Theatre and Performance Response, Reaction Paper Example

Theatre has been a tool that facilitates the presentation and transformation of a Queer identity. In essence, queer theatre has been used by actors, actresses, and other members of the artistic community to claim the word “queer” for their own. While the word was originally used as a derogatory term toward the LBGTQ community, queer theater has helped transform this word into a positive meaning, which has been facilitated by members of the community claiming it as their own. Throughout history, there has certainly been a bias against homosexual members of the community and queer theatre is an attempt for these individuals to make their own contributions to society in spite of the discrimination they have faced.

To facilitate the presentation of a queer identity, queer theatre has evolved to accommodate many unique theatrical tastes. In particular, “transgressive transvestite performances can be subversive in that they suggest a rethinking of normalized understanding of the heterosexual and homosexual body in culture” (BIBTTV). While the predominant aspect of such entertainment is the sexuality and presentation of the individuals in the show, these performances are tailored in a manner in which both homosexual and heterosexual individuals can enjoy the performance. This is an excellent way to promote the openness of the goals of the theatre in a manner that entertains distinct groups of people. As a consequence of such performances, a greater number of people have been able to respect the value of the queer identity, including its contribution to entertainment and other popular culture phenomena.

Works Cited

BIBTTV. 15 April 2011. Web. 20 April 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8bYNW5i4RI>