swingchickie | paris is burning

i highly, highly recommend this documentary. i finally sat down to watch it last night (i've had the netflix envelope for a good month now), and was completely enthralled. for those of you who haven't seen it, it's a documentary about the balls in harlem in the 80s and 90s, where gay men would compete in dramatic fashion shows... but the categories are things like "realistic schoolgirl", "executive", "high society". there were categories for crazy haute couture fashion as well, but most of them were about how "real" the boys could look, how closely they could pass for a woman/executive/military man in real life. there was also a whole explanation of how vogueing got started, and showed some "dance-offs" between some guys who totally worked the floor. it was exhilarating and touching and sad and funny.

the balls also reminded me a little bit of the dance competitions i've been to over the years. i mean, it's a close community, and people get dressed up in flashy outfits and perform for a room full of people who know them... it's a big emotional high to have people love your costume or your performance and just be a rockstar for a few minutes out there.

i've also developed a minor obsession with Ru Paul, now that i understand what some of his songs are about. :) love love LOVE.