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Dr. Jacob Bloomfield, a historian of gender and sexuality, enters the ITBR to discuss the origin story of his interest in the history of drag performance, specifically male drag performance in Britain during the 1800s. Jacob explains his view that drag is not inherently a queer art form, despite its strong historical connections to LGBTQ+ communities. He argues that drag has had many different meanings and associations over time, and that it should be seen as an art form like any other, rather than being essentialized as solely a queer or progressive expression.
Jacob discusses how drag has adapted and maintained mainstream popularity throughout history and argues that RuPaul's Drag Race should be seen as part of this ongoing tradition of drag's mainstream appeal, rather than as a new phenomenon. Jacob discusses the present-day backlash against drag, particularly from social conservatives, and how this echoes historical debates and critiques of drag as immoral or unsuitable for children.
Be sure to get Jacob's book "Drag: A British History" here: ⁠www.ucpress.edu/book/97805204...
You can follow Jacob on Instagram, ⁠@j_bloomf⁠.