Paris Is Burning
There is a general consensus about things our society labels as Taboo. The sort of topics looked down upon range from prostitution to age of consent. Most will agree that taboo issues are not morally correct. But there are some things that are taboo which need a little more thought before being put into that category. Gender bending has continuously been made into a horrible thing not to be mentioned unless it is the center of a joke. "Paris Is Burning" presents the real life story of gay men in Harlem who come together in one desperate act of self-fulfillment. By selecting related interview clips and juxtaposing them between actual shots of competitions, Jennie Livingston connects and expresses struggle and hardship as the glue that holds gay Harlem together. In addition, she hopes to send a message that creates an overall view of a family unit apparent and necessary in gay metropolitan life. What exactly is a ball? Pepper Labeija remarks, "Gay people, men, gather together under one roof and decide to have a competition amongst themselves." The ball scene is the first that gives the viewer a glimpse of the event circuit the film focuses on. We see a cutaway from the bold word "BALLS" to the ballroom
Famous disco songs play over footage of heterosexual people on a busy street. They form these "houses" as a way to make up for a family who has made them outcasts in the world. We see actual posters of these "family" gangs, which are advertising one of their drag shows. By utilizing side-by-side images of white culture contrasted with the interviews, Livingston wishes to relay that the ball is as close to fame, fortune and starlight that any of these black people will ever come. According to the narrator the families are similar to street gangs because everyone shares a common bond. The black narrator is talking the entire time of how uncomfortable it is to be poor in life and of a much-desired luxurious one. Leading us to the next scene is a cut to Venus extravagnaza who explains how she was incorporated into her house by an old house legend. There is emphasis on real women, or real men, straight men. More and more people choose to live their life as another sex and do so successfully with a little detection from the rest of the world. All is followed by interviews of real ball participants explaining the competition aspect of balls while sewing ballroom outfits. In order to blend in with society these transgender want to give society what they want to see. It cuts to scenes of various gay men dressed as what they believe to be realistic men and women. An interview with Pepper Labejia, reveals that these balls are like the Oscars for them. As the agenda becomes clearer with continuing interviews and action sequences from a ball, the viewer gains a strong sense of hardships leading to the adaptation of these individual family groups in the gay New York area.
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Acceptance Essays
