Abstract
As RuPaul’s Drag Race expands globally through regional franchises and all-star spin-offs, the promise of a pluralistic, inclusive global queer community is increasingly called into question. This paper examines Season 1 of RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars as a case study in American queer cultural imperialism, interrogating how the show uses the language of global representation while reinforcing U.S.-centric norms of drag aesthetics, performance, and identity. Drawing from media studies and queer theory, this project argues that Global All Stars functions not as a neutral space of cultural exchange, but as a mediated site where American linguistic, cultural, and affective modes are privileged. Through close textual analysis of episodes, performances, judge commentary, and queen confessionals, this paper explores how English fluency, performative individualism, and Western drag aesthetics are positioned as normative, while cultural specificity is often exoticized or erased. By examining the experiences of non-U.S. contestants, this study highlights the unequal power dynamics embedded within the show’s structure.
Presenters
Rafael LogroñoUnit Chair and Curriculum Coordinator, Communication and Media Studies, Community College of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
New Media, Technology and the Arts
KEYWORDS
QUEER, GENDER, PERFORMANCE, GLOBALIZATION, MEDIA, TELEVISION
