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In the 60s-70s, I recall periodically seeing female impersonators sharing the bill on a variety show or something. Liam Barbra, etc. Are they considered drag?
In the service of artistic performance, yes.
Boy George performed in drag with the band Culture Club. Dana Carvey performed in drag as The Church Lady on Saturday Night Live.
Note that it’s not always men in drag portraying as women. For example, Julie Andrews perform much of the film Victor/Victoria in drag.
Flip Wilsons Geraldine.
It’s not just acting, but the fact that he created this whole over-the-top, sassy comedic persona that he keeps using. He stays in character and improvises as Madea. She’s not just a character he plays in some movies.
Now, I don’t think he himself describes it as drag, but it really does seem to be drag in all but name.
Yes.
It might help to think of the subversion range of drag being much the same as other general performing arts like comedy, acting, music, etc. Comedy can be performed clean or blue. Acting can range from Mister Rodgers Neighborhood to Ron Jeremy’s ouvre. Music can range similarly (say, Raffi to 2 Live Crew?). So it is with drag.
Dinddale’s post led me to find this Jim Bailey performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1970.
Yes, the same Ed Sullivan who famously pressed Jim Morrison and Mick Jagger to sanitize their lyrics on his show. But no problem with featuring a drag performer … I mean a female impersonator.
Hard to type on mobile. One name re wholesome drag- Mrs Doubtfire
Drag queen != stripper. Drag is not inherently sexual any more than Bosom Buddies was a porno.
Thanks for posting that link. Damn, Jim Bailey was talented.
Would it be safe to say that trans is lifestyle (i.e. how you live your life) and drag is for a performance?
Tom hanks right? Funny and so ridiculous iirc. I wouldn’t call them drag queens though.
Madea character cracks me up but I wouldn’t call her a drag queen either.
Would I be correct in saying not all drag/artists/ performers are queens or kings. I’m probably got it wrong but imo to be a queen is to portray that diva personality, edgy, bombastic, witty and outrageous.
Fay and Fluffy created by drag artists yet is Fay and Fluffy a drag genre?
Banquet Bear’s link up in post #61 covers this well. I believe the answer to your question is “yes” except to note that transgender status is a matter of identity rather than lifestyle.
On the bolded, you would be correct.
Even in the realm of established drag queens & kings, the drag persona is not always presented during performance. RuPaul – probably the drag queen most familiar with the American mainstream – has many non-drag credits in film and television.
Just keep the kids away from the ABBA show.
Can I just say that I appreciate the respectful discussion we are having…
Some more nonsexual drag, unless you count double entendres (in which case the whole genre of panto is going into the bin anyway):
Indeed. When they made their breakthrough into the straight audience, one archetypal old lady was heard to say to another “Aren’t they wonderful for their age”.
Going further back, Mrs Shufflewick appeared quite often on BBC radio variety shows, and in those days double entendre jokes would be very limited. More recently Lily Savage ('“the blonde bombsite”) managed several series fronting a family-time TV gameshow without frightening the horses - much.
Not to mention Grayson Perry’s “Claire” persona. Apart from, you know, being a guy in a wig and dress, “Claire” just acted like a normal person, not some sex bomb.
I believe Perry has largely retired Claire, as he says he’s getting too old to deal with all the slap etc.