Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-11-2024
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Croft Institute for International Studies
First Advisor
Marcos Mendoza
Second Advisor
Carrie Smith
Third Advisor
Oliver Dinius
Relational Format
AAA
Abstract
21st century global queer culture is seeing a major boom. Drag queens are the most indicative symbols of this boom, traditional practitioners of gender-bending performances that blend music, dance, makeup, and fashion to create breathtaking performances. To this end, this thesis asks the following question: How is local drag performance culture generated in Rio de Janeiro in the context of this 21st century gay boom? In this global metropolis, drag queens confront challenges––racism, classism, sprawling urban geography, and scene competition––that color their interpersonal relationships and financial success. They also find community, creating family units in the absence of heteronormative power structures. Despite an explosion in international drag media in recent years, spurred by RuPaul in the United States, this thesis argues that queens maintain their uniqueness, portraying cultural symbols and art with their own twist. In this study, I argue that a transnational drag monoculture is not taking hold in Rio; rather, carioca queens take with them from the American model what works and leave behind what does not, heterogenizing subcultures and creating manifold drag scenes.
Recommended Citation
Baggett, Logan, "As Bonecas Babadeiras: Drag Subculture and Global Media in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil" (2024). Honors Theses. 3154.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3154