The Art of Drag Seminar was held on September 27, 2025, at Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet). The seminar was divided into three main topics, presented as three sessions:

1. Drag as an art form in society

2. Drag as an inclusive practice

3. Drag from an academic perspective

After each session, students from OsloMet facilitated reflection activities for the audience. The aim was to engage participants and give them the opportunity to contribute their perspectives and thoughts to the seminar. The students used the digital tool Mentimeter to pose questions and collect anonymous responses from the audience. In this article, we take a closer look at the findings from the first reflection session.

The first session, Drag as an art form in society, was based on lectures by the Norwegian drag artist and influencer Mimi Devine (Shlomi Ruimi) and the Swedish drag company Bland drakar och dragqueens (Eng. Among Dragons and Drag Queens). The questions asked were:

• What can drag do for society?

• What myths and biases do you think people might have about drag, and what challenges might appear?

• How can drag be used as a resource to reach different target groups?

Based on the audience’s responses, three overarching perspectives emerged regarding what drag can contribute to society.

First, drag is seen as a political tool, a form of expression capable of shifting perspectives, educating audiences, and sparking important discussions about gender norms and identity. Its ability to challenge conventions makes it a powerful medium for social commentary.

Second, drag was described as a vibrant form of entertainment and storytelling. Through humor, theatricality, and visual spectacle, it can highlight personal stories in colorful and engaging ways. Many noted that drag encourages creativity, playfulness, and joy across age groups.

Third, the audience pointed to drag as a source of healing and personal growth. Engaging with drag, whether as a performer or spectator, can foster honesty, improve mental well-being, and support individual development, ultimately contributing to a better quality of life.

Despite these strengths, several myths and biases continue to create challenges for the drag community. A persistent misconception is that drag is frivolous or solely self-serving. Many still believe that drag is performed only by gay cis men, that it is inherently sexual, or that it revolves exclusively around gender. These assumptions can fuel discrimination, including homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia.

Additionally, because drag is often misunderstood as a sexual practice, performers who work with children, especially in storytelling or educational settings, may face unjust accusations, including being labeled as inappropriate or predatory. Such biases deeply harm both the artists and the art form.

These misconceptions stand in stark contrast to the value drag brings. As the audience highlighted, drag is an effective resource for education, for challenging conformity, and for reaching diverse groups through humor, storytelling, and visually expressive performance. By giving drag artists access to a variety of venues and platforms, society enables them to connect with new audiences and reinforce messages of authenticity, self-expression, and positive communication.