Hegemonic "realness"?

Date Issued:: 2013
Summary:: RuPaul's Drag Race is one of the few realilty television shows focusing on QLGBT (queer, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) identified individuals that has made it into mainstream consciousness. Drag Race provides a unique perspective on the ways that gender identity, sexuality, size, class, race, and ethnicity intersect and interact in people's lives.The television show augments many of these intersedtions and the challenges related to these identities while still reflecting the daily struggles that people experience.The show works to promote messages of self-love and acceptance ; however, it also promotes many problematic and damaging stereotypes. This thesis conducts a feminist analysis in order to answer the question: How does RuPaul's Drag Race relate to hegemonic and oppressive stereotypes and roles associated with gender identity, sexual orientation, size, class, race and ethnicity? Does it challenge or reinforce such hegemonies? In order to answer these questions, this thesis examines visual imagery, narrative, and dialogue in the show, utilizes theories from cultural and women's studies, English and communications. It concludes that although Drag Race does engage in some subversive behavior, it ultimately reinforces harmful hegemonic stereotypes.

Title:	Hegemonic "realness"?: an intersectional analysis of RuPaul's Drag Race.	1234 views 177 downloads
Name(s):	Jenkins, Sarah Tucker Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters School of Communication and Multimedia Studies
Type of Resource:	text
Genre:	Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Issued:	2013
Publisher:	Florida Atlantic University
Physical Form:	electronic
Extent:	x, 132 p. : ill. (some col.)
Language(s):	English
Summary:	RuPaul's Drag Race is one of the few realilty television shows focusing on QLGBT (queer, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) identified individuals that has made it into mainstream consciousness. Drag Race provides a unique perspective on the ways that gender identity, sexuality, size, class, race, and ethnicity intersect and interact in people's lives.The television show augments many of these intersedtions and the challenges related to these identities while still reflecting the daily struggles that people experience.The show works to promote messages of self-love and acceptance ; however, it also promotes many problematic and damaging stereotypes. This thesis conducts a feminist analysis in order to answer the question: How does RuPaul's Drag Race relate to hegemonic and oppressive stereotypes and roles associated with gender identity, sexual orientation, size, class, race and ethnicity? Does it challenge or reinforce such hegemonies? In order to answer these questions, this thesis examines visual imagery, narrative, and dialogue in the show, utilizes theories from cultural and women's studies, English and communications. It concludes that although Drag Race does engage in some subversive behavior, it ultimately reinforces harmful hegemonic stereotypes.
Identifier:	851188647 (oclc), 3360799 (digitool), FADT3360799 (IID), fau:4106 (fedora)
Note(s):	by Sarah Tucker Jenkins. Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013. Includes bibliography. Mode of access: World Wide Web. System requirements: Adobe Reader.
Subject(s):	RuPaul, 1964- Drag Race (Television program) Reality television programs -- Social aspects Mass media and culture Mass media and women Feminist theory Television program genres Stereotypes (Social psychology)
Persistent Link to This Record:	http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3360799
Use and Reproduction:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution:	FAU

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