Paris is Burning Essay Example for Free

Paris is intense EssayParis is Burning by Jennnie Livingston deals with the culture of drag in New York in the 1980s, which was shown in the Ball competitions wherein men who impersonate, or better yet try to live as women walks and are judged ground on their dancing ability, the beauty of their dresses and the authenticity of their impersonation. Each contestant represents a specific house and whenever they get their respective houses gain a legendary status. The film was presented by showing alternate footages between the twine competition and interviews with the contestants. Although a very not subject film, Paris is Burning is also highly criticized especially by feminists. In watching the film, you will see how the contestants try to portray how women look like basing on uninspired identities or those greatly based on what men would like in a woman physically, fashioning her the subject of desire. It failed to show the other characteristics and outcome of women such a s their social roles, the drags just focused on the aspects that perpetuate mens hierarchy.It further undermines women by interpreting that being a woman makes mavin powerless which manifested in one of the interviews wherein one of the drags say that he will never become a woman because having the female genitalia does not necessarily mean that life would be great. Thus, many dictum that this film as a mocking or women. On the other hand, the film succeeded in the show of yet another marginalized culture which is that of the gay.It was able to put their character at the centre of the film and lucubrate on their culture. It was able to shed light on the often misunderstood third gender and was able to present their side of the story. Then again, as was said earlier, it was done so by challenging the essence of women, which would make us think if it was able to resolve any issues at all. Thus we ask, was the film actually an exposure of the drag culture or a celebration of the p atriarchal society?