Oregon ArtsWatch: When Judith Butler argued in their groundbreaking 1990 work Gender Trouble that gender is performance it came as a shock to many moored in a normatively proscriptive gender milieu. But in the years since, as Butler’s invocation morphed into the new hermeneutic standard, many began to argue that gender expression was not just performance, but art.
4 comments:
Drag has such a cultural significance in our world, and I genuinely feel it will continue to grow and become more prominent in years to come. This article helps highlight those values that are universal around our world. Using examples from a very famous drag house (Calienté), I love that this exhibition is able to highlight those really important parts of drag that can bring it to life and really make everyone really appreciate it that much more. The major issue that is present in our world is that a lot of places are still not very accepting of drag in their communities, which is why I think it's so important for this exhibit to be in a place like Oregon where you wouldn't expect there to be such a prominent exhibit that could cause such a political uproar that is in reality definitely needed to get the conversation rolling about trans and gay rights.
I love McNulty’s quote ““people who know less can learn something and people who are part of the community can find out that there’s a deepness” about the “Art of Drag” exhibit in Salem. The openness and interactivity of the exhibit allows for people of all ages, backgrounds, and understandings of drag to learn and appreciate the art form at their own pace. I also love that the exhibit supports local queens and their work. Rupaul’s Drag Race, while being a great medium at spreading drag to a more mainstream audience, has also centralized an art form that is meant to be unconventional. “The Art of Drag” showcases multiple types of drag while also highlighting queer history in a really inspiring way. This exhibit is especially powerful today, with states like Tennessee enforcing drag bans. Hopefully, “The Art of Drag” and other exhibits of this nature can help show people that drag is an art, not a threat.
I absolutely love this exhibition! The article begins with the idea that “gender expression [is] not just performance, but art”, and I find that idea to be really interesting. I agree that it can be, and the prime example is drag art. The history of drag is also very rich in and of itself, starting with William Dorsey Swann, continuing in the ball culture of New York and other cities, all the way through today in what I’d argue is pop culture (and who’s to say what the future holds?). The Art of Drag aims to educate the local and wider population about gender expression as an art - which expertly places the audience at the forefront, forcing a connection to oneself. The point that Rehfield-Griffith makes is stated tangentially, but I find to be vital: this is not just a show about drag performers, but by drag performers. This reminds me of the controversy about the documentary Paris is Burning regarding cultural appropriation and financial disagreements. Regardless, the focus on local artists in this project is beautiful, and adds a ‘collective conceptual weight’ to the show, as the article puts it.
Drag brings so much joy to many people. When we think of costumes we often think about how we change ourselves to fit how we are supposed to look for a role, but with drag ‘performers’ change how they look on the outside to fit how they want to be perceived. The act of drag can be a very self affirming activity while also providing the protection of a persona. The Salem showcase of ‘the art of drag’ is a way for those who might not understand how drag works to learn the benefits and strategies drag practicers use. The exhibit is also a way for those same performers to feel proud of their works and learn from each other in a very affirming environment. I am disappointed that the pushback is labeling drag as LGBTQ+ indoctrination because I truly believe that everyone deserves the right to enjoy art without necessarily identifying with the artist.
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