Burak Eceral
Aaron Krach
Critical Studio: Everyday Objects
Paris Is Burning
31 March 2021
I found the category “Realness” particularly personal and authentic. The realness is the part of the competition where contestants try to look as straight as possible. The whole concept of this portion comes from the fact that living is much easier when you are just a straight man or woman. We must accept that there is a crushing pressure on gay people, which can be life-threatening in some portions of the world. I found this category incredibly personal because here, in my country, gay people use this technique as a survival mechanism to hide from the offensive and destroying hate towards them. So, I must say that “the realness” is a very handy technique whenever we face a hazardous situation that can harm us both mentally and physically. However, it also made me appreciate that all these people in NYC managed to construct a safe zone where they can shine bright and project their true forms. Also, transferring “the realness” from a coping mechanism to a competition category presents the power that gay people hold, which I think radiates from their pride and authenticity, even in the worst circumstances.
