Disclaimer: This was a Previous Thesis Proposal, It is unfinished (currently) but I still deem it interesting enough to include and to look further into. The ideal reality is one in which I can pursue this research as well, because proper investigations into the construction of Queer Spaces, the Dynamics of the Unseen Architecture of “Drag Houses”, and the idea of “Buildings in Drag” is too fascinating to pass up. I will continue populating it, but currently, it is on the back burner for Thesis.
Thesis Statement:
There exists a duality within the building typology of the (specifically queer) nightclub along with a mirroring that affects the people within, performer and audience alike. Just as signage, advertisement, promotion, and outward perception may tell one story, another surfaces once the lights go down - one of reconfiguration and subversion. Skin (bodily and built) transforms, space and proportions stretch, optics blur and the atmosphere changes from ordinary to extraordinary (emphasis on extra, as both building and person get in Drag). Secondary intangible structures are constructed within this environment, layer by layer, to fool the senses and to provide degrees of separation and safety from the issues faced in daylight. To the untrained eye dangers disappear but with the assistance of various lenses, numerous readings are exposed, revealing prevalent pitfalls present in clubs. Through proper navigation of these settings (across different spectrums), appreciation for craftsmanship, presentation, and transformation is possible, with danger {though present} skillfully mitigated.
