Lauren Taranow
11-9-10
Thursday Discussion
Paris is Burning
The documentary,
Paris is Burning
examines a community of black cross-dressers
and drag queens competing in “balls,” much like beauty pageants, during the late 80’s.
The film follows contestants as they prepare for balls, and shows all aspects of the
contestants’ lifestyle.
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Lauren Taranow
11-9-10
Thursday Discussion
Because of their choice to dress like the opposite gender or become the
other gender, many of the contestants were shunned by their own families. One of the
contestants, Pepper LaBeija, recalls that her mother being devastated when she first
discovered Pepper was growing breasts. Her mother would take the nice women’s
clothing that Pepper bought, like fur coats, as well as expensive perfume, and light it on
fire to burn behind the family’s house. LaBeija says that most of the contestants have had
the similar experiences, and notes that when one is rejected from their mother or father,
they go into the world and search to fill an empty void within them. This is why
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- Fall '07
- Seriff
- contestants, Lauren Taranow, Pepper LaBeija
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