Paris Is Burning (film)

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Jennie Livingston

Paris Is Burning is a 1990 documentary film directed by Jennie Livingston that chronicles the ball culture of New York City and the African-American, Latino, gay, and transgender communities involved in it. The film explores the complex social spaces created by participants, who were primarily involved in fashion shows and vogue dance competitions. Themes of race, class, gender, and sexuality are central to the documentary, making it a critical piece in the study of LGBTQ+ and minority cultures in the late 20th century.

Synopsis

Paris Is Burning delves into the lives of its subjects, offering a vibrant glimpse into the world of drag queens, transgender individuals, and the gay community who find solace and freedom in the ballroom scene of New York City during the 1980s. The film highlights various "houses" or teams, such as the House of LaBeija, House of Ninja, and House of Xtravaganza, which serve as surrogate families for young ball-goers often disowned by their biological families due to their gender identity or sexual orientation.

Themes

The documentary addresses several themes, including the quest for social acceptance, the pursuit of fame, and the desire for a chosen family. It also examines the concept of "realness," a term used within the community to describe the ability of an individual to pass as a certain gender or social class. This notion of realness is critiqued through the lens of race, class, and gender, revealing the systemic inequalities faced by the participants.

Reception

Upon its release, Paris Is Burning was met with critical acclaim for its intimate and empathetic portrayal of its subjects. It won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1991 Sundance Film Festival and received a nomination for Best Documentary Feature at the 63rd Academy Awards. The film has since been hailed as an important work in both documentary cinema and queer studies, noted for its groundbreaking representation of marginalized communities.

Legacy

The legacy of Paris Is Burning is evident in its influence on contemporary LGBTQ+ culture, including the popularization of terms like "voguing" and "throwing shade," which have entered mainstream vernacular. The film also inspired the creation of the television series Pose, which further explores the ballroom culture of the 1980s and 1990s. In 2016, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

Controversies

Despite its acclaim, Paris Is Burning has faced criticism, particularly from some of its participants, over issues of compensation and representation. Some subjects expressed concerns that the film profited off their stories without adequately compensating them, highlighting the ongoing exploitation of marginalized communities.

See Also

• LGBT culture in New York City
• Voguing
• Ballroom culture