The “Paris is Burning” documentary was very interesting to watch, especially the scenes with the dancing. The balls, which were formal events to showcase costumes, the applause and having to be the center of attention all seem to be very pleasing. As I was watching this film, I was reminded of the show “Pose”. The only difference is that the show has more dram. I would say that, if not exaggerating is the exact reenactment of this documentary/ film. We see that the balls that are organized for these Drag queens creates a kind of new world for them. Underaged kids (minors), some abandoned, some that had left home found solace and joy in participating in the events. It is their world, and at that place they can portray whatever they want and in anyway as pleased and will not get judged or discriminated. As some say, the ball occasions are like their “Oscar” or “Grammy”. They are praised while on the stage and that makes them feel very good and highly about themselves. “Balls are like fantasies of being superstars”. Some of the members of the LGBTQ (people who are then termed as executives in this film) have created this world, where people can be whatever they wish to be. Unlike the real world, where drag queens may be labeled as not being mentally stable.   

The ball, during the past centuries used to focus on very specific themes, but as time went on. The themes were made more diverse to increase the involvement and number of participants. As the movie proceeds, we come to realize that a lot of the people indulging in the ball events are either very young or started when they were barely teenagers. These kids, even at tender ages are aware of the kind of life they would face against society for being who they want to be. Those that decide to leave their homes or get abandoned get lucky enough to betaken in by owners of houses who had also once encountered similar situations. There are several houses, named after people or persons who had first acquired it. The balls are not just for showing off outfits, it is also a competition, a fierce one. An individual termed it as “World War 3”. This should give us an idea of how intense the balls are. Winners get prizes, could be a trophy or money. When it comes to competition, the executives always change the theme for the competition, it could be modeling, reading (throwing fun shades) or even voguing (a way of combining dancing and posing). Aside from having exhilarating joy from being in the spotlight, these drag queens have their own hustle, a job on which they depend help them support themselves. The Drag queens live their fantasies on stage at the balls, nonetheless those are dreams they wish to acquire in the real world. Thus, to get Famous, to be wealthy, to live freely and happily. It is such a shame one of the Drag queens who dreamed of having a family got killed. She was strangled and left under a bed in a hotel in New York City.