It’s 1987 in glamorous New York City. One part of (Up)town vogues and poses in “Ball” couture at the underground scene, the other part of town lives a double life – “vanilla” by day, “exotic” by night. And although the LGBTQ community ruled as an epic subculture, on the surface it was considered another disease-like entity, just like drugs and the AIDS pandemic, which hit NYC hard.
Many members of the LGBTQ community roamed the streets to look for a new family—a new “house” to be part of—because they were kicked out of their homes as a result of expressing who they are. Being of color and queer don’t mix or exist for many families in African-American and Latinx communities. It was and still is considered a taboo topic that goes against long-held conservative beliefs.
“Pose” addresses exactly that. The vogue of the underground Ball culture, and the nasty reality of being different.
The FX original, created by Ryan Murphy (“American Horror Story”) and Brad Falchuk (“Glee”), – which was renewed for the second season, (it’s first season is now available on Netflix), has gotten some mixed reviews. Although, it’s perceptions and ratings are high, according to RottenTomatoes.
Starring Billy Porter (“Intern”) as Pray Tell, the host of the house balls, MJ Rodriguez (“Saturday Church”) as Blanca Rodriguez, an HIV-postive transgender woman who runs the “House of Evangelista,” Indya Moore (“Saturday Church”) as Angel Evangelista, another ransgender woman who’s a prostitute. As well as Evan Peters (“American Horror Story”), as Stan Bowes, who leads a double life.
“Pose” shows parallels to the 1991 documentary “Paris is burning” directed by Jennie Livingston, which showcases the Ball scene that involved various competitions, in voguing and “striking a pose.” The Ball culture became so popular to bond and compete with other LGBTQ members, to gain status within the community, and where drag was considered an art form and not a specific “identity.”
“Pose” features the largest cast of transgender actors, who are Black and Latinx, and although the characters are fictional they all derived from true events and real people during the late ‘80s and ‘90s, including the organization AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP), which was a response to the gorverment’s failure to address the AIDS pandemic, and the ignorance to call it the “gay virus.”
Although drag was known since the 1800s, the NYC Ball culture actually started in the 1920s in Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance. However, the frequency and location wasn’t as often as portrayed in “Pose” and it wasn’t only Uptown. Another interesting aspect was how the gay White scene differs from the trans Black and Latinx scene. A few times throughout the first season, Blanca is refused service in a gay-male bar, but keeps coming back to fight for her right, as a member of the LGBTQ community.
Jumping ahead three years later into the second season, which is set in 1990, the AIDS pandemic has taken full effect, as characters are being invited to more funerals than Drag Balls. The same cast still encounters the same issues, now more than ever since some of the house members are dying from the complications of AIDS, but the main focus is still performing at dance balls, winning trophies and making a name as a “house.”
On the other hand, other parts—or characters such as, Stan Bowes—could have been cut, because it didn’t add to the plot. Although, this subculture of white collar guys who mingle with certain groups of entertainers exists in the high society of Manhattan, it’s also interesting how the two worlds, that of a middle-class-Trump-employee-Jersey-boy, clashes with the underworld of dance and drag, as well as the “ladies of the night.”
Nevertheless, the show is definitely a milestone on streaming channels such as Netflix, and cable networks. It also showcases many transgender actors of color – which the Ball culture was about.
The performances of the young cast are impeccable, from the emotional turmoil of losing friends to AIDS, to being diagnosed HIV-positive and fighting the battles of acceptance in the Ball culture, to leaving one’s family behind to finding a new “house.”
It’s a drama-filled season with attitude, passion, love and activism. “Pose” gives insight to an often misunderstood community, which continues to fights the same battles off-screen.
