Gender Studies Blog Post #2

 Chosen Prompt:

Write about anything from Weeks 6-10 of Gender Studies (including the readings by Kobabe, Lester, and Plett; Disclosure or Paris Is Burning; the student-led discussions; or the Gender and Healthcare readings/presentations) that has struck you as especially interesting. What struck you? Expand on this idea.


Out of all our recent classroom activities, Paris is Burning has undoubtedly stuck with me the most. I think the little uplifting moments and quotes scattered throughout the documentary were a big contributor in keeping me engaged. In particular, the quotes “At the ball, whatever you want to be, you be” and “There’s something here for everybody, it’s what keeps them coming.” really sold me on just how special and magical these balls were. Getting to see all sorts of struggling people going to these balls knowing that they could be themselves and let loose for a few hours was oddly inspiring and entertaining. Watching some of the contestants walk in with a happy albeit sometimes annoyingly smug look on their face after listening to them spill their worries on the interviewers for the past ten minutes really gave the balls a sense of home. Many of the featured contestants described the ball as a glimpse at an ideal reality, and watching their moods switch from nervous to confident so quickly and seamlessly encapsulated this idea perfectly for me.


Another part of Paris is Burning I found interesting was the tension found between and within the different houses. As much as repeatedly hearing the name “The Ninja House” made me want to request a twenty minute brain break, I found their leader’s interview to be very enjoyable even if it was for all the wrong reasons. Listening to each of the houses go from talking about how proud they are of their balls for helping everyone feel involved to talking immense amounts of shit on every other house in the most obnoxious ways possible was without a doubt my favorite part. This became especially funny to me when people then started to turn on their own houses and talk smack about the people they were just talking bad mouthing other people with. So, while I may be miles away from fully comprehending all of the interviewees' relationships with one another, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy their bizarre drama all the same.

Comments

  1. Khadeejah R.November 6, 2022 at 2:46 PM

    The documentary was the perfect combination of educational and entertaining. I wasn't very informed about drag balls and their importance, but I think I learned a lot about them through the documentary. The main thing that stuck with me was how the balls were a safe space. A lot of the drag queens didn't have safe spaces at home, and obviously being out in the real world was often dangerous and draining. The balls were a space where they could be themselves and have fun away from the pressures of society. Great post!

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