'Cross-Dressing': A Study of Performance and Queer Politics in Selected Bengali Movies

Abstract

Cross-dressing is considered to be an act of wearing clothes or accessories belonging to the ‘other’; gender with the purpose of disguise or expression. It has been a popular practice on the stage in the early ages to portray the female characters in the absence of an actress. But recent association of this term with homosexuality and `transvestism`; has changed the connotation. Even the mythological and historical context of cross-dressing has been relevant within the cultural practice and its representation in popular media. The term was used in 1911 by Edward Carpenter, mentioning, “Cross-dressing must be taken as a general indication of, and a cognate phenomenon to, homosexuality”. This paper of mine will look into the journey of the practice of cross dressing in our cultural practice and its representation in Bengali movies. The cinematographic space has been used to bring out the voice of the marginalised people of LGBTQA+ community. The paper will try to focus on the purpose of this practice through the lens of gender, performance and mythology. It will analyse the politics of body and choice of dressing with reference to ‘gender’ performance. Detailed discussion on the notion of gender and performance will be done with its relationship to queer representation. The cultural investigation on this will also reflect the narration of resistance, forbidden choice and discourse of identity. It is high time to question the concept of ‘cross dressing’ as it is deeply rooted in the discriminatory ideology of representing identity through dress, color or specific role play. The essence of Fashion and its fluidity is making the demarcation line bleak and vague with each passing day. In the age of pride parade, the discourse of cross-dressing and its relevance needs to be questioned and renegotiated. The paper will include the context of Bengali movies like Chitrangada, Arekti Premer Golpo, Samantaral, Nagarkirtan and others for evaluating the issues.