Although cross-dressing has existed for centuries, it was not drag until an 1870 edition of the British newspaper Reynold's published this charming invitation: "The etiquette will be drag, that is, men must wear women's clothing." Today, drag is one of the most glamorous, hilarious and rebellious artistic expressions that exist . Not only does he subvert social canons, but he delights in laughing at the world around us. Every day, artists from around the world rummage through their trunks to find the eccentric costumes and makeup they will use to bring to life an exuberant alter ego destined to dazzle and amaze. Drag is fun, liberating, and deliciously queer, so it's no wonder it's quickly become a global phenomenon.
But this impressive illustrated book goes far beyond wigs and sequins to immerse itself in a history as long as it is fascinating : theater as a precursor to drag in ancient Greece, on the stages of Victorian England, or in the kabuki that emerged in the seventeenth century; the alternative world of the jazz age in the 1920s; the political dimension of drag and its historical journey through the decades of persecution and activism during the 20th century; the growing acceptance after 1969, when the Gay Liberation Front was founded; and the first years of the 21st century, in which drag has launched itself to conquer the world.
Today, the popularity of shows like RuPaul's Drag Race may have introduced a certain model of drag to international audiences, but alternative artists are constantly working to prove that drag is genderless and non-canonical . That philosophy of inclusivity is what underpins the future of this revolutionary artistic expression. Needless to say, that future promises to be dazzling.
Authors : Helen Li, Jake Hall, Jasjyot Singh Hans, and Sofie Birkin.
Format: 20 x 27 cm
Binding: Cardboard
Pages: 136
Spanish Language
