From Fairuz to Haifa: Queer Diva Worship & Drag Performances in Beirut’s Contested Cosmopolitanism

By Lamia Baladi - MA Student in Media, Culture & Communication at NYU Steinhardt (MA 2022)

The idea for this project has its roots in my personal interest in drag culture performances and pop culture icons coupled with my experiences witnessing the beginning and flourishing of a movement back home in Beirut. I have always had a certain fascination for counter-cultural movements, outcasts and people who go against the grain of society’s homogeneity, those who dare stand out. In parallel, visual culture, performances & using art as a means of expression have always been second nature to me. As such, it only seemed logical that I would merge both of my interests and tackle this subject for the final thesis of my masters in Media, Culture and Communication.

Thesis Abstract:

The drag scene in Beirut has experienced unprecedented visibility in the past few years. This is quite notable given the Middle Eastern context of Lebanon, and the ensuing complex situation of queer people in an ‘apparent’ cosmopolitan city like Beirut, where gender has to constantly be performed. Drawing on a textual analysis of pop culture, fan studies, queer and drag culture, as well as cross-culturalism, this study aims to shed light on the meanings behind Beiruti queens’ drag performances of Lebanese pop divas, with a specific focus on the legendary Fairuz and Haifa. Performing these icons allow for drag queens to make sense of the complexities of their identities, of their environment, and reconcile what it means to be queer and Arab.