Queen of the Desert
I disagree with the idea that the libratory aspects of the road are limited by the appearance throughout the film of hegemonic masculinity. The road gives huge amounts of freedom to the three main characters and they encounter numerous "normal" males along the road that provide help for them and except them for the drag queens that they are. The aborigine mechanic in the desert, even goes so far as to dress up in drag and join the show. Bob, the typical representation of a male character, finds more freedom for himself leaving behind the hegemonic masculinity that is typical in his small town and joining the group for the rest of the tour to Alice Springs. The clashes of cultures that happen along the way are most often based on a lack of understanding and confusion. At the hotel bar for example, when the queens show up in full on exuberant drag, by the end of the night they have become part of the crowd. Bernadette drinks her opposition under the table, while Felicia entertains the crowd at the bar. The painting of the bus and the run in with the males trying to hurt Felicia does have a short-lived effect on the spirit of the trip, but it does little to hamper the lifestyle with which the three enjoy.