Critical Response to Paris Is Burning

Paris Is Burning Name: Institution Paris Is Burning Paris Is Burning is a film that was produced by Jennie Livingstone in the 1980s. The film was set was majorly in New York City. Its thematic concern bases on critical issues, among them, being homosexuality and transgender community which highlights the drag ball culture of New York. Livingstone majors these ideas by incorporating the black and Latino is in her film. The epic revolves around interviews which were carried out with the members of the ball community and a film record of the Ball (Angie, Dorian, Pepper, and Willi). According to various critics, Paris Is Burning is a significant movie regarding the modern generation based on to how Livingston expressed her thoughts and views on discrimination in terms of race, sexual identity and prejudice towards homosexuals. Livingstone’s most outstanding and unique technique in expressing her views on transgender society is revealed in the manner in which she structures the drag balls whereby individuals who have already identified themselves as part of the transgender society and homosexuals take part in the competition. The competition further breaks down to smaller categories whereby each contestant must show the ability to prove that they are worthy of their drag. It is by this showing off peculiar characteristics and outstanding performance that will outsmart others and enable the judges to make the final judgment. For instance, a good example can be that of dressing up as an exemplary executive class to show executive realness or dressing up as a modern upper-class male or female. As an outsider who is not used to this kind of context, I was awed by the ideology behind these contest and creativity shown. The cultural dimension of the ball was both outstanding as well as highlight some form of tragedy. Also, the contest served the purpose of giving the community an opportunity of living a life outside their boundaries; a life which was supposedly someone else’s. It was a life in which one felt accepted in the society regardless of the taboos upholding the fabric of the society as well as living a high-end luxurious life. A point of anguish due to discrimination is felt when one of the actors says,"…how many gay black males are in the business of executive ranks?" This shows the unfairness the society imposes on the transgender community based on their social class. In fact in the film, Dorian Corey notes that unless you have an opportunity and a good education background, it is tough to get a job as an executive. He goes on to express how society has isolated the black person in accessing better opportunities. Ideally, it is evident that individuals suffer much to become accepted in a given society, a point of inspiration can be drawn from the support of the ball community that paves a way of expressing certain societal prejudices they had through dance and style. In his review of Paris is burning, Emanuel Levy highlights the beautiful nature of the ball culture. He descri...