Final answer:
Pageants have a long history, from medieval dramas with Master of Secrets handled effects to modern beauty pageants that now include feminist protests and the exploration of 'spectacular femininity'. They've spanned cultures and served as platforms for expressing community identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout history, pageants have played a significant role in various cultures. In medieval Europe, for instance, outdoor plays known as pageants were staged by religious organizations and trade guilds using mobile stages on wagons. These included a range of dramatic productions, including mystery cycles that depicted Biblical history and morality plays like Everyman. Special effects were handled by the Master of Secrets, an early equivalent to a special effects master.
In modern times, the concept of pageants has evolved, particularly noted in contexts such as the famous feminist protests during the 1968 and 1969 Miss America pageants, where women discarded items symbolic of beauty standards to challenge societal expectations. Marcia Ochoa's study further explores this evolution by examining the idea of "spectacular femininity" as seen in Venezuelan beauty pageants amongst both female contestants and transgender sex workers.
The concept behind these shows is not exclusive to Western traditions; for instance, certain religious festivities incorporate Songs of Praise as interludes within ceremonial pageants, further showcasing the pageant's integrative role in cultural expression and community identity across different societies.