Pursuit of Happiness

          Paris is Burning is a documentary following local drag queens in the city of Harlem during the late 80's. During this documentary we can see their lives through their eyes. This being a documentary allows us to see these people's dreams and aspirations, as well as getting a peek at the lives they are living. We also get a chance to see people of all ages take part in the drag life and how the older ones take the younger ones under their wing. They do this because these people live very hard lives. Nobody in this documentary was very well off, meaning none of them were rich, and plus society viewed these people very poorly due to the lives they lead. Another thing to note was throughout the movie, the discussion of race was underlying the theme of sexuality and gender. For example, one of the drag queens looked up to a model who was white and even had posters of her and stated she wanted to be like her one day. When the think of success they think of how successful and rich white people are during that time compared to them. And also throughout the documentary, the transition scenes were white people in that area wearing suits and looking well off and constantly smiling. I believe the cinematographers put this in here to show a kind of foil between the lives of rich successful people and how happy they are compared to the lives of these local drag queens who are not as well off financially. But this is not to say that these people were not happy. They found their happiness through the fellowship with one another and through the participation in Balls (an event that resembles a fashion show) to show off who they are as people and allow for expression. This was their way to feel safe and happy by being with other people like them. Going to these events and preparing provided a safe space for them where they can do whatever they want without being judged. Many of the older ones should be admired in the way they take care of the younger ones and provide them with guidance and a support system. Many of these kids do not have anyone or anything except for a dream to be successful, and having people who believe in you is important to achieving anything.
          The drag queens in this documentary were a perfect exemplification of Judith Butler's definition of gender in her essay "Performative Acts and Gender Constitution." In this essay she provides different views of gender and biological sex from different sources. She states that, "the acts by which gender is constituted bear similarities to performative acts within theatrical contexts." This basically means that gender is a sort of performance we put on for the world and ourselves and is about who we are. This consequentially means that we can change our gender if we change the way we act. She also discusses that our embodiment of our gender can have a multitude of possibilities  that we choose, which means it can not be predetermined.
          The great thing about America is the idea of what it can become, which is a land in which people can have "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness" regardless of who you are. Now even though I can not relate to the specific lifestyle these people lead, or necessarily agree with their life choices- I am not the ultimate opinion on how people should live their lives and do not judge them in any way, shape, or form. I do know what it means to be unhappy with life and not having the means to achieve happiness. That is why I am a firm supporter of people pursuing whatever they think will bring them happiness in their life. Many philosophers agree that happiness is our ultimate goal in life, and I think people should do whatever it takes to achieve it.