TV w/ a Prof: Pose with Dr. Soares
Pose is a must-watch show. On Wednesday, February 12, the Honors Program hosted a “TV w/ a Prof” featuring Dr. Soares, professor of Women & Gender studies, and Pose, a series about New York City’s African-American and Latino LGBTQ and gender-nonconforming ballroom culture scene in the 1980s.
We watched the pilot episode, which is an hour and fifteen minutes, and it was captivating. Topics of aids/HIV, class, “realness,” and trans identities were explored through characters dancing and modeling in this underground culture. Community members are supported in a network of chosen families known as “houses” and compete amongst one another for trophies and recognition.
The show is heavily influenced by “Paris is Burning,” a documentary on drag queens in NYC and the “house” culture. Unlike the documentary’s creator, Pose creator Ryan Murphy, a white gay male, vowed to donate his makings from the show to organizations that support LGBTQ+ communities.
The first season was met with numerous awards and popularity. Dr. Soares spent time in her presentation following the viewing discussing the show’s successes and limitations.
Pose gave trans actors a platform to succeed on and created a precedent in Hollywood. Its success is a win for this community, but there is also strides to still be made. At the end of the discussion we looked at the white heterosexual male character and how his purpose in the show may have been missed. But because Pose is produced by a mainstream production, we discussed how his placement in the show made sense for audience purposes. Dr. Soares emphasized how this character’s struggles with his job and family are one that can never be compared to the life of a trans person living in NYC in the 80s, one whose life was constantly on the line.
This very powerful show offers lots to discuss in the realm of Women & Gender Studies. Thank you to all the Honors students who attended!
The next TV w/ a Prof will be held Tuesday, March 17, featuring the show “Baby” with Dr. Saurini.
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