Tranimal
Tranimal is a drag and performance art movement that began in the mid 2000s in Los Angeles. Deriving from the word "transvestite", the aim was to create interpretive, animalistic and post-modern interpretations of the "drag queen".
Origin
File:Tranimal Drag artists Patruni Sastry by Manab Das.jpg
The term "tranimal" was coined by artist Jer Ber Jones. Jer Ber Jones is responsible for starting the movement and popularizing the movement in 2006, and again in early 2007 with the original stage production of the dance musical FOWL, a collaboration with choreographer Ryan Heffington,{{cite web|last=Paper Magazine|title=Jer Ber Jones is "Fowl"! 10 August 2006|url=http://www.papermag.com/2006/08/jer_ber_jones_is_fowl.php|work=papermag.com|date=10 August 2006|accessdate=1 July 2013}} which grew into a drag and performance art scene based in Los Angeles.{{cite web|last=Clifton|first=Jamie|title=Why Be a Tranny When You Can Be a Tranimal?|url=https://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/tranimals-jer-ber-jones|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616080216/http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/tranimals-jer-ber-jones|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 16, 2013|work=Vice|accessdate=23 April 2013}}
In contrast to traditional genres of drag such as camp and pageant, tranimal drag de-constructs fashion and make-up, often using found objects, and elements of surrealism. A visual emphasis was placed on hiding or exaggerating male attributes, but not necessarily shaving, tucking or plucking, creating a constant push and pull between the genders. The tranimal movement was inspired by Leigh Bowery, Radical Faeries, the Cockettes, Boy George, Grace Jones, Cindy Sherman and John Waters.
Austin Young and collaborators further popularized the look and ethos of Tranimal through portraiture work around the genre.
In 2011 the movement reached a mainstream audience when actress Ann Magnuson suggested to the Los Angeles Times that a "Tranimal Makeover Station be erected mid-way on the red carpet." (For the televised Oscar Awards Ceremony.).{{Cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/awards/2011/02/if-i-ran-the-oscars-ann-magnuson.html|title=If I ran the Oscars: Ann Magnuson lets loose|date=27 February 2011}} In 2019, Indian Drag artist Patruni Sastry presented tranimal drag with indianism at Hyderabad Literature festival.{{Cite web|url = https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/how-a-27-year-old-queer-indian-brought-drag-to-their-city/|title = How a 27-year-old queer Indian brought drag to their city|date = 19 March 2020|access-date = 29 June 2020|archive-date = 25 October 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201025140512/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/how-a-27-year-old-queer-indian-brought-drag-to-their-city/|url-status = dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/featured/sunday-hans/drag-helps-you-be-aware-616811|title = Drag helps you be aware|date = 11 April 2020}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/drag-con-hyderabad-2019-patruni-sastry/article29798142.ece|title=Hyderabad to have its first-ever Drag Con|newspaper=The Hindu|date=25 October 2019|last1=Bhavani|first1=Divya Kala}}
Tranimal Workshop
The first public Tranimal Workshop event, held at Mark Allen's Machine Project in 2009, contextualized the movement and moved it into a participatory, open-source series of events.{{cite web|last=Thairin|title=Freakapedia: Tranimal|url=http://worldofwonder.net/2010/11/01/Freakapedia_Tranimal/|work=World of Wonder|accessdate=23 April 2013|date=1 November 2010}}{{cite web|last=Lecaro|first=Lina|title=2010's Top 10 Fashion Trends In LA: Tranimals, Feathered Femmes, Wonderland Wares, And More|url=http://blogs.laweekly.com/arts/2010/12/candy_girls_tranimals_feathere.php|work=LA Weekly|accessdate=23 April 2013|date=27 December 2010}} Each event culminated in a series of photographs shot by Austin Young. The concept of the Tranimal Workshop was a collaboration between by Austin Young, Squeaky Blonde and Fade-Dra. Participating artists have also included Matthu Andersen, Jer Ber Jones, Andrew Marlin, Jason El Diablo, and many others. The first workshop was co-produced by Austin Young and Saskia Wilson-Brown in conjunction with Ultra Fabulous Beyond Drag, Part Deux in 2007, and Ultra Fabulous Beyond Drag, Part Deux in 2009. These two film programs in Los Angeles were complemented by guest performances from artists such The Steve Lady, Jer Ber Jones, and Squeaky Blonde, among others. The Ultra Fabulous screenings served to coalesce the filmic elements of the movement in one place, for the first time.{{cite web |url=http://www.laweekly.com/2009-12-10/music/drag-hagging-with-the-best-of-em/ |title=Los Angeles Music - DRAG-HAGGING WITH THE BEST OF 'EM - page 1 |website=www.laweekly.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108085159/http://www.laweekly.com/2009-12-10/music/drag-hagging-with-the-best-of-em |archive-date=2010-01-08}}
Since the initial event, the workshop has been further developed by many of the original organizers with Austin Young at the helm, and has expanded to various venues including Los Angeles' Hammer Museum in 2010 and the Berkeley Art Museum in 2011.
Tranimal performers
- Jer Ber Jones
- Squeaky Blonde
- Jackie Hell
- Vain Hein
- Andrew Tran
- Violet Blonde
- Patruni Sastry
- Monikkie Shame
- Alisson Gothz{{Citation needed|date=June 2015}}
- Fade-Dra Phey{{cite web|title=Fade-Dra Phey's portrait from the 'Your Face Here' Bexhibit|url=http://worldofwonder.net/2011/02/10/Fade_Dra_Phey_s_portrait_from_th/|work=World of Wonder|accessdate=23 April 2013|author=James St. James|date=10 February 2011}}