Comments on: Voguing: Old Way & New Way

Voguing: Old Way & New Way

stoneweaver — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 19:41:25 -0800

Two short documentaries about voguing - 1989 and 2011. An evolution of a dance form and a subculture.

Voguing: The Message traces the roots of this gay, Black and Latino dance form, which appropriates and plays with poses and images from mainstream fashion. Voguing competitions parody fashion shows and rate the contestants on the basis of movement, appearance and costume. This tape is a pre-Madonna primer that raises questions about race, sex and subcultural style. [Dir. Jack Walworth, David Bronstein & Dorothy Low 1989 13 min.]

VOGUE: A Twist on the Dance Floor is an intimate look into modern day voguing and how it's leaving a big impression even today. Starring legendary vogue fem Dashaun Evisu. [Dir. Danilo Parra, Produced by Dashaun Wesley; 2011 11 min.]

Paris Is Burning is a 1990 documentary film directed by Jennie Livingston. Filmed in the mid-to-late 1980s, it chronicles the ball culture of New York City and the poor, African American and Latino gay and transgendered community involved in it. Many consider Paris Is Burning to be an invaluable documentary of the end of the "Golden Age" of New York City drag balls, as well as a thoughtful exploration of race, class, and gender in America. [wikipedia] Bonus Videos

Old School Vs. New School Vogue
A two minute Vogue history primer from the 2006 documentary How do I Look. [Trailer] [wikipedia]
Vogue: Dips & Drops
vogue battle: house dance international, NYC
Fem Queen - including entrance by dropping from a balcony

[Previously][All videos potentially NSFW - use your discretion]

By: Forktine

Forktine — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 19:57:54 -0800

I love the videos. I can remember reading about vogueing for the first time as a teenager, probably some puff piece in a magazine. But in my ignorance, I assumed that the "houses" meant that they all lived together in, you know, old and slightly run down fancy mansions.

By: stoneweaver

stoneweaver — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 20:09:40 -0800

The Fem Queen video has perhaps the best Youtube comment of all time:

This is right after Dasia was on her way to the store to buy some milk & cookies and was popped on the head with a flower pot from an apartment above the store. After she was restored to consciousness, she discovered that she had vogueing super-powers and decided from that day forward that she would use her power for good and not evil.

By: phrontist

phrontist — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 20:13:47 -0800

Skipping around, lots of good tunes. What is the track playing at 9:11?

By: Isadorady

Isadorady — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 21:36:26 -0800

Great post-Paris is Burning is a fabulous film and I enjoyed the other links.

By: radwolf76

radwolf76 — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 22:28:59 -0800

Oh, handy, a mefi thread where I can drop a link to a video of this Bar Mitzvah from 1992.

By: Lazlo

Lazlo — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 23:45:19 -0800

phrontist, if you're asking about Voguing: The Message I think it's "No Way Back" by Adonis.

By: Goofyy

Goofyy — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 08:10:07 -0800

Oh god. As soon as you give it a name it's old.

By: Twang

Twang — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:07:52 -0800

Neat. Just last nite watched Josell Ramos' Maestro (SLYT 86m) about 76-87 NYC club scene. Fascinating how these different cultures emerge.

By: dnash

dnash — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 18:54:35 -0800

Far as I'm concerned, none of these "new school" Voguers can hold a candle to Willi Ninja. (RIP.) (He's the main interview subject in that "Voguing: The Message" video and also heavily featured in "Paris Is Burning.")

By: 13twelve

13twelve — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 10:24:39 -0800

Great post, thanks

By: LMGM

LMGM — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 23:36:26 -0800

I know I'm super late to this particular thread-party, but I'd just like to announce that I <3 the fuck out of vogueing. Coincidentally, Berlin just had its first proper vogue ball two weekends ago. Hector Xtravaganza even make an appearance as a judge.

By: LMGM

LMGM — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 23:41:08 -0800

As much as the "suicide drops" popular in new-way vogueing are very impressive, I've always been mesmerized by a good sissy-walk. (Mind you, the slow-motion suicide drops at about 2:20 in the "Fem Queen" video are GORGEOUS).