show needs to bring on queens from even further down the grass roots of the scene. And stop featuring so many fishy and Instagram queens. We have witnessed they do not have what it takes, but dam pretty to look at.  It's  is the very reason I find to favor the international version of the show more...more true to drag, imperfect queens, campier, no holds barred, and feature more different walks of the community. Especially this new season of Drag Race Holland. Not only one gender fuck queen, but two trans women, and more then half the cast is aged older, most in their late 30's and 40's, one even 53. Now that is amazing. And guess what? They all have excellent performances off the show, much like the gals of Drag Race Espana.

32 comments:

  1. The main word is "subjective" I don't know anything about drag shows. But I would like to follow a judge around and watch and learn. When I was younger I rode horse shows and you learn real quick there politics in it all.
    Coffee is on and stay safe

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  2. I like our "traditional" British drag - someone who can sing, has a repartee with the audience, is creative and occasionally "near-the-knuckle" with their banter and comedy, doesn't just rely upon a stylist and a make-up artist (because they're doing a drag show, not a catwalk!), and above all else, provides an entertaining night out in a pub. I have never watched any of RuPaul's drag reality shows for the very reason that nothing about it promises any of these things. Put half of these poseurs in front of an audience at Halfway to Heaven, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern or The Two Brewers in London, The Queens Arms in Brighton or The Flying Handbag in Blackpool and they'd curl up and die. Jx

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    1. That's just it!!!! I think only a hand full of the queens that come off the show can truly do as you say. Don't get me wrong they are all stunning...but to me it's become more editorial then drag show. Most can do a nice routine, but a whole hour or two show?????

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  3. I love when you get so passionate about something besides, well, you know. Hey there may be a Queen Charley Pride, or Hamilton. I wonder if I need a therapist to help me figure out why I hate the word fishy. I'll leave now.

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    1. Are you allergic to fish or what? Don't ask me, I'm not a therapist!

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    2. I know you like my rants. Don't worry Deedles...I have more coming one day Im sure.

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    3. Mads, I like everything about you. Your many facets are fascinating. I love it most when you're happy, though.

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  4. I agree with you. Screw this competition and tests and challenges. Just let them be creative and perform. Ru pays lip service to a lot of civil rights stuff, but I find it's insincere. The way they treat people. They way they edit people. They way they interfere. It just isn't fun anymore. It's sort of like what happened with Madonna. She was fun and flirty and colorful... now she's hard as nails, bitter and it's like watching hardcore porn.

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    1. I rather see the show turn more into a show where we see more performances and mini docu,s each season following new batches of queens.

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  5. I've always thought of Drag Queens as performance artists with a whole range of specialties, best seen in live shows. Never having seen much of RuPaul's drag reality shows, they struck me as being "scripted reality" much like the Real Housewives of Everywhere. Competition shows are good the first couple of years and then they become formulaic and the skill level of contestants seems to also decline (e.g., UK or Canadian Baking Championships). And the attention span of young 20-something viewers these shows are trying to attract is about 30 seconds, unless conflict and f-bombs are involved!

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    1. I agree Tundra. While the show is still enjoyable to watch their runways...I don't need all the extra fanfare and twists. The queens should be the fanfare. I do think the US version should hang itself up.

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  6. This explains why I've been confused whenever I've watched Drag Race in the UK - not enough performance for me either.
    I also feel that all talent shows promote the mediocre at the expense of the talented. The best no longer rise to the top as they're muted by the loudest.
    Sx

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  7. An excellent post! I think you have nailed my issue with at least the US version and bringing drag out of the closet. We are all more concerned with the "look" and not the performance...and that is an issue and not good. Yes, a queen can be fabulous, but I feel better spending money on a show to see a performance, not a stand and pose photo opt.

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  8. The thing with Drag Race now is that they have a lot of kids with surgeries and pretty faces but little talent if we compare it with the first rounds of seasons and the international ones...

    I didn't watch the last two seasons, and to be honest only watched to support queens I knew. That's why I love my P-town. Most of the show are still held down by local queens, and the few drag race queens who have come don't always have the best reception afterwards for reasons you state, with an exception to Ben, Trixie and Nina. The Varla, Coco, Lady Bunny and Miss Richfield will always reign supreme here.

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    1. Your right Pearly. Ptown is one place you can still find so many legendary queens with their one woman shows...and can hold their own and sometimes for two hours.

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  9. I do have issues with RuPaul and Drag Race, but over all like RuPaul, but can she even get herself in drag anymore himself????? I think not. That's says a lot.

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  10. Cap Chasen8/11/2021

    Drag is real theatre, not Instagram. Queens have personalities, not snapchat. So happy to have discovered drag in 1986 thru Wigstock. Drag Race is ok, but leave me with my queens I have seen in clubs and all my favorite beach towns and NYC.

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    1. If we had Wigstock now im not sure it would have near the same feeling for me it once did.

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  11. This-"becomes more concerned and excited about a meet and greet then they are about a performance. So in my opinion, that is not a good development for drag. I couldn't agree more.

    I’m so sick of the notion that everyone has to be super pretty, fishy, and every drag queen wants to look like an Instagram model! Drag is about performance and while yes the look is key, but the look means nothing if you’re going to stand there and perform awful! And I too have witnessed that. This is the problem with these young viewers and young queens they are just not talented, but yet want the notoriety. Their talent is their ability to put in make up and a editorial look, but that’s where it stops!

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  12. Perhaps drag has been pulled in the direction of "perfection" by the increasing pressure on people to look wonderful. All these polished, painted and primped pictures on places like Instagram are NOT real life and they make normal people worry that they do not look perfect 100% of the time. If I looked perfect 1% of the time I'd be pleased.

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  13. You went really Deep with this Mads. I have had a Love-Hate relationship with the Show for that reason and don't follow it as often because of some of the Negs you mentioned. The Positives of coarse is that it has brought Drag to the Mainstream and introduced many who perform this Art Form. Performance to me is everything, but like the Dr. Phil Show, it began devolving into a Jerry Springer sort of Vibe for the Drama and In-Fighting rather than focusing on the real content on the Subject matter... Drag PERFORMANCE and the range of the Art of it. Art is subjective, all of it, and I like the Campy ones, the range of Talents, the Beautiful ones, the Comedic ones... ALL of it... but, how to Judge one routine against the other, not so much. Crowning the ultimate Queen, how can you really? Excluding some of the LGBTQ Community as not Traditional, well, why would we only want Traditional Acts and not also some Fresh new ones not seen as much, if ever before? I think it would elevate the Art Form to have someone doing something different and in their own Artistic Style frankly. Like all Reality Shows tho', the Talent becomes secondary to the 'personality' that the Audience connects to and some people just make for good Ratings and TV. I'm as guilty as anyone for sometimes connecting to a TV Personality who doesn't necessarily have Talent, just Charisma or they're just that Train Wreck we Love to be a voyeur to privately thru our TV Screens. I've always liked RuPaul and of coarse when you're Legendary you can also become quite arrogant about it and dismissive... that is another thing I didn't like about the Show... Judges became part of more of a Sideshow for Ratings I suppose? Anyway, as someone who knows nothing about the History of the Art, I always enjoyed it since I went to my first Show in Vegas at the Silver Slipper back in the early 1970's when Kenny Kerr did Boylesque.

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    1. Kenny Kerr set the barre. His show was wonderful. Mainstream audiences flocked to "Boylesque" - there were times it was impossible to get tickets.
      The latest reigning Queen - Frank Morino...not such a nice guy, but he does a fairly good show.

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    2. I have heard horror stories about Frank Morinos shitty attitude.

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    3. I agree Dawn. For many for your same reasons. It's also why I never understood pageants queens or parents. I'm sure parents queens were the catalyst to start this. I myself have mostly been drawn to the campy club queen who does their own thing.

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  14. See, for me, it's the artistry of the performance. The steadily produced show here includes comedic, raunch, and dramatic. They're all pretty damn good at what they do. Some lip-sync. Some sing live - those are my favorites.
    Kenny Kerr set the barre. His show was wonderful. Mainstream audiences flocked to "Boylesque" - there were times it was impossible to get tickets.
    For TV - it's all about the fake drama - the backstage bitching and what-not, for ratings. Nope. Give me the live shows, anytime.

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  15. I enjoy the show, but I see the problem as it gives fans often limited perspective (but vocal criticism) of the art form. I always suggest going to see an actual drag show to see what is really involved.

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  16. The only thing, that I don't like, is about Michelle Visage judging drag race... is her focus on everything being "Glamour Drag" and if anyone doesn't follow that cookie cutter gets marked down.

    If I'm a true campy queen, I wouldn't even consider going on the show. But when it comes down to it, Sasha Velour and Jinkx Monsoon are the only two real different queens, who were bizarre and campy, with raw talent, winners, who could really go on to become legendary queens, with exception to Bianca Del Rio, and carry a show unto themselves. They have found their niche and they do it beautifully as we have seen in Philly.

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  17. Ok, so watching Grey's Anatomy does not make me a surgeon. Watching Drag Race does not make me a Drag expert. I leave that to people like you, who actually KNOW what they're talking about. And this post is just fantastic. You've nailed it completely.
    The only thing I'd have to add is that Ru Paul's Drag Race is a reality series. It adheres to Reality TV tropes (and manipulations) and it should not be considered the end all when it comes to Drag.

    XOXO

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    1. I agree with you. And that's the problem with it on this platform. With bringing it out to the mainstream and the younger generations they are getting to obsessed with looks and that's it. gives many who don't know the "be all end all". If they don't know any better many think this is the only type of drag. I agree someone above...I urge anyone to go and see and support a real drag show.

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  18. Just found you and your blog! Im am loving the content of it all. Fun, silly and just enough though provoking post. I hate that everywhere you turn is new news and more news. I have been reading for weeks now different post. Keep it up, I felt I should comment.

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    1. Welcome C Ryand!!!! And thank you for the nice compliment.

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!