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And the Category Is...: Inside New York's Vogue, House, and Ballroom Community by Ricky Tucker
theythemsam's review against another edition
4.25
“Vogue is not about an external imitation it’s about performing your internal liberation.” This book literally taught me so much about vogue and the culture around it and I loved hearing from people involved in it speak about their experiences and how they feel about being a part of this community. “Ballroom is not fantasy, it’s the real world reimagined.”
xavz_'s review
3.75
the interview portions of this book really shined for me! was a bit all over the place at times but still a great look at the history of ballroom culture.
emmakrof's review
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
This book is a wonderful introduction to Ballroom and vogue. Ricky Tucker stated introduction that he wanted his account to be unapologetically Black and unapologetically anti-capitalist. Tucker gives special (and deserved) attention to how Black trans women created and popularized ballroom/house culture, as well as how the culture continues to inform and affirm their identities. Tucker’s anti-capitalist views are well thought-out and nuanced. He criticizes the way vogueing has been appropriated by white celebrities and the way corporate interests influence not-for-profit organizations, which impacts ballroom. At the same time, Tucker acknowledges the difficulty of upholding anti-capitalist ideals in a capitalist society. Tucker’s focus on Blackness and anti-capitalism results in a rich, meaningful examination of Ballroom culture.
At first, I was skeptical of the multiple styles used in this book. It is part history, part autobiography, part interview, part discussion, part profile, and part analysis. But instead of creating an unnecessarily complex narrative, the mix of styles reads as authentic and detailed. Rather than paraphrase, Tucker uses transcriptions of interviews and discussions; in addition to providing maximum information, this choice highlights the unfiltered voices of people in the community and gives a sense of their relationships to Tucker and others in the community. Tucker also details his personal experiences as a gay man and as a part of the Ballroom community; his voice shines through every bit of the book. This book is much more than just a history — it is full of personality and empathy and understanding.
Really, my only criticism is I wish it was a bit more of a history. I know that writing a strict history was never his intention, but I wish he explained more about how the house system evolved from an alternative to white-dominated drag pageants to a means of establishing formal family structures in the queer community. He explains the earliest history and most recent history, but I’m so curious about the transition between the two! Nevertheless, this is a five-star read!!!
At first, I was skeptical of the multiple styles used in this book. It is part history, part autobiography, part interview, part discussion, part profile, and part analysis. But instead of creating an unnecessarily complex narrative, the mix of styles reads as authentic and detailed. Rather than paraphrase, Tucker uses transcriptions of interviews and discussions; in addition to providing maximum information, this choice highlights the unfiltered voices of people in the community and gives a sense of their relationships to Tucker and others in the community. Tucker also details his personal experiences as a gay man and as a part of the Ballroom community; his voice shines through every bit of the book. This book is much more than just a history — it is full of personality and empathy and understanding.
Really, my only criticism is I wish it was a bit more of a history. I know that writing a strict history was never his intention, but I wish he explained more about how the house system evolved from an alternative to white-dominated drag pageants to a means of establishing formal family structures in the queer community. He explains the earliest history and most recent history, but I’m so curious about the transition between the two! Nevertheless, this is a five-star read!!!
olivercompton's review
A bit convoluted and disorganized at times, but really thoughtfully put together. Lots to take away from it regarding ballroom itself, but also in regards to identity, creativity, resilience and community. Really glad I read this.