Performing the Lesbian Body—The New Wave

Abstract

In recent years a crop of fine, exhilarating new talent has burst onto the lesbian performance scene. It has thrown up a range of unique dyke representations–from big hair, high drag, post-modern stripping and reformed fan dancing through to irony and pigtails. In the past the famous dyke double negative–of being both female and ‘homosexual’–has shadowed lesbian performance to such an extent that there have been few positive, out representations. The work of feminist/political performers which challenged this was often reactive and thus tended to narrow down, rather than open out, the range of ‘acceptable’ lesbian representation. But things are changing. In this chapter, six ‘new wave’ performers talk about creating work, getting seen, showing flesh, doing politics and making money. Although they affirm that presenting publicly as an out dyke is still hard, they have also discovered a richness and freedom that is essentially and uniquely lesbian. Given the grotesque stereotypes and stinking closets so many lesbian performers have endured in the past–this represents something of a genuine and much-needed break-through.