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Summary:

Where does voguing come from, and what, exactly, is throwing shade? This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City's African American and Latinx Harlem drag-ball scene. Made over seven years, it offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion houses, from fierce contests for trophies to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia, transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty.

Contributors:

Livingston, Jennie , film director

Corey, Dorian, 1937-1993 , performer

LaBeija, Pepper, 1950-2003 , performer

Xtravaganza, Venus , performer

Laurent, Octavia Saint , performer

Ninja, Willi , performer

Kim Pendavis , performer

Pendavis, Freddie , performer

Christian, Andre , performer

Dupree, Paris , performer

Gibson, Paul (Cinematographer) , director of photography

Oppenheim, Jonathan , editor of moving image work

Off White Productions, Inc. , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Criterion Collection (Firm) , publisher, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/pbl

Languages:

English

Language Notes:

In English.

Main Work:

Paris is burning (Motion picture)

Related Series:

Criterion collection; [volume] 1018

Subjects:

Drag balls — New York (State) — New York

Cross-dressers — New York (State) — New York — Social life and customs

African American gay men — New York (State) — New York — Social life and customs

Hispanic American gay men — New York (State) — New York — Social life and customs

Transgender women — New York (State) — New York — Social life and customs

Gay culture — New York (State) — New York

Voguing (Dance) — New York (State) — New York

New York (N.Y.) — Social life and customs

Drag balls

Cross-dressers

Manners and customs

African American gay men.

Hispanic American gay men.

Transgender women

Gay culture

Voguing (Dance)

New York (State) — New York

United States

Genres:

Motion pictures

Documentary films

Feature films

Nonfiction films

Video recordings for the hearing impaired

System Details:

Blu-ray; region A; 4: LPCM 1.0 audio.

Performers:

Featuring Dorian Corey, Pepper Labeija, Venus Xtravaganza, Octavia Saint Laurent, Willi Ninja, Kim Pendavis, Freddie Pendavis, Andre Christian, Paris Dupree.

Production Credits:

Cinematographer, Paul Gibson ; editor, Jonathan Oppenheim ; co-producer, Barry Swimar ; executive producers, Nigel Finch, Davis Lacy.

General Notes:

Subtitled in English for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH)
Originally released as a motion picture in 1990.
Full screen (1.33:1).
2K digital restoration supervised by director Jennie Livingston.
Special features: commentary soundtrack from 2005, featuring Jennie Livingston, ball community members Freddie Pendavis and Willi Ninja, and film editor Jonathan Oppenheim ; never-before-seen outtakes ; new conversation between Jennie Livingston, ball community members Sol Pendavis and Freddie Pendavis, and filmmaker Thomas Allen Harris ; episodes of The Joan River show from 1991, featuring Livingston and ball community members Dorian Corey, Pepper LaBeija, Freddie Pendavis, and Ninja; Giselle Xtravaganza, a Latinx trans woman talks about the significance of Paris is burning; trailers; in booklet, an essay by filmmaker Michelle Parkerson and a 1991 review by poet Essex Hemphill.

Audience:

MPAA rating: R; for language and sexuality.

Physical Description:

1 videodisc (76 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 booklet (36 pages: illustrations ; 17 cm).

Physical Characteristics:

4 3/4 in.; polychrome

Audio Characteristics:

digital; optical; mono

Digital Characteristics:

video file; Blu-ray; region A

Call Numbers:

HQ76.2.U52 PAR 1990 BLU

ISBNs:

9781681436975
1681436973

Other Standard Numbers:

Universal Product Code: 715515241519
Publisher Number, The Criterion Collection: CC3118BD

OCLC Numbers:

1134401099