Nails, hair, hips, and heels. The popularization of drag culture and its effect on the Slovenian drag scene

V zadnjih letih smo lahko priča popularizaciji subkulture, znane kot drag. Tako filmi, televizijske oddaje, glasbeni videospoti kot gledališke igre, imajo dolgo zgodovino vključevanja drag kraljic v svoje zasedbe. Takšna reprezentacija drag kulture omogoča večjo medijsko izpostavitev in posledično veča količino pozornosti, ki jo namenjamo drag kraljicam. V Sloveniji pa je zgodovina veliko bolj skopa, saj drag kultura še ni dosegla svojega največjega potenciala. Namreč, tukaj drag kulturo dojemamo kot dokaj novo obliko umetniškega izražanja, ki jo v veliki večini sestavljajo pripadniki LGBTQ+ skupnosti. Znotraj diplomske naloge sem predstavil drag kulturo v Sloveniji in razložil popularizacijo drag kulture ter njen vpliv na množično dojemanje drag-a. Vpogled v slovensko drag kulturo sem dobil s fokusno skupino, ki so jo sestavljale članice mariborskega drag kolektiva Haus of Vulva. S pomočjo fokusne skupine sem ugotovil, da je nastanek drag kulture in večanje zanimanja zanjo v Sloveniji neposreden produkt popularizacije drag kulture, ki ga je omogočila medijska reprezentacija, predvsem v obliki resničnostno-tekmovalne oddaje RuPaul\u27s Drag Race. Slovenske drag kraljice uživajo v večji interakciji z občinstvom tako prek družbenih omrežij, kot v živo. Čeprav je slovenska drag kultura še vedno v zgodnji fazi razvoja v primerjavi z drugimi državami, lahko opazimo premik v načinu dojemanja drag kulture. Skozi odgovore podane znotraj fokusne skupine je razvidno, da ima drag kultura v Sloveniji še dolgo, vendar svetlo prihodnost.In recent years we have been witnessing a popularization of the sub-culture known as drag. Throughout the years television shows, music videos, and even theatrical plays all featured drag queens as cast members. Representation such as this launches them into the spotlight and creates a space for them among other, more notable celebrities. In Slovenia, drag has yet to achieve its maximum potential. It is a fairly new form of artistic visual expression mostly enjoyed amongst the members of the LGBTQ+ community. In this thesis, I will offer a presentation of drag culture in Slovenia and how the previously mentioned popularization of drag culture has affected the way it is perceived by the masses. I have provided an insight into the world of Slovenian drag through a focus group with the member of the drag collective Haus of Vulva from Maribor. Drag culture in Slovenia is a direct product of popularization of drag culture through media representation. Today\u27s most notable form of representation of drag is the reality-competition show RuPaul\u27s Drag Race. Because of the show, we notice a vaster interest in drag. Slovenian drag queens enjoy more interaction with the viewers through social media as well as in person. Although drag culture in Slovenia is still in its early stages compared to various countries, there is a noticeable shift in the way Slovenians perceive drag thus the focus group concluded that drag has a bright future in Slovenia