CULTURE

Vulture Dehumanizes Drag Queens with Random Ranking

Unfortunately, New York Magazine overlooked the depth of those underneath the makeup, even dwindling some down to a footnote.

When New York Magazine began releasing photos of international drag sensations, many fans were excited to read profiles on the artistic geniuses.

Unfortunately, Vulture's coverage reminded many that a RuPaul's Drag Race bubble exists and not everyone respects the Queens for the artists they are. Instead of treating the magazine's cover stars like those prior, the publication ranked the performers, classifying them as either Top Tier or Bottom Tier. The reductive representation offered no further insight on the fascinating queens—who they are beyond surface level accomplishments or individual placements on the show. While Drag Race is a launchpad for hundreds of queens, Vulture failed to appreciate the profundity of the new generation of Instagram and reality TV celebrities.

The lives of drag performers tend to be disregarded, with fans favoring the spectacle and on-stage characters. This is a reminder that queens embody a type of expression that both embraces and rejects gender to cultivate a new narrative and understanding of personhood. Drag culture is a celebration of self and the ability we have to truly be ourselves. Unfortunately, Vulture overlooked the depth of those underneath the makeup, even dwindling some down to a dehumanizing footnote.

Queens photographed for the publication reacted swiftly, taking to Twitter to criticize the written content and the photos' lighting.

Although Martin Schoeller is known for his up close, unedited style, the article did not match the quality of the photos. Willam Belli (of Drag Race and television fame) called out the journalistic integrity of Vulture's editors, claiming none of the subjects were informed they would be ranked.

If journalists bothered to look beyond the accessible information on a drag queen's career, each artist's influence on our cultural consciousness would be more recognized. In turn, they could become championed members of our society, surpassing Pride coverage and queer-oriented events (ahem Met Gala). Uplifting their stories year round (outside of the reality show format) would increase the number of pivotal voices allowed to transform our culture. If it wasn't obvious enough, these entertainers have contributed to a shift in Western society and impacted younger generations for good: Gen Y and Z are more inclusive and expressive than past generations, which will inform the future, with or without journalistic appreciation. Vulture should know better.

CULTURE

All the Things Millennials Have "Killed"

Don't cry because it happened; smile because it's over.

Millennials

Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash

Millennials changed the face of American culture and many people (from older generations) argue that they changed it for the worst.

But what could be deemed lazy may just be efficient. Instead of working at a desk, people can make bank from their phones. Instead of a basic marketing rollout, marketers make memes. Instead of ordering food over the phone, people have over 20 delivery apps to choose from.

As requested by @youngandjoven: "Can someone write an article on millennials killing the doorbell industry by texting 'here.'" Popdust delivers. You're welcome.

Paper Cups

Paper cups are for the dentist, and the dentist only. If you're not waving around a plastic cup, ignoring the environment while shouting "F*ck Tha Police," what are you even doing?

Phone Calls

There's a reason why so many adults today don't like calling the doctor: It's a nerve-wracking experience. After the invention of Caller ID, if it's an unrecognizable number, why pick it up? Telemarketers everywhere will be obsolete by the time millennials are cool, old farts.

Saying The N Word in A Rap Song

Ah, remember the good ol' days when PC culture didn't exist? You know, just casual racism that no one would acknowledge (with the exception of any black person in the room)?

Top Sheets

GQtried covering this phenomenon, which obviously left their staff conflicted. No one uses top sheets anymore, and maybe laziness is the reason. Making your bed already takes effort, and we already don't wash our sheets enough. Just when we've revolutionized laundering, the standard of living has gone up, and the way we treat ourselves has gone down exponentially.

Thank You Notes

Unless you're really trying to get the job (like I did with Popdust), no one writes thank you notes anymore. There's no incentive to, especially when employers are ghosting their candidates.

Don't let your mom guilt you into sending relatives a thank you note for that Amazon gift card; save the environment and just shoot your grandma a heart emoji.

Being Nice To Your Racist and/or Homophobic Relative

"It's just the way they are, and you can't change them!" Wrong. The younger generation will always revolutionize discourse and norms. Indifference is hate, choosing your family has more of a place now, and we're embracing it. Thanksgiving debates will never be the same.

Hot Coffee

Ok, this isn't killed off completely, but it should be. If Gen Y has taught us anything, it's that iced coffee is King and I will not accept any other opinion. Next.

Healthily Paced Relationships

Either people are moving in together after two months, traveling the world together, or dragging out year-long courtships because marriage is too much of a "commitment." Millennials revived The Bachelor for a reason: We want to see what unhealthy relationships look like to remind us what we really deserve!

Chain Restaurants

Experts claim millennials have killed chain restaurants. Who can blame us? The desire to experience "authentic," "healthy" food has gone up with our fetishization and fusion of ethnic foods.

Seriously, fajitas must be stopped.

Doorbells

Oh, what started it all.

First of all, doorbells and buzzers are quite different. If you live in any major city, you know this. The obnoxious, soul-sucking noise that is a buzzer has nothing on the sweet, versatile doorbell; but the family doorbell stopped working years ago, and now you just text "here."

The White Male Leading Role

Lol jk, nvm.