The Film, Television, and Theater (FTT) Department at the University of Notre Dame plans to host a drag show on Nov. 3. This event comes after a series of controversies in recent years as Notre Dame has grappled with its Catholic identity and the bounds of “academic freedom.”
Founded by a French missionary priest in 1842, the University of Notre Dame prides itself on roots in the Catholic intellectual tradition and calls its students to “be powerful forces for good in the world.” The school’s mission statement advocates for a university “dedicated to the pursuit and sharing of truth for its own sake.”
On Sept. 13, the school’s independent Catholic student newspaper, The Irish Rover, reported that the drag show was to take place following the conclusion of a one-credit class titled, “What a Drag: Drag on Screen — Variations and Meanings.”
The Rover interviewed the course instructor, Pamela Wojcik, professor of FTT and concurrent professor in the Department of Gender Studies. The class description states that “students will be asked to read essays on drag, write weekly reflections, attend class discussions, and attend weekly screenings, as well as a symposium on drag and performance on Friday, November 3, 2023.”
The event has since been confirmed by posters around campus advertising the performance which will feature drag artists “Blair St. Clair,” “London BaCall,” and “Cordelia,” a student performer. It is co-sponsored by the Departments of Music and American Studies, the College of Arts and Letters Initiative on Race and Resilience,
