Drag and Reality TV
Hey there, fabulous friends! Ever found yourself glued to the TV screen, watching drag queens, drag kings, and NB performers werk, dance, death drop, bicker, and throw more shade than a forest in summertime? Yep, we're talking about drag reality TV, where drama is as abundant as glitter and the competition is fiercer than a miniskirt and stilettos.
While binge-watching drag may give you life, it might also be giving your self-esteem a bit of a makeover – and not necessarily in a good way.
Imagine that you're sprawled on the couch, munching on popcorn, and living for every wig snatch and read. But as you watch these performers strut their stuff, you can't help but compare your own life to the fabulousness unfolding on screen. Suddenly, your Monday morning commute feels less like a glamorous runway and more like a tragic walk of shame.
Reality TV has a knack for serving up a heaping plate of exaggerated reality, leaving us mere mortals feeling like our lives are about as exciting as watching paint dry. When every episode is packed with more drama than a lifetime movie, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that our own lives are lacking that same sparkle and pizzazz.
And let's be real – who among us hasn't felt a twinge of envy as we watch performers strut their stuff in designer gowns or suits and flawless makeup? Suddenly, our own attempts at contouring look more like the aftermath of gastrointestinal distress than a Vogue cover shoot. Also, have you ever wondered how your favorite reality TV shows might be secretly sabotaging your love life? What happens when the drama from the small screen starts seeping into our real-life relationships?
Imagine you and your significant other are cozying up on the couch, ready for a romantic night in. But as you flip through the channels, you can't resist the siren call of reality TV drama. Suddenly, you're knee-deep in a marathon of catfights, backstabs, and more drama than a soap opera convention. But here's the thing, constant exposure to all that scripted drama can desensitize you to the real deal. Those epic showdowns between queens may be entertaining AF, but they could also be turning you into a drama-seeking missile in your own relationships and friendships.
Think about it… after watching hours of drag performers throwing shade and reading each other for filth, a little tiff with your boo might start to feel like child's play, and you might feel justified or validated in overreacting to your friend making a mistake. You might think that it’s appropriate to say mean and hurtful things because you’ve been desensitized and aren’t as mindful or considerate to your friends.
It also contributes to the normalization of unhealthy behaviors. When every other couple on TV is fighting like cats in a closet, it's easy to start thinking that drama equals passion, and toxicity equals true love. But that's a runway you don't want to walk down. Bickering and backstabbing isn’t a requirement for friendship – in fact, a productive and joyous friendship will take care to avoid hurting the other person.
Then there’s the paranoia that comes as a result of overconsumption of reality TV drama. Suddenly, every innocent glance from your partner or bestie feels like a potential betrayal, every whispered conversation a secret plot against you. You find yourself questioning the intentions of everyone around you, wondering if they're secretly plotting to snatch your crown and steal your spotlight.
And let's be real – who among us hasn't felt a pang of skepticism after watching one too many reality TV villains stab each other in the back for their own self interests? Suddenly, the idea of trusting someone with your heart feels riskier than attempting a death drop in stilettos.
Next time you find yourself knee-deep in a reality TV drama marathon, just remember: love may be a battlefield, but it doesn't have to be a drag. Put down the remote, turn to your boo, and remember that the only shade worth throwing is the kind that comes with a fabulous glitter bomb. Tell your friends you love them and see if they need support in some way. After all, in the game of love, the real winners are the ones who choose love over drama every time.
Despite the glitter, glam, and fierce lip-sync battles, there's a sneaky secret lurking behind the scenes. You see, these shows may tout themselves as a peek into "reality," but they're more orchestrated than a drag queen's runway performance. With editing tricks and scripted drama, they turn everyday life into a spectacle fit for the gods. It's easy to get caught up in the fantasy, thinking that the drama we see on TV is the standard script for real life. Suddenly, our mundane moments feel about as exciting as a beige wall. These shows can distort viewers' perceptions of reality, leading them to believe that the exaggerated drama they see on TV is typical in real life.
We all love a good dose of shade, but let's face it – too much of a good thing can leave us feeling frazzled. Excessive exposure to the drama-filled world of reality drag TV can have us feeling more stressed than a queen trying to glue down her lace front in a hurricane. From the never-ending conflicts to the drama that rivals a soap opera marathon, it's enough to make even the fiercest diva want to retreat for a well-deserved break. So let's remember to take a breath, shake off the drama and remember that life is too fabulous to be weighed down by the extra bitchiness and two-faced backstabbing. After all, we're here to slay the runway, not our mental health and excessive exposure to negative and dramatic content can impact mental health, contributing to stress, anxiety, or even depression in some individuals. Constantly witnessing conflict and drama without resolution can create a sense of emotional distress or unease.
It can also influence our behavior. Reality TV often glorifies certain behaviors or lifestyles, which can influence viewers to emulate what they see on screen. This may include adopting unhealthy relationship dynamics, prioritizing materialism, or seeking fame at any cost. It’s no secret that what we see on screen can have a major impact on our lives. But let's not get it twisted – just because we're serving looks doesn't mean we need to serve up unhealthy relationship dynamics or dive headfirst into the pool of materialism. Reality TV loves to glamorize the drama and paint a picture-perfect fantasy of fame and fortune. We mustn’t forget that we have our own shimmer and shine and therein lies the real magic of authenticity and self-love. The truest crown we can wear is the one we create for ourselves, not the one handed to us by a reality TV producer. Now, who's ready to strut away from the drama and into authenticity?
The next time you find yourself feeling a tad inadequate after a drag binge-fest, remember- behind every perfectly styled wig and killer lip sync, there's a drag artist who's just as fabulously flawed as the rest of us.
Unfortunately, drag on reality TV could also have a negative impact on an artist’s creativity. Shows themselves may not inherently decrease an artist's creativity, but there are potential factors associated with it that could have an impact. Artists might unintentionally compare themselves to the drag performers they see on TV, leading to feelings of inadequacy or a sense of being unable to measure up creatively. This could potentially stifle their own creative expression if they feel pressured to imitate rather than innovate.
It could also result in artists being overly influenced by current trends in drag culture. While staying current is important, excessive exposure might lead to unintentional replication of styles or ideas, rather than exploring unique and original concepts. Depending on the diversity of drag performers showcased on TV, artists may inadvertently limit their understanding of drag as an art form. Exposure to a narrow range of drag styles, personalities, or narratives might restrict their creative exploration and prevent them from tapping into the full spectrum of possibilities within drag.
Watching a lot of drag on TV could potentially lead to burnout or disillusionment with the art form for some artists, too. If they feel overwhelmed or oversaturated with drag content, they may experience a decline in motivation or inspiration to create their own work. While TV can provide exposure to drag performances, it may not always capture the depth, authenticity, and personal connection that artists experience when participating in or witnessing live drag performances. Without this direct engagement, artists may struggle to draw inspiration or feel creatively energized by what they see on TV. Constantly consuming drag content on TV might contribute to a reliance on external validation for creative validation. Artists may subconsciously seek approval or validation from TV portrayals of drag rather than trusting their own instincts and artistic vision.
So let's not forget to strike a fierce balance between consumption and creation. Sure, those queens, kings, and nonbinary performers serve up looks hotter than a disco ball on fire, but it's up to us to keep our creative juices flowing like a perfectly mixed cocktail. Remember to channel your inner critic, keep those creative explorations sizzling, and dive headfirst into a prism of inspiration that goes beyond the confines of the small screen. Don't forget to maintain a critical mindset and steer clear of imitating the drama seen on screen. After all, while drag may be the ultimate runway fantasy, the real magic happens when we bring our own unique flair to the table. So grab your brushes, strut your stuff, and remember to serve up creativity and unique artistry with quirky and loving sass. Now, who's ready to slay the runway of imagination like the kind and fierce kings, queens, and NB performers that we were born to be?
