Drag: A British History Volume 23 - Hardcover
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"A must-read for anyone interested in the history of drag performance."--Publishers Weekly
About Drag: A British History
Drag: A British History is a groundbreaking academic study examining the sustained popularity and evolving forms of male drag performance throughout modern British culture. Author Jacob Bloomfield delivers fresh perspectives on drag while recovering previously neglected episodes in the art form's rich history.
Despite its transgressive associations, drag has persisted as an intrinsic and common element of British popular culture. Drag artists have consistently asserted themselves as some of the most renowned and significant entertainers of their day, shaping public entertainment from the Victorian era through the twentieth century.
Historical Scope and Cultural Significance
This scholarly work demonstrates how drag was positioned at the center of public discussions around gender and sexuality across two centuries of British history. Bloomfield traces the art form from Victorian sex scandals through the "permissive society" of the 1960s, revealing how drag performance intersected with broader cultural shifts and social debates.
The book demythologizes drag by stressing its ordinariness while simultaneously affirming its important place in British cultural heritage. Rather than treating drag as an exotic or marginal phenomenon, Bloomfield establishes it as a fundamental component of British entertainment history and cultural identity.
Academic Rigor and Research
Published by University of California Press as part of the Berkeley British Studies series, this hardcover edition represents rigorous academic scholarship in cultural history, gender studies, and performance studies. The book contributes to fields including LGBTQ+ studies, theater history, and the history of sexuality, making it essential reading for scholars and students across multiple disciplines.
Jacob Bloomfield is Zukunftskolleg Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Konstanz and Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Kent. His research spans cultural history, the history of sexuality, and gender history. He is currently working on a book about the historical reception to musician Little Richard in the United States and Europe.
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