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Violet Olivia Thompson BA (Cardiff), MA (Cardiff)

Violet Olivia Thompson

(she/her)

BA (Cardiff), MA (Cardiff)

Graduate Tutor

School of Journalism, Media and Culture

Email
ThompsonVO@cardiff.ac.uk
Campuses
Two Central Square, Central Square, Cardiff, CF10 1FS

Overview

Violet's research explores the emergence of queer texts into mainstream popular culture, with a specific focus on the mainstreaming of drag media. Primarily using RuPaul's Drag Race as a case study, her research assesses the implications of this mainstreaming, considering how the franchise represents local cultural identity and non-binary identities, as well as non-normative drag performances. She is also interested in debates regarding queer representations, audiences and fandom, the subversive potential of queer popular culture, and queer histories. More broadly, she is interested in popular culture and the intersections of representing gender, sexuality and class.

Prior to beginning her PhD, Violet achieved a BA (First Class Honours) in Media, Journalism and Culture from JOMEC, Cardiff University in 2018, followed by an MA (Distinction) in Journalism, Media and Communications from JOMEC in 2019.

Violet is a member of the JOMEC Feminist Media Studies Research Group , as well as the Trans Journalists Association (TJA). Furthermore, she also acts as an Assistant Editor for the JOMEC Journal, and is an Editorial Assistant for Feminist Media Studies. She also sits on the JOMEC Education and Student Experience Committee, and the JOMEC Equality and Diversity Committee. 

Research

Violet's primary research interest is queer sub-cultures, with a particular focus on drag performers and performances. Specifically, she is interested in the mainstreaming of drag performance, as well as its commercilisation and commodification. More broadly, Violet is interested in representations of gender non-conformity in popular culture, transgender studies, as well as the intersecting debates on these topics regarding audiences and fandom. As part of her research, Violet is also interested in queer media, reality television, and feminist media studies. 

Thesis: The Globalisation of American Drag & Queer Authenticity: An analysis of the Drag Race franchise and the cultural, political, and social ramifications of its expansion.

Violet's PhD considers the current cultural 'moment', in which drag performers can be seen to enter mainstream popular culture in ground-breaking, and unexpected ways. However, this mainstreaming has seen much hostility, as well as concerns regarding a sanitisation of queer culture. Therefore, Violet's thesis will assess the implications of this mainstreaming, through a textual analysis of the Drag Race franchise. With a particular interest in the franchise's international editions, including those in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, Violet's resarch will establish how the contempoary mainstreaming of drag has influencd its representations of queerness, cultural identity, gender, and sexuality. In doing so, she will establish an important understanding regarding the current status of queer culture within the mainstream, at a time in which it is facing growing hostility and political attack. 

Teaching

Conference Presentations

  • "Taking over the Mother-Tucking World!": RuPaul's Drag Race and North American Universalism. PhD Conference, JOMEC, Cardiff University, 10th May 2022. 

Teaching 

Violet has taught on the following undergraduate modules within JOMEC: 

  • MC1110: History of Mass Communications and Culture (Autumn 2022, Seminar Leader, Module Leader: Dr Matt Walsh)
  • MC3633: Popular Music, Media and Culture (Autumn 2022/Autumn 2023, Seminar Leader, Module Leader: Dr Lucy Bennett)
  • MC3634: Clothing Matters: Global Fashion Cultures & Politics (Spring 2023, Guest Lecture, Module Leader: Dr Alida Payson)
  • MC3608: The Creative and Cultural Industries (Spring 2024, Seminar Leader, Module Leader: Dr Carrie Westwater)
  • MC2645: Media and Sexuality (Spring 2024, Guest Lecture, Module Leader: Dr Alida Payson)

Biography

Professional memberships

Committees and reviewing

  • Editorial Assistant, Feminist Media Studies (2024 - Present)
  • Assistant Editor, JOMEC Journal (2022 - Present)
  • JOMEC Equality and Diversity Committee (2021 - Present)
  • JOMEC Education and Student Experince Committee (2021 - Present)

Research themes

Specialisms

  • Feminist Media Studies
  • Drag
  • Queer Theory
  • Gender
  • Film and Television

External profiles