Is Pose Based on Paris Is Burning?

By Alice Nichols

Pose is a critically acclaimed American television series that premiered on FX in 2018. The show is set in the late ’80s and early ’90s and explores the ballroom culture of New York City, specifically the African-American and Latino LGBTQ+ community.

One of the most common questions that fans have about Pose is whether it is based on Paris Is Burning, a documentary film released in 1990 that also explored the same ballroom culture. In this article, we’ll explore this question in detail.

What is Paris Is Burning?

Paris Is Burning is a documentary film directed by Jennie Livingston. The film explores the ball culture of New York City during the late ’80s, specifically how African-American and Latino LGBTQ+ people used balls as a way to express themselves and compete against each other.

The film also explores other aspects of this subculture, including drag, voguing, and various other elements that are central to ball culture. Paris Is Burning was praised for its honest portrayal of these communities and its celebration of their creativity.

Is Pose Based on Paris Is Burning?

While Pose shares many similarities with Paris Is Burning, it is not based on the documentary film. Instead, Pose was created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Steven Canals. However, the show does pay homage to Paris Is Burning in various ways.

For example, several actors from Paris Is Burning make cameo appearances throughout Pose’s three-season run. Additionally, both shows explore ballroom culture in New York City during roughly the same time period.

The Similarities Between Pose and Paris Is Burning

Despite not being directly based on Paris Is Burning, there are many similarities between the two shows beyond their shared subject matter. For example:

  • Both shows examine how African-American and Latino LGBTQ+ people used balls as a way to express themselves and compete against each other.
  • Both shows explore the importance of voguing in ballroom culture.
  • Both shows celebrate the creativity and resilience of these marginalized communities.

The Differences Between Pose and Paris Is Burning

There are also several key differences between Pose and Paris Is Burning. For example:

  • Paris Is Burning is a documentary film, while Pose is a scripted television series.
  • Paris Is Burning focuses more on the experiences of individual ballroom participants, while Pose explores larger themes like the HIV/AIDS epidemic, LGBTQ+ activism, and the rise of Trumpism in America.
  • Pose features a more diverse cast than Paris Is Burning, with trans actors playing trans characters and people of color playing people of color.

In Conclusion

Pose is not based on Paris Is Burning, but it does share many similarities with the documentary film. Both explore ballroom culture in New York City during roughly the same time period, celebrate the creativity and resilience of marginalized communities, and examine how African-American and Latino LGBTQ+ people used balls as a way to express themselves.

However, there are also several key differences between the two shows. Pose features a more diverse cast than Paris Is Burning and explores larger themes like HIV/AIDS activism and LGBTQ+ rights. Despite these differences, both shows have made important contributions to our understanding of ballroom culture and its place in American history.