Travesty became very popular here in Berlin in the 80s thanks to Romy Haag. The changed night scene in West Berlin created an openness in every direction that did not otherwise exist in the Federal Republic. Travesty is not tied to a specific sexual orientation. The art of transforming into another gender was actually promoted by those who were most opposed to it, the Church. As Pope Innocent XI announced on May 4, 1686 ? “Music is highly detrimental to the modesty of the female sex, because it distracts them from their proper business and occupations […] they should not learn to sing or play any instrument.” Pope Clement XI (pontificate 1700-1721) reaffirmed Sixtus V’s prohibition on the grounds that “no female person should learn music on purpose in order to be used as a singer under severe punishment, for it is well known that a beauty who wants to sing in the theater and still preserve her chastity does nothing other than jump into the Tiber and yet does not want to get her feet wet.”[9(Wikipedia) The female voices now had to be replaced by castrati, who had to take on the female role in women’s clothing and so the travesty was even blessed. The parodic exaggeration of the female sex is often presented as a parody or imitation of stars, even to the point of creating a character of its own in the cabaret sector. The best-known travesty artists in Germany are Mary & Gordy, Lilo Wanders and Olivia Jones. The best-known film roles and stage plays: A Cage Full of Fools and The Rocky Horror (Picture) Show
Drag queens and travesty are two terms that are often associated with each other as they have to do with gender disguise and performance. However, there are important differences between them:
Drag queen:
A drag queen is usually a male person who dresses in women’s clothing and makeup to embody a more feminine identity or female alter ego.
Drag queens are often performers who appear in clubs, on stages and at events. They often perform extravagant and entertaining shows that may include singing, dancing and comedy.
Performing as a drag queen can be a form of artistic expression and often involves the creation of an exaggerated, glamorous female persona.
Travesty:
Travesty refers to the representation of the opposite sex through disguise. This can be practiced by both men and women.
Unlike drag queen performance, travesty is not necessarily focused on a specific gender identity or expression. It can be a more general type of gender disguise.
Travesty can occur in a variety of contexts, from humorous parodies to artistic performances. It is not always limited to female representations.
Overall, both drag queens and travesty can take many forms and are often used for entertainment, self-expression and artistic performance. The main difference is that drag queens are usually men performing in women’s clothing, whereas travesty can cover a wider range of gender presentations and expressions.
