While many Americans might stand to disagree, American pop culture is no stranger to drag–the exaggerated performance of gender expression. Although some drag might not be outright displays of hyper-femininity by LGBTQ+ practitioners, this does not disqualify it from the name. It's easy to take a look at notable drag performances, such as Tyler Perry's sometimes infamous portrayal of Madea, and in a similar vein, the portrayal of Rasputia by Eddie Murphy. One of the most famous drag movies of which is never explicitly labeled as such is White Chicks (2004), where actors Marlon and Shawn Wayans are in drag for a majority of the movie–dressing up as two white women as they try to take on a top-secret police mission while donning disguises.
So what do these movies not do to not pass the drag test? That is, are there any stones left unturned to where people are not able to identify that this is a form of drag? The answer that I believe exists lies within the people that are portraying the acts. Even something as liberating and gender-defying as drag is subject to a hetero-centric lens. The actors portraying these roles are primarily straight men, and with these roles comes a lot of charged sentiment. In typical drag shows, the drag queen is a persona of the performer that comes alive in a fun and artistic way. However, it is not common that you'll see these light drag portrayals in movies border on the edge of scornful. Especially in cases of black drag performances in cinema, most almost take a minstrelsy type approach as they fulfill pre-civil rights stereotypes that would be extremely alarming coming from anyone else. For example, characters like Madea and Rasputia take on a mammy stereotype, a larger, loud, black woman with an affinity for her family. It isn't to say that an actual person who fits into these categories is acting in a stereotypical manner, however the jokes that allude to the size of the character and any exaggerated dialogue and/or actions are cause for concern. What is the price to sell out your community in order to make a profit? Anyways, in accordance with modern drag, what can we do differently to stop the crusades against drag shows? What is a way (without taking the Tyler Perry approach) that we can make drag palatable? Unfortunately, I believe this to be a long way from where we currently are. The stigma that comes with being a member of the LGBTQ+ community that has the gall to practice a liberated gender expression in public damns the community to the mercy of those who believe that a drag show will be too much their children (instead of the heteronormative practices that are insisted upon children everyday). This is important because this is where the censorship of expression takes place.
The point you make about drag in American pop culture is really intriguing. I've noticed that too – how drag in movies like White Chicks or with characters like Madea is often not recognized as such, maybe because of the hetero-centric lens you mentioned. It’s kind of ironic how drag can be celebrated in one context but then viewed differently in another, just because of who's performing it. It’s a bit sad that genuine drag performances still face such stigma, especially when they're such a vibrant part of LGBTQ+ culture. I think breaking down these barriers and changing perceptions about drag is going to take time and a lot more open-mindedness. It’s all about understanding and respecting the art form…
I'd naively never thought of drag in the way it amounts itself in movies like White Chicks or Madea. Maybe Robin Williams' infamous Mrs. Doubtfire technically qualifies as modern drag too. However, what was most interesting to me in this post was your discussion about the ethics of perpetuating a stereotype, specifically of black women. Your poignant question, "What is the price to sell out your community in order to make a profit?", stuck with me, and is a question I will continue to consider and reference as I interpret various forms of comedic entertainment going forward.