¶ … Film Paris Is Burning
Culturally, there is some debate about whether drag is subversive. Certainly, there are elements of drag culture, as expressed by gay males, which can be considered subcultural, but drag has also been used by others to reinforce the stereotypes that drag purports to subvert. One recent popular film that featured drag performers was the movie Magic Mike II. When the male dancers, all of whom are described as heterosexual, go to the drag bar in the film, they compete in a drag performance simply by mimicking many of the mannerisms that have come to be associated with drag. Because drag has become part of popular heterosexual media in this way, should it still be considered subversive? Did your experience watching Paris is Burning alter your perspective on this question? If so, in what way?
One element of drag culture is the creation of characters as part of the expression of self. As depicted in the film, do you feel that this creation of character is truly an expression of self or do you feel that this creation of character is a way of hiding from self? Can the creation of character be simultaneously an expression of self and a way of hiding from self?
3. From watching the film, and learning that drag is separate and distinct from being transgender, do you feel like having a vibrant drag community is important for the health of the LGBT community as a whole, or do you feel as if drag is more of a subculture that is only tangentially related to broader LGBT issues? This is an issue that has been gaining more attention recently as drag groups and regional gay pride groups have had some clashes about appearances at gay pride events.
4. From watching Paris is Burning, do you think drag queens emulate or mock the feminine beauty ideal?
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