Paris is Burning

 

I had heard of Paris is Burning but had never seen it, so it was nice to finally put a face to the name, so to speak. Paris is Burning is a documentary about ball and drag culture of the 80s. Watching the film, I found it really interesting to learn about the ballroom circuit and all the different categories. The film also exposed different terms and concepts that I’ve heard but never knew the history behind them, and what they really meant before. 

After finishing the film, reading the articles, learning about the controversies, and hearing different people’s perspectives in class, I have conflicted feelings about it. I think it was really nice to see the joy throughout the documentary, especially since there are so few films, if any, that focus on black, brown, and queer joy. One particular scene that stood out to me was with Brooke and Carmen Xtravaganza on the beach. Brooke says she’s just had sex change surgery and feels “as free as the wind that’s blowing out on this beach”. They laugh and sing, dancing around in the sand. I found that scene so happy, that Brooke is thrilled to finally feel like her true and authentic self. However, the film also skips over important issues like the AIDS epidemic that was at its height during the time. If you’re going to show their lived experience, you may need to touch upon everything, not just some parts and not others. 

One thing in particular that I didn’t like was how they totally glossed over Venus Xtravaganza’s murder. In fact, a lot of times, “moments of pain and sadness were quickly covered up by dramatic scenes from drag balls” (154). In the case of Venus’ death, it’s mentioned out of nowhere at the end of the film, and then never discussed again. It’s upsetting the way this tragic and heartbreaking death of such a key figure in the film is just thrown out and never fully addressed. 

I want to be able to appreciate the happiness of the film and celebrate the beauty of the culture, but I can’t ignore the problems, such as it being directed by a white woman. As Bell Hooks describes, “Jennie Livingston approaches her subject matter as an outsider looking in” (151). This black and brown queer culture was mainstreamed by a white person, without proper credit or compensation. She got wealthy while leaving behind everyone that appeared in the film. While they all have passed away, she continues to profit off them. The film was geared towards a white audience and was a teaching moment at a time before queer culture became mainstreamed with shows like Pose and Rupaul’s Drag Race. While I do think educating a wider audience is important, the film can also be seen as an appropriation of the culture.