When I first saw "vogueing" -- that is, the manufactured version of it presented in Madonna's "Vogue" video -- all I wanted to do was define it. It's a dance, but it's about rigidity. It's gay, but it's a pantomime of commonplace fashion spreads. It's self-presentational, attitudinal, geometric, contorted, winkingly narcissistic, actually narcissistic, and stony-smirky-silly-serious fierce. It's a mirage, but it's undeniable. It's just the best. And when you see the real thing as presented in the unforgettable 1991 documentary Paris is Burning, you realize that the act of "striking a pose" is just a warped-ass, queeny way of being yourself in the face of your real-life hardship, minority status, and what the world's done to morph you and your flagrant gayness into something much less Op-u-lent.
I'm obviously preaching to the realness choir here, but there's a thundering righteousness to the subjects of Paris is Burning that is just timeless.
I'm obviously preaching to the realness choir here, but there's a thundering righteousness to the subjects of Paris is Burning that is just timeless.
- 6/13/2012
- by virtel
- The Backlot
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