What Are The Global Politics Of Drag? with Professor Kareem Khubchandani

Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness

Sony Music

Comedy, Society & Culture, Education, Self-improvement

4.9 • 21.6K Ratings

🗓️ 7 June 2023

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This June, we’re celebrating Pride Beyond Borders! And to kick off our series, we’re exploring global drag culture with Professor Kareem Khubchandani aka Dr. LaWhore Vagistan. We’re learning how drag artists around the world stage political dialogues with their audiences, how queer nightlife can connect diasporic communities, and how this art form can be used to challenge—rather than reinforce—the legacies of colonialism and white supremacy. The world of drag is so much bigger than the world of Drag Race, and we’re here for all of it. Kareem Khubchandani is Associate Professor of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies at Tufts University. He is the author of Ishtyle: Accenting Gay Indian Nightlife and Decolonize Drag, co-editor of Queer Nightlife, and curator of criticalauntystudies.com. Kareem also performs as LaWhore Vagistan, everyone’s favorite overdressed, overeducated, oversaturated desi drag aunty. You can follow Professor Khubchandani on Instagram and Twitter @kareempuff, and at KareemKhubchandani.com. They’re also on Instagram and Twitter @lawhorevagistan. Get to know Dr. LaWhore Vagistan through their lecture “How to be an auntie” and their hit song “Sari”. Curious for more? Here are some people Professor Khubchandani recommends following: Shaka McGlotten, M. Leslie Santana, Emi Great, Chanel Mercedes Benz, Odidiva, Papi Churro, Alisha Boti Kabab, Willow Pill, Crystal Methyd, and BeBe Zahara Benet. And here are some events to check out: Jai Ho, Rangeela, Behsaram, Kulture Kulcha, Sholay, and Yuva. All of these resources are linked in the episode entry on jonathanvanness.com. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our executive producer is Erica Getto. Our producer is Chris McClure. Our editor is Andrew Carson. Production support from Julie Carrillo and Emily Bossak. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Welcome to Getting Curious, I'm Jonathan Van Ness, and every week I sit down for a
0:09.4	gorgeous conversation with a burrillion expert told her in all about something that makes
0:13.1	me curious.
0:14.1	I want everyone to pause for a moment and think of a drag artist.
0:18.7	Who comes to mind?
0:20.5	What do you imagine them wearing?
0:22.8	What are they doing?
0:24.1	Where are they?
0:25.3	If you thought of a Ru-Girl, or Ru-Paul herself, we get it, but there's a whole world of drag
0:30.8	out there beyond the Drag Race main stage and beyond drag queens.
0:35.1	This week, as part of our Pride Beyond Border series, we're celebrating global drag culture
0:40.3	in all its capaciousness.
0:42.8	Kareen Kupchandani is an associate professor in the Department of Theater, Dance, and
0:47.2	Performance Studies at Tufts University.
0:49.4	They are the author of Ishtile, Accenting Gay, Indian Nightlife, and Decolonized Drag.
0:55.9	Out later this summer, they also perform in drag as Lahore Badgerstayat.
1:00.8	We're asking today what are the global politics of drag?
1:05.5	Kama Honey.
1:06.5	Kareen, how are you?
1:08.5	I'm so good.
1:09.5	I'm so happy to be here.
1:11.2	Also, you guys, everyone, pay attention because you need to like, get on Instagram and
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Sony Music, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Sony Music and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.