From 'Man Up' to 'Drag Up': Considering 'Applied Cabaret' to Reimagine Masculinity
2021
As part of their undergraduate dissertation, Lewis constructed a practice-led research project that used cabaret practices with a group of cisgender, heterosexual men to examine masculinities in practice and offer new transportive attitudes that aim to destabilise patriarchal ideals of manhood. The research included a detailed contextual analysis of cultural definitions of masculinity and synthesised how playfulness through drag practice could be utilised to provide a new, more positive male image. The research project included a week-long series of workshops where the participants met to creatively examine masculinity and play with camp drag. This research acted as the initial step towards outlining Lewis' concept of 'Applied Cabaret', which uses cabaret processes to examine social issues in participatory contexts.
Lewis gave a 40 minute conference talk about their research in May 2021 for Aberdeen University's 'Consent, Awareness & Sexual Education' Conference. They will also be working with the Against Sexual Violence team at Goldsmiths, University of London and the Centre for Queer Histories in 2021/22 to develop this research.
Please do not hesitate to get in contact should you wish to read the research article, book a talk, or discuss workshop provision.
2021
As part of their undergraduate dissertation, Lewis constructed a practice-led research project that used cabaret practices with a group of cisgender, heterosexual men to examine masculinities in practice and offer new transportive attitudes that aim to destabilise patriarchal ideals of manhood. The research included a detailed contextual analysis of cultural definitions of masculinity and synthesised how playfulness through drag practice could be utilised to provide a new, more positive male image. The research project included a week-long series of workshops where the participants met to creatively examine masculinity and play with camp drag. This research acted as the initial step towards outlining Lewis' concept of 'Applied Cabaret', which uses cabaret processes to examine social issues in participatory contexts.
Lewis gave a 40 minute conference talk about their research in May 2021 for Aberdeen University's 'Consent, Awareness & Sexual Education' Conference. They will also be working with the Against Sexual Violence team at Goldsmiths, University of London and the Centre for Queer Histories in 2021/22 to develop this research.
Please do not hesitate to get in contact should you wish to read the research article, book a talk, or discuss workshop provision.
