Gender Stereotypes In The Film (1990) By Jennie Livingston

In Paris is Burning (1990), Jennie Livingston explores the 1980s New York City drag balls with a focus on the African American and Latino gay and transgender society involved. The film begins with the purpose of the balls and the culture that surrounds it. Different key players in the drag world explain the aspects of a ball such as “voguing,” “realness,” and “houses.” Livingston reveals how the subjects dealt with the adversity of this lifestyle of poverty, racism, and homophobia. She shows the strength these people have to survive in society, by creating their own sub society where anything is possible. The ball scene allows these people to escape their harsh reality and be whatever they desire for the night. This film demonstrates that people in drag are just finding a way to express themselves in gender, class, and race. Extremes of the drag society seen throughout the film show men with outrageous costumes and heavy makeup, but also the other end of the spectrum is shown. For example, members of this society also appear to dress as close to their straight counterpart as possible. This film has a major theme that this community desires societal acceptance and hold these gatherings to demonstrate they can follow the gender roles demanded by a normal society. Despite the …show more content…
Two legendary ball people are Pepper LaBeija and Dorian Corey who gave separate interviews at the start of the film to explain the ball culture. LaBeija described the evolution of the ball scene from the participants wanting to look like Las Vegas showgirls to now them wanting to look like models. Both these interviews are conducted in the men’s homes and close-ups of their bodies and movements are done. Corey goes on to say that the balls were evolving so that more involvement can occur. The ball scene itself is becoming more accepting of different gays and transgender people found in the society so a normal society acceptance is not far