The Art of Drag

Description

Lights. Glamour. Action! Take a peek into the cultural phenomenon that is Drag, in this lusciously illustrated guide to the history of the phenomenon, from ancient theatre to the queens of RuPaul's Drag Race. Drag has been around for thousands of years. A fabulous mix of fashion, theatre, gender and politics all come together to create the show-stopping entertainment millions love today. In this comprehensive work, Jake Hall delves into its ancient beginnings, to the present day and beyond. Vibrant illustrations enhance a rich history that ranges from Kabuki theatre to Shakespeare, and the revolutionary Stonewall riots to the still-thriving New York ballroom scene. This is a must-have guide to the wonderful world of Drag.

Jake Hall is a freelance writer who has written for Dazed Digital, i-D, VICE, Highsnobiety, INTO, Refinery29 UK, and British Vogue, among others. They have written on topics from sustainability in fashion and body-shaming in queer communities, to government crackdowns on queer people, and intersex genital mutilation. Alongside this work, they are studying for a PhD at the University of Birmingham. Jake's research aims to illuminate the link between high fashion and queer theory, as well as arguing the potential of clothing to radically challenge and subvert the social constructs of gender, sexuality, and race. Helen Li is an Australian illustrator based in Warsaw, Poland. She has worked with Google, Facebook, Dropbox and Redbull. Sofie Birkin is a British illustrator based in Denver, USA. She has worked with Cosmopolitan UK and BOA Technology. Jasjyot Singh Hans is an Indian illustrator based in Chicago, USA. He has worked with Google, New York Times and Vogue India.

Wigs have never looked taller, nor eye shadow so excessive. The result is a truly fabulous combination history and gift book. * Publisher's Weekly * The broad-minded perspective [The Art of Drag] adopts when looking to the past translates into how it looks to the future, too. * I-D Magazine: The Vixen and Crystal Rasmussen on the future of drag * Accompanying Hall's extensive history is a seemingly endless supply of bold illustrations, created in collaboration with artists Sofie Birkin, Helen Li, and Jasjyot Singh Hans. * Dazed Digital * The colour work is in the book is gorgeous too, it's a beautiful book that any fan of drag would love. * rareopalreads on Instagram * A lavishly illustrated guide hopes to tell the complete story of the Art of Drag * @Creativeboom on Twitter * Helen Li, Jake Hall, Jasjyot Singh Hans and Sofie Birkin's book is a tremendous feat of inclusivity that should have queers and straights alike reaching for it. * Pop Matters * An upcoming non-fiction book, full of gorgeous art. It shows readers the history of drag through beautiful illustration and fun comic characters. * Book Riot *