Abstract
This study explores how Hispanic Catholic imagery in Philippine pageantry functions as a site for negotiating postcolonial identity in contemporary Filipino culture. Using a critical cultural studies approach informed by postcolonial theory and the concept of the aesthetic public sphere, the study analyzes public reactions to pageant and drag performances that incorporate religious and colonial symbols. Through qualitative analysis of social media discourse and visual case studies, the research investigates how these performances are received as either problematic tributes to colonial legacies or as reappropriated symbols of national and cultural identity. The findings suggest that while Filipino audiences continue to grapple with the religious and colonial residues of Spanish rule, they also actively participate in shaping collective identity through aesthetic critique and digital engagement. This paper contributes to broader conversations on media cultures, digital participation, and identity formation in postcolonial societies.
Presenters
Gian Paulo PaglinawanAssistant Professor, Division of Humanities, University of the Philippines Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Digital Public Sphere, Discourse Analysis, Pageantry, Drag, Media Cultures
