New Books in LGBTQ+ Studies

Jacob Bloomfield, "Drag: A British History" (U California Press, 2023)

Sep 12, 2023

Jacob Bloomfield, author of a groundbreaking study on male drag performance in modern Britain, discusses the history of drag in the late 19th century, its role in popular culture and resistance, the importance of placing drag performances in historical context, the research process, and upcoming project on Little Richard.

42:23

Episode guests

Jacob Bloomfield

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Quick takeaways

Drag performances in modern Britain reflected diverse perceptions, ranging from time-honored tradition to homosexual filth and glamorous performance, addressing cultural and societal concerns beyond just sexuality.

Drag is not solely defined by men dressing as women or vice versa, but also includes performances that comment on gender, encompassing avant-garde forms seen today.

Deep dives

Drag in modern Britain: A study of sustained popularity and changing forms

This podcast episode explores the book 'Drag: A British History', written by Dr. Jacob Bloomfield. The book delves into the sustained popularity and evolution of drag performances in modern Britain from the 1870s to the 1970s. Dr. Bloomfield's research sheds light on neglected episodes in the history of drag and offers fresh perspectives on the art form. Through various examples, such as the Bolton and Park case and the story of Secretary Hill attending the 'We're No Ladies' drag show, the episode highlights the diverse ways in which drag was perceived at the time, ranging from a time-honored tradition to homosexual filth and glamorous performance. It also emphasizes how drag spoke to a variety of cultural and societal concerns, beyond just sexuality.

Introduction

4min

The Origins of Drag

13min

The Role of Drag in Popular Culture and Beyond

4min

The Importance of Placing Drag Performances in Historical Context

6min

Research Process and Sources

12min

Exploring the Historical Reception and Cultural Impact of Little Richard

2min

Drag: A British History (University of California Press, 2023) is a groundbreaking study of the sustained popularity and changing forms of male drag performance in modern Britain. With this book, Jacob Bloomfield provides fresh perspectives on drag and recovers previously neglected episodes in the history of the art form. Despite its transgressive associations, drag has persisted as an intrinsic, and common, part of British popular culture--drag artists have consistently asserted themselves as some of the most renowned and significant entertainers of their day. As Bloomfield demonstrates, drag was also at the center of public discussions around gender and sexuality in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, from Victorian sex scandals to the "permissive society" of the 1960s. This compelling new history demythologizes drag, stressing its ordinariness while affirming its important place in British cultural heritage.

Jacob Bloomfield is a Zukunftskolleg Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Konstanz and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Kent. His research is situated primarily in the fields of cultural history, the history of sexuality, and gender history. Jacob is the author of Drag: A British History (2023). His second monograph will be about the historical reception to, and cultural impact of, musician Little Richard.

Isabel Machado is a cultural historian whose work often crosses national and disciplinary boundaries.

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