Decolonize Drag

Drag is becoming increasingly popular due to reality TV competition RuPauls Drag Race, but some forms of gender-based performance are excluded from what we call drag. Decolonize Drag explores how gender is used as a form of colonial governance to eliminate various types of expression and how contemporary drag both replicates and disrupts these institutional hierarchies. It features the voice of Khubchandani's drag alter ego, LaWhore Vagistan, who describes encounters with depoliticized versions of drag that leave her disappointed and perplexed. The book argues for more abundance in and access to fashioning gender and considers how drag changes meaning and efficacy as it shifts across geographies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 11 January 2024
Publisher: OR Books

Drag, once perceived as a queer subcultural practice, has permeated our lives in numerous ways. From AI filters on TikTok to brunchtime entertainment, from state legislations to political rallies, it has become ubiquitous. However, as drag enters the mainstream, particularly due to the global popularity of reality TV competition RuPaul's Drag Race, certain forms of gender-based performance may no longer be considered drag.

In "Decolonize Drag," author Khubchandani explores how gender is employed as a tool of colonial governance to suppress diverse forms of expression. The book traces how contemporary drag, including that featured on Drag Race, both replicates and challenges these institutional hierarchies. It specifically focuses on several gender performers who resist and subvert colonial projects through their aesthetic practices. Additionally, the book features the voice of Khubchandani's drag alter ego, judgmental South Asian aunty LaWhore Vagistan, who provides a firsthand perspective on encounters with depoliticized versions of drag that leave her disappointed and perplexed.

Through their dynamic, the book investigates how drag has been privatized and limited, making it accessible only to certain individuals. It argues for greater abundance in and access to gender fashioning and considers how drag's meaning and efficacy evolve as it traverses different geographies. "Decolonize Drag" is a thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of drag and its impact on society, challenging us to reevaluate our perceptions and embrace the full spectrum of gender expression.

Weight: 212g
Dimension: 126 x 178 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781682193952