Rupauls Drag Race and the Cultural Politics of Fame

This book explores the connections between drag stardom and contemporary sexual and cultural politics in the RuPaul's Drag Race franchise. The chapters included in this book were originally published as a special issue of Celebrity Studies.

List of contents

1. 'Charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent': RuPaul's Drag Race and the cultural politics of fame 2. From Paris is Burning to #dragrace: social media and the celebrification of drag culture 3. 'Assume the position: two queens stand before me': RuPaul as ultimate queen 4. Drag Celebrity Impersonation as Queer Caricature in The Snatch Game 5. Rewriting 'herstory': Sasha Velour's drag as art and activism 6. 'Labouring in the image': celebrity, femininity, and the fully commodified self in the drag of Willam Belli 7. 'No one is trash, no one is garbage, no one is cancelled': the cultural politics of trauma, recovery and rage in RuPaul's Drag Race 8. Fifteen Seconds of Fame: RuPaul's drag race, camp and 'memeability'

About the author

John Mercer is Professor of Gender and Sexuality at Birmingham City University, UK.
Charlie Sarson completed his PhD at Birmingham City University, UK and researches representations of gender and sexuality.
Jamie Hakim is a lecturer in culture, media and creative industries at King's College, London, UK and researches digital media and queer cultures of embodiment, intimacy and care.

Product details

• Authors: John (Birmingham City University Mercer
• Assisted by: Jamie Hakim (Editor), Mercer John (Editor), Charlie Sarson (Editor)
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.01.2025
• EAN: 9781032573182
• ISBN: 978-1-0-3257318-2
• No. of pages: 114
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History; Social sciences, law, business > Media, communication > General, dictionaries; Media Studies, Popular Culture, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Popular Culture, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Media Studies, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Communication Studies, PERFORMING ARTS / Television / Genres / Drama, Communication Studies, Fashion & society, Gay & Lesbian studies, SOCIAL SCIENCE / LGBTQ+ Studies / General, Television: styles and genres, Television Soap Operas, LGBTQ+ Studies / topics, Cultural studies: dress and society