Gender In Paris Is Burning By Octavia Livingston

560 Words3 Pages
Paris is Burning (1990) is an observation into the world that is drag. Livingston makes a point to not judge any of the people in the film, just simply allowing others to look into a world commonly unknown and poorly judged at the time. In a film-associated article, the authors make a point to state that gender is not settled by the body but constructed by the person and that in reality everyone is in drag. The binary between male and female is evident in this film multiple times and I believe it to be the most important foundation of the film because gender is something everyone can relate to and the struggle that comes with finding your own person. Throughout the film the differences between male and female are shown. One person named Octavia had posters of beautiful models and said she hoped to look and have a career like them.…show more content…
One man is seen putting on heavy make-up showing the transformation that can occur between the two sexes. He is able to change his appearance to make himself feel better about his outer appearance. Something women commonly do to get as close as possible to the commercial and ad depicted desirable woman. The men in drag are shown walking fiercely down the runway showing that they can too be sexy and seductive, attributes commonly associated with women. One woman on the beach was also talking about the surgeries she went under including a sex change, saying that she is finally free. This is contrasted with another man saying that once someone goes through with it they cannot go back. Showing both sides of the scale that drags can still have male genitalia and still feel beautiful. Surprising when one sees that most males nothing feminine in their life in order to feel better about themselves. The film also blends the desires of male and female showing that we all want similar goals. To be happy with ourselves, to be rich, powerful, and well

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