Queerness In and Out of Place
Jackson, Jasper, Samantha
Reading:
Bailey, Marlon M. “Gender/Racial Realness: Theorizing the Gender System in Ballroom Culture.” Feminist Studies, vol. 37, no. 2, pp. 365–386, 2011.
What is the purpose and main arguments of the article?
The purpose of this article is to attempt to describe a conceptualization of gender that is different from that held in mainstream Western societies. It gets there by arguing that rather than sex-related behaviors being intrinsic, they are so societally established that they are ingrained within us at a young age as a form of embodied culture. The article then discusses how the Ballroom world sees the breaking of or complying with these norms as a medium to channel creativity that aligns with themes of the frequent discrimination against them in the outside world.
How does the article highlight or explore the course themes?
The reading provides an analysis of the dynamics seen directly and indirectly in the film Paris is Burning. This text outlines the gender system of ballroom, how ballgoers interact with the larger public, and the perspectives/experiences/worldviews which allowed the formation of (and are still held by members of) the ballroom scene.
How would you describe the “vibe” of the text?
The text has a clever tone to it, as if to say, “and you’d never know it if you saw me on the street!” However, the writing also posits that this slick double-life dynamic is not to be witty or sassy, but rather has developed as a means of survival for those within this culture. Furthermore, while a scholarly text, the author does not hide in downplaying the vulgarness of “dick”, “cunt”, etc., as this language is crucial in understanding how the ballroom differs from how mainstream society uses these terms, creating somewhat of a confident vibe.
How does this playlist complement the vibes of the text (somatically, sonically, taste, tempo, genre)?
The playlist is mostly electronic with a high beat to portray the confidence of ballroom culture as they resist the ideals of mainstream society. The lyrics explicitly and implicitly highlight the importance of stepping out and being who you really are.
How did each of you go about finding songs to include in the playlist?
Jasper: I focused initially on popular songs I already knew were relevant, then did research into artists that identify as genderqueer or nonbinary and found some of their songs
Samantha: I included each song for different reasons, including the artist’s background, the message portrayed in the song, and their target audience.
Jackson: I found a few songs that have been popular in the ballroom world more recently, intentionally putting Take Your Mask Off at the halfway point of the playlist to symbolize how suddenly members of this culture have adapted to be able to code switch as a means of survival.
Which song(s) reflect your critiques of the text?
If any song on this playlist could be viewed as a critique of the text, it would be Take Your Mask Off. This song’s verses criticize those living double lives, encouraging people to live their most honest lives (as opposed to code-switching). However, this is not completely in contrast to the text, as it does not encourage code-switching behavior but explains how and why it is practiced by so many.
How did you decide on the order and transitions between each song, including how to begin and how to end?
The songs are sequenced in groups of songs that each of us wanted to include. This allows us to show our interpretations of the reading in relation to the songs we chose. We each picked up on different themes and emotions from the text, creating a collaborative playlist with distinct interpretations.
Were there ethical concerns or debates that came up while creating this playlist?
It sometimes felt like we were simplifying all of the artists into a general category, which may make it seem exploitative to an extent. Also, the artists may feel it diminishes their message/story when it is surrounded by other songs that tell similar, though different accounts of their challenges with sexuality.