Rupp: Drag Queens and Kings
In this paper Rupp discusses the
various differences in drag queening and drag kinging, including some
fundamental differences in message, purpose and execution. If I understood
correctly the drag queens are more of a flamboyant and light approach towards
social commentary. This seems to fall in place with heteronormative societal
roles of women, which they are cross dressing as. Drag Kings on the other hand
are more serious, however, still adhering to strict male gender roles. Their
stated purpose is supposed to be more queer theory oriented and taking a stand
to voice their disgust of society and its bigotry. Although it seems that the
females cross dressing as men fall into the same societal norming as the drag queens
are accused of. Maybe the difference is that there are also bio females or
transgendered individuals identifying as female in a male body drag kinging, as
well as other diverse sexualities in the drag king group.
Q: Aren’t the cross dressers both conforming
to societies binary of gender by dressing and acting the way they feel, at least
according to their sexuality?
Walters: Out is In
This piece by Walters is a critique
of the portrayal of queers in popular media. The article discusses how queers are
allowed to be more in the spotlight, but only in certain minimal scenarios. It
says that the gay or lesbian in popular culture is not allowed the same
uplifting storyline as a heterosexual character. Straight men are allowed to be
valorous and find love through their struggle, while the gay man is not allowed
to find love but instead be a tool for the main character. For example, in “As
Good As It Gets” the gay character is a broken and abused weak character used
in the story to teach the main character to be a better person and overcome his
own straight faults. The main character is a stereotypical straight man who
doesn’t care for other people, but through his interaction with the fragile gay
and the female love interest grows to become a decent human being, capable of redemption.
This is the sort roles gays have not been allowed to lead in Hollywood and most
people would not find anything wrong with that. This is a problem when trying
to advance gay rights and we see that at this time laws are still quite
homophobic.
Q: Can you think of any stories and
roles that break this stereotype in that era or even nowadays?
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