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A Drag King Extravaganza

Directed by Meaghan Derynck & Clare Smyth2008Canada43 mins

What is a drag king? What is the Drag King Conference? Simply speaking, a drag king is a woman who dresses in a male persona for theatrical purposes. A Drag King Extravaganza, however, reveals that being a drag king is not so simple. Created in 2008, this documentary examines the preceding 10 years, wherein this performance art exploded into a complex and fascinating movement; one that centralizes around an annual drag king conference called the International Drag King Community Extravaganza (IDKE). Within this conference, gender, sexuality, race, and ability are explored through in-depth discussions and provocative performances.

This documentary provides a reflexive look at “what is a drag king,” but, more importantly, the personal journeys inside the conference. Interviewees include Christopher Noe, Kentucky Fried Woman, Mel Corn, Deb “Dirk” Pearce, Flare, Julie “Jake” Applegate, Toe B, Sile Luster / Lustivious Dela Virgion, Erin Tarr, Big Papa, Ken Vegas, Dante DiFranco, and many more.

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Director
Meaghan Derynck & Clare Smyth
Year
2008
Country
Canada
Running Time
43 mins
Language
English
Section
Shorts