Reading is fun-da-mental: queering queer “safe” spaces within drag culture

ABSTRACT

This paper explores how the queer subcultural practice of “reading” can pave the way for a more ontologically open way of being. Reading involves the trading of insults between two or more marginal subjects in ways that create comedic value by identifying and parodying representational norms. It reveals a radical politics of inclusion that rejects the idea of distinction that underpins subject formation, and thus repositions the subject in-between representations. Because reading usually occurs within the queer “safe” space of drag culture, it can be seen to have a queering effect on “safe” space. I illustrate these ideas through an analysis of the reading challenge that has become an anticipated part of the programming of RuPaul’s Drag Race. The challenge asks contestants to subvert their already subversive subject positions, to parody representational injustices, and to therefore demonstrate how reading can be “fundamental” to realising the political promise of queer theory.

KEYWORDS:

• Difference-in-itself
• representation
• reading
• safe space
• RuPaul’s drag race

Biographical note

Orlando Woods is Associate Professor of Humanities at Singapore Management University.

Acknowledgments

Massive thanks to three anonymous reviewers for providing some of the closest readings (no pun intended), most incisive critiques, and most generative suggestions for improvement that this author has ever received.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data Availability Statement

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analysed in this study.

Notes

1. “Kiki” refers to the gathering of queer friends for the purpose of socialising and gossiping.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Lee Kong Chian Fellowship, Singapore Management University.