For obvious reasons I've been waiting to write another movie of the month post but with everything going on right now, and it being Pride Month, I wanted to share a movie that encapsulates and strengthens the voices that need to be heard. This month's movie is documentary by Jennie Livingston from 1990, titled Paris is Burning.
Paris is Burnings was filmed in 1990 by Jennie Livingston. The film revolves around the ball culture of New York City and the African-American, Latinx, gay, and transgender communities apart of it. This documentary serves as a thoughtful and invaluable artifact of the end of the "Golden Age" of New York City balls, and an exploration on race, gender, class, and sexuality in America.
“You go in there and you feel...you feel a hundred percent right as being gay. And that's not what it's like in the world."
Livingston explores this ball scene of the 1980's in New York through an anthropologists eye and an open heart, being educated by the young African American and Latino gay teens about the details of their lives and the difficulties they've faced growing up in a culture that opposes them. Dorian Corey, an "old school" queen, takes initiative on the tougher topics, focusing on the finer points like the deeper sociocultural meaning of drag and how their language, dance, and attitude form their own culture.
If you've ever wondered where "voguing" comes from, then watch this movie to find out and understand it better.
Reason's I Loved this Movie
I was first introduced to this movie during my "Exploring Folklore in Film" course during college. Before seeing this I didn't quite understand the origins or meaning behind the drag scene and after watching it, and having to write a research essay on it, I began to see just how important this film and it's message is today.
Jennie Livingston did an amazing job with the film and showing the social context of underground drag and the diverse lifestyles of those in drag, giving the viewer a glimpse at the challenges and difficulties those groups face as a minority in our culture. Even if your own personal identity can't relate, you will be able to relate through the genuine, heart warming human connections shown within this documentary.
I did some research and I was impressed to find out that Livingston had over 400 hours of footage and took two years to look through and edit it into the film it was when it was released. Livingston's film is impactful and still is today, for example, Ru Paul, who produces and runs the show “Drag Race” requires contestants to watch the documentary before filming due to the social, cultural, and historical significance it holds for the shows motivations and goals. This film was the start for the new culture of drag, voguing, and a wake up call to society in regards to sexuality and the queens that walk among them.
Paris is Burning is available on youtube (linked below) or available to rent on platforms like Amazon video or Google play.
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