Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part III of a three part pancocojams series about the vernacular term "reading for filth".
This post showcases a video clip from the television series "Pose" (Season 2) entitled "Elektra Reads Customer For Filth". Selected comments from that video's discussion thread are included in that post.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/09/real-definitions-for-examples-of.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That pancocojams post provides definitions of and examples of the vernacular term "reading [someone] to [or for] filth". Definitions and examples of the related vernacular terms "[throwing] shade" and "reading for shame" are also included in that post.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/09/elektra-abundance-reads-for-filth-pose.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II showcases a video clip from the television series "Pose" (Season 1) entitled "Elektra Abundance Reads For Filth". Selected comments from that video's discussion thread are included in that post.
These meanings and examples are retrieved from YouTube and from certain other online site.
The content of this post is presented for linguistic and socio-cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Dominique Jackson who portrays Elektra Abundance Evangelista in the television series Pose and thanks to all those who are associated with the Pose television series. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in these comments and videos and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-reading-someone-throwing-shade-no.html for a closely related 2014 pancocojams post entitled "What "Reading Someone", "Throwing Shade", & "No Tea No Shade" Mean".
I revisited this subject as a result of Billy Porter winning an Emmy for lead actor in a drama series (2019) for his depiction of "Pray Tell", emcee of New York City drag balls in the 1980. Congratulations, Billy Porter!
Click https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-09-22/emmys-pose-billy-porter-historic-win for an article about Billy Porter's historic win as the first openly gay Black man to win in this category.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE TELEVISION SERIES POSE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pose_(TV_series)
"Pose (stylized as POSE) is an American drama television series about New York City's African-American and Latino LGBTQ and gender-nonconforming ballroom culture scene in the 1980s and, in the second season, early 1990s. Featured characters are dancers and models who compete for trophies and recognition in this underground culture, and who support one another in a network of chosen families known as Houses.
Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Steven Canals, the series premiered on June 3, 2018, on FX. The series stars an ensemble cast including Evan Peters, Kate Mara, James Van Der Beek, Mj Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Billy Porter, Indya Moore, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Charlayne Woodard, Hailie Sahar, Angelica Ross, Angel Bismark Curiel, DyllΓ³n Burnside, and Sandra Bernhard.
The first season was met with critical acclaim and subsequently received numerous award nominations including the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama for Billy Porter. In July 2018, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a second season, which premiered on June 11, 2019. Also in June, FX renewed the series for a third season."...
****
From https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-09-22/emmys-pose-billy-porter-historic-win
‘Pose’ star Billy Porter lands historic first with Emmy win; By YVONNE VILLARREALSTAFF WRITER
SEP. 22, 2019
..." "Pose", from Ryan Murphy and Steven Canals, explores the extravagant subculture of the LGBTQ ballroom scene in late 1980s and early 1990s New York, as well of the lives of the people of that community. Porter’s visceral portrayal of Pray Tell has been praised by critics since the show’s launch last year. The first season, for which he was nominated, saw his character reckoning with an HIV diagnosis."...
[...]
“Pose,” which has been lauded for its contribution to transgender visibility and representation on TV, received six Emmy nominations this year, including Porter’s category and drama series.
The second season of the drama wrapped its run last month on FX.”...
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Elektra Reads Customer For Filth | Pose FX Season 2 (HD)
EXACTLY, Published on Aug 15, 2019
Imagine majoring as a basic bitch lol. Don't try it with Miss Elektra cause she will read ya to filth. Last year we witnessed the slayage of Lulu and Candy Ferocity but this year we have a privileged white girl that needs to take several seats and return back to her shallow conversation. PERIODTTT
-snip-
WARNING: The term "bitch" is used in this video. The word "sh&t" is also used in this clip.
I've decided to include that mild profanity "as is" in this post. Because this is a family friendly blog, all other profanity [with the exception of "damn"] is given with modified spelling.
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
All of these comments are from 2019.
1. Adzhar Jailani
"God may have blessed you with Barbies, a backyard with a pony, and a boyfriend named Jake and an unwanted pregnacy that your father paid to terminate so you could go to college and major in being a BASIC B*TCH! None of these things make you a woman. Your uniform of ill fitting J. Crew culottes, FAKE pearls, and FIFTY CENT scrunchies cannot conceal the fact that you do not know who you are."
REPLY
2. La'Trea De'Zhanae
"Yes! That was the best read ever!"
**
REPLY
3. Andres Ortega
" “We fought for our place at this table, and that has made us stronger than youll ever be.” - Elektra Abundance"
**
REPLY
4. jeaux jo
"ICONIC‼️"
**
REPLY
5. Minna L.
"Now go back to your clam chowder and shallow conversation!"
**
REPLY
6. Deigo Hanson
"Reading is what fundamental. The libray is close."
**
REPLY
7. LoveIsINtheAIR walker
"Adzhar Jailani Mic drop!!!π€"
**
REPLY
8. Bad Gyal Jordan
"Elektra read her to filth!!! LOLππππ"
**
REPLY
9. Marco C
"But we all know that if this really happened, that heifer would have pulled a BBQ Becky, turned on her water works and called the police."
**
REPLY
10. Meagan Floyd
"Adzhar Jailani don’t forget the “sip of water break, lubricate” "
**
11. CCHS2011stud
"Shut down the library, close the internet, classes are dismissed. My God, Elektra is coming through this season!!!"
**
12. Luqman Hafeez
"Is the library even still there? I thought that building already got torn down officially by that read.. πππ"
**
13. Coco Belle
"The thing is, she didn’t have to walk over to say that. So unnecessaryπ glad she got read to FILTH"
**
REPLY
14. La'Trea De'Zhanae
"Exactly. That was totally uncalled for. She was just being an ignorant transphobic bitch."
**
REPLY
15. Serious One
"She was showing off in front of her friends, and it blew up in her face. Like a bowl of bubbling clam chowder!"
**
16. K Daniel
"I’m deadddd........ the finger snaps and the sup of water!!!! Save me"
**
REPLY
17. Kris Kanei’ π«
"K Daniel The snap was so damn well timed! ππππππΎ"
**
18. Ramona Yulfo
"No one reads like these Librarians! What!!!!!! ππΌππ₯°ππ₯π€£"
**
19. hi hello annyeong
"YASSSSSSSSS I LOVE IT WHEN ELEKTRA READS! HER VOICE IS THE PERFECT VOICE TO READ SOMEONE TO FILTH"
**
20. Ryan Wilson
"once again miss Elektra reads for filth and snatch a wig off flawlessly."
**
21. LCAmarkymark
"She needs to be a rapper! She could really spit some mad stuff I would listen to this with a bad beat!"
**
22. Melissa James
"And that, boys and girls, is how you READ!!!"
**
REPLY
23. Latoya Johnson
"Melissa James there should be a class on this because I would sign up in a heartbeat lol"
**
24. GETOSUPASTAR
"OMG that was the read of the century, you hear me? That hurt MY feelings... Mmk? LOL... I swear i love Electra SO much... She is my spirit animal!π"
**
25. Maurice Corbett
"Turned that restaurant into a library and delivered the read of the year!
Two snaps Elektra...two snaps!"
**
26. Archer Arrows
"Could you imagine? If Mother Elektra and Bianca del Rio could get into a reading competition? Priceless!"
-snip-
Bianca del Rio, the winner of the television series RuPaul Drag Race (Season 6), is widely acknowledged for her "reading" skills.
**
REPLY
27. Jasmyn Elliott
"I’d pay my whole check to watch that!"
**
REPLY
28. Anthony Perez
"Girl the universe would explode"
**
REPLY
29. David Velasco
"Gurl! If I ever see that happens, my wig would be snatched so hard she would travel to an entire different dimension."
**
REPLY
30. tmmaston
"The reads, their power level would be over 9000!"
**
31. Ashwath Nair
" "And what is it that we can do for you?" - Elektra, already aware as to where the conversation is heading and setting herself up for a jolly old reading."
**
32. Nelly Nell
"The whispering echoes in the wind!
The towering inferno called Elektra!
The pause...for the cause!
The ill fitting ensemble!
The chowder pot table gag!
She read the encyclopedia brittanical volume 10 to filth! Lol."
**
33. eric brunson
"I watched this 10 times in a row and it’s the walk of shame Rebecca had to make back to the table after being read for filth"
**
34. Clifton Simon
"When Lulu said “It was LOVELY talking to you!” I cracked the hell UP!!!"
**
35. Brandon the shapeshifter
"Go get your clam chowder before the clam chowder gets you hahahhaahhaha"
**
36. Yeezus Season
"lmaoo when the background music turned up.. ITS OVER
she read her on beat lmaooo"
**
37. Nakeisha Armstrong
"Now that was a read"
**
38. Dom
"ππ€£π, this was epic. I love how the girls were so supportive in the background!!!!"
**
39. Jamallah Bergman
"This moment was brought to you today by the word EXCELLENCE because my friends...this read was the epitome of supreme EPICNESS!"
**
40. The Funky Spork
"This comeback was π₯. One of my favorite scenes this season."
**
41. Luqman Hafeez
"This is not just "read to filth", this is "read to the body got buried in the ground. Period."
**
42. mati
"the older i get, the more i understand why reading is fundamental"
**
43. casablanca bell
"Angel w/ the snap, Lulu with the 3rd degree adlibs and Elektra congress library read. “LUBRICATE”"
**
44. Allen Rider
"She thought she was brave. She boldly stood up for what she believed in and stuck it to the vile drag queens. And then the library was opened, she was read to filth and dragged through the mud because her beliefs were nowhere near as strong as Elektras"
**
REPLY
45. Chykim Sanders
"I don't know what she was thinking... Queens has mastered the art of defending themselves, no one with any sense, ever comes for them!!!"
****
This concludes Part III of this three part pancocojams series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Showing posts with label throwing shade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label throwing shade. Show all posts
Monday, September 23, 2019
"Elektra Abundance Reads For Filth" (Pose television series Season #1; selected comments))
Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part II of a three part pancocojams series about the vernacular term "reading for filth".
This post showcases a video clip from the television series "Pose" (Season 1) entitled "Elektra Abundance Reads For Filth". Selected comments from that video's discussion thread are included in that post.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/09/real-definitions-for-examples-of.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That pancocojams post provides definitions of and examples of the vernacular term "reading [someone] to [or for] filth". Definitions and examples of the related vernacular terms "[throwing] shade" and "reading for shame" are also included in that post.
These meanings and examples are retrieved from YouTube and from certain other online site.
Part III showcases a video clip from the television series "Pose" (Season 2) entitled "Elektra Reads Customer For Filth". Selected comments from that video's discussion thread are included in that post.
The content of this post is presented for linguistic and socio-cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Dominique Jackson who portrays Elektra Abundance Evangelista in the television series Pose and thanks to all those who are associated with the Pose television series. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in these comments and videos and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-reading-someone-throwing-shade-no.html for a closely related 2014 pancocojams post entitled "What "Reading Someone", "Throwing Shade", & "No Tea No Shade" Mean".
I revisited this subject as a result of Billy Porter winning an Emmy for lead actor in a drama series (2019) for his depiction of "Pray Tell", emcee of New York City drag balls in the 1980. Congratulations, Billy Porter!
Click https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-09-22/emmys-pose-billy-porter-historic-win for an article about Billy Porter's historic win as the first openly gay Black man to win in this category.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE TELEVISION SERIES POSE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pose_(TV_series)
"Pose (stylized as POSE) is an American drama television series about New York City's African-American and Latino LGBTQ and gender-nonconforming ballroom culture scene in the 1980s and, in the second season, early 1990s. Featured characters are dancers and models who compete for trophies and recognition in this underground culture, and who support one another in a network of chosen families known as Houses.
Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Steven Canals, the series premiered on June 3, 2018, on FX. The series stars an ensemble cast including Evan Peters, Kate Mara, James Van Der Beek, Mj Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Billy Porter, Indya Moore, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Charlayne Woodard, Hailie Sahar, Angelica Ross, Angel Bismark Curiel, DyllΓ³n Burnside, and Sandra Bernhard.
The first season was met with critical acclaim and subsequently received numerous award nominations including the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama for Billy Porter. In July 2018, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a second season, which premiered on June 11, 2019. Also in June, FX renewed the series for a third season."...
****
From https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-09-22/emmys-pose-billy-porter-historic-win
‘Pose’ star Billy Porter lands historic first with Emmy win; By YVONNE VILLARREALSTAFF WRITER
SEP. 22, 2019
..." "Pose", from Ryan Murphy and Steven Canals, explores the extravagant subculture of the LGBTQ ballroom scene in late 1980s and early 1990s New York, as well of the lives of the people of that community. Porter’s visceral portrayal of Pray Tell has been praised by critics since the show’s launch last year. The first season, for which he was nominated, saw his character reckoning with an HIV diagnosis."...
[...]
“Pose,” which has been lauded for its contribution to transgender visibility and representation on TV, received six Emmy nominations this year, including Porter’s category and drama series.
The second season of the drama wrapped its run last month on FX.”...
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Elektra Abundance Reads For Filth | Pose FX (HD)
EXACTLY, Published on Jul 27, 2018
Miss Lulu and Crusty Candy try it with Mother Elektra, they end up being read to filth, after that, they were left snatched and trying to find their weaves on the ballroom floor.
-snip-
WARNING: The term "bitch" is used one time in this video. That is the only use of profanity or other not suitable for children terms that occurs in this video.
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
Special mention is given to comment #92 which is an unofficial transcription of this read.
2018
1. BHarding10
"That. Is. How. It. Is. DONE!
ππ»ππ»ππ»ππ»❤️..."
**
2. Fernando R
"WOOOOOOORK MAMAAAAAA!!!!"
**
3. Azteco Latino
"i mean she read them both to filth! not everyone can have a library card π"
**
4. ch chawngthu
"Her reading is everything"
**
5. MrPagefan1
"Oh Snap!!...Literally"
**
6. Jaleel Coley
"Them finger snaps at the end had me dead π€£π"
**
7. noor farizzul izran
"The shade. The shade of it alll."
Someone please call an ambulance. Someone got murdered here.
**
8. Rafael Uchimura
"Finger snap to seal it! ❤️"
**
9. David Jackson
" "You two are about as fierce as my morning corn flakes. LMAO MY CHEST!!! I am about to die!!! Lol"
**
REPLY
10. Stet-G Voicey
"David Jackson I didn’t get that one"
**
REPLY
11. Likan Prower
"Stet-G Gamie well... There's nothing more basic than corn flakes as a breakfast"
****
2019
12. Ellie Meli
"She's slaying it!"
**
13. PurpleKisses ASMR
"She dragged their souls to the abyss!"
**
14. KamisKisses
"Tht read was a whole library. damn."
**
15. Monica Blodgett
"The best read I could have ever seen."
**
16. Caio Vieira
"No survivors"
**
17. Lauren
"THAT READ WAS EVERYTHING BUT THAT SNAP AT THE END THO π₯π₯π₯"
**
18. Squrtile101
"That hurt my soul and it ain’t directed at me"
**
19. Luca Ortolani
"Withering weeds
THAT'S HIGH LITERATURE Y'ALL"
**
20. Drew Thomas
"my absolute favorite part of this is Lil Papi at 1:00 getting his ever lasting LIFE from all her reads lmfaoooo I had to rewind that part back when I first watched it. whatever actor that plays him looked genuinely at a loss for words π"
**
21. Knowledge Seeker 78
"That read and those snaps heard across the world"
**
22. farhana .jamal
"I only watch pose for electra''s reads....."
**
23. manuel parra
"Take a last look at this filet Mignon! lol"
**
24. Rejinald Palmer
"A read like that SHOULD take a million tries to film just right but I feel D.J flawlessly did it in one go."
**
25. Vic Tories
"Obliterated. Blasted. Burned. Dead. Destroyed. Crushed. Terminated. Roasted. Toasted. Cremated, and, Read. For. The. God's!!!!!!"
**
REPLY
26. Kable Corsey
"Vic Tories you better break it down ππ"
**
27. jahmod cook
"A filthy read without 1 cuss word. Love it"
**
REPLY
28. N Martin
"jahmod cook Keeping it classy"
**
REPLY
29. stealthis
"Will they did say bitch"
**
REPLY
30. OKHomoRose
"@stealthis "Bitch" is rude but not necessarily a swear word. And Elektra didn't say any swears."
**
31. Blu Blu
" "... as fierce as my morning Corn Flakes" I need to lay down"
**
32. QStar3
"WAIT! 0:32 is that Jiggly Caliente?!"
**
REPLY
33. Porsha Wells
"Yes it is and she's also on season 2 of this show"
-snip-
Jiggly Caliente was a contestant on Season 4 of the Ru Paul Drag Race television series.
**
34. juan sebastian gonzalez atehortua
"This!! is the ART of READING someone!!"
**
35. Alej_ndro D
"Can someone help me find my wig? I think it was last seen making its way to Neptune"
**
36. Clarence Davis III
"Because reading is what....FUNDAMENTAL"
**
37. Ur a wizard Harry
"1:00
Me whenever Electra or Pray Tell roasts someone"
-snip-
"Pray Tell" is the name of the drag ball emcee who is played by Billy Porter.
**
38. Ladybug201
"Elektra was Shakespeare before Shakespeare was Shakespeare, I’d bow to her if she ever chose to read me tf πππ"
**
39. Edith Giles
"scraping my jaw off the floor"
**
40. Arrie
"A Queen speaking with such grace, intelligence and with the intent to destroy . I stan"
**
41. Courtney
"The best read ever"
**
42. MEMPHISPRAISER
"The Library is OPEN"
**
43. Ernesto G. Williams
"4eva TVGOLD!!!!!!!"
**
44.The Dezire
"O hunty I live for Elektra.....yazzzz"
**
45. Darren Smith
"10’s 10’s 10’s across the board Electra....now THAT....was a read ππ "
**
46. Hayyaan Hussain
"1:01 Little Papis face is me living for the drama and shade Elektra is throwing π"
**
47. Mahogany. Applebum
"Those reads are biblical."
**
48. Josh White
"now this is how you roast somebody without cussing and being ratchet and getting loud. just pure class"
**
49. Belle Espirit
"I KNEW these comments would be lit and yall did not disappoint!! The house of ferocity is still picking their edges up off the floor...I have no words...I DARE anyone to show us a better read than that!!!!!! Sorry Aja baby but you got the #2 seat."
-snip-
Aja was a contestant on Season 9 of RuPaul's Drag Race.
**
50. I'm a member of STARS
"Mother just burned down the whole library!!!"
**
51. Joshua Gray
"In Latrice Royale's voice: Girl the shade the shade of it all
-snip-
Latrice Royale was a contestant on Season 4 of the Ru Paul Drag Race television series."
**
52. Wahn Yoon
"Vicious yet completely classy. Miss Elektra delivers a world class read."
**
REPLY
53. Joe
"Right?!? Elegantly read for filth"
**
56. Sebastian Patino
" "You think you are on the road to being legends, but you couldn't make it from here to the door without me pointing the way" I. WAS. ON. THE. FLOOR."
**
57. Steven James
"The best one. Someone call Jesus."
**
58. FLASHFOTO
"So smooth!"
**
59. CCHS2011stud
"That, ladies and gentlemen, is a READ. Shade comes from reading, reading came first. CLASS DISMISSED! ππΎππΎπ―"
**
60. Jamill Murray
"Childπππππ"
**
61. Zedrick Malbas
"I. AM. LIVING."
**
62. Kida Lebeau
"That was exactly what I said after witnessing that eloquent destruction - FLAWLESS VICTORY! Muahahahahahaha!"
**
63. db60615
"That's how it's done. Intelligence and exquisite wit!"
**
64. LuvJayallday
"My lawd the reads after reads after reads lol excuse me while I find a casket to lay in ππ⚰"
**
65. Jaquanda Martin
"My name is JQ and I am completely addicted to this scene...I have watched it at least 10 times a day! #POSE"
**
66. Shari Gill
"This read was so fierce, I feel attacked. πππΎ♥️"
**
67. Felix Kasperl
"That was the most beautiful massacre I’ve ever witnessed!"
**
68. Martin McMayer
"an iconic scene."
**
69. Angela Sherita
"This will forever be the READ OF THE CENTURY"
**
REPLY
70. Fatgirlriri
"Angela Sherita nah the read of the century is by the legendary Yekaterina Petrovna Zamolodchikova: “Roxxxy Andrews, I think about you all the time, especially in the morning, at the bus stop”*
**
REPLY
71. Harry Jones
"Fatgirlriri No. No. No."
**
REPLY
72. Robbie ontherails
"I'm sorry kids but the reads of the Century are in Paris is Burning and Mommie Dearest."
**
REPLY
73. Soner Kamer
"Fatgirlriri Love Katya, but don’t say something cringe-worthy like that, the best reads don’t only come from the bubble that is RPDR."
**
REPLY
74. stan alsemanchΓ© and LOONA
"@Fatgirlriri making fun of childhood trauma is not reading. Jump"
-snip-
* Roxxy Andrews and Katya were contestants on Season 5 of RuPaul’s Drag Race (RPDR). In one episode of that series Roxy shared that her mother abandoned her at a bus stop when she was a small child.
**
75. Samuel Stephens
"I love this I'm so proud of our gay generation I am a 80s Queen and it makes me proud to see this ,,ππππππππππππππ. Hail to the queen πππππ"
**
76. Ba ba
"That's it, close the library and throw away the key, cuz these plastic wanna be were READ for filth, bottom line cut & dry!!!!#ThatPART
P.S : little papi tho ππππ."
**
REPLY
77. Evalynne Torres
"It's Read TO FILTH!"
**
78. Tracy Smith
"Face crack!! There's no repairing the shattered pieces. That's the kind of read all you can do is cry and disappear.πππ"
**
79. Quint P.
"Elektra went IN. She drug them to the depths! I sure felt it when she said “You two are about as fierce and my morning Corn Flakes.” READ EM GIRL"
**
80. Lily A
"Oh man that was some Shakespeare's realness"
**
81. Ibrahim Nour
"......or die on the vines with these withering weeds!!”- Elektra such an eloquent Queen πΈπ½"
**
82. Queen Bee The Diva
"One of the nastiest reads known to man"
**
83. Clementine's Thigh Gap
"NEWS FLASH: SEVERAL WIGS FOUND ON PLUTO"
**
84. icyhugs
"A perfect murder without a drop of blood, not even a trace of foul language! I bow to thee Queen Electra!"
**
85. Robert The 3rd
"I good read is done with eloquent speech and theatrical insults."
**
87. Shakira
"LMAO, that was the most dignified disrespectful read ever!"
**
88. Still Standing
"Jesus be a fence! She just read them from Genesis to Revelations without missing a beat! I must bing watch this show!"
**
89. Esmerelda Villa-Lobos
"i watch this at least twice a week..mostly to stay humble"
**
90. Hana Afifi
"And that ladies, gentlemen and everyone in between, is how you read someone to filth!"
**
91. Daniel Rossi
"Phonics take a back seat. I'm hooked on Elektra cause she can teach you how to read!"
**
92. Dan Martin
"Look at the fruits of my labor: a foolhardy chunk who makes her living on the pole and a brainless wonder who thinks the way to get curves is to stick Charmin in her drawers or to inject cement into her derriere. House of Ferocity? You two are about as fierce as my morning corn flakes. You may have left my home but you can't leave me. I'm in your mind, that voice saying, "You're not good enough, little girl. You're not smart enough or tough enough or glamorous enough to make it in this world." And that little voice is going to eat away at you like termites until your whole pathetic house come crashing down. You think you're on the road to being legends but you couldn't make it from here to the door without me pointing the way. You're nothing but bags of rancid, rotting meat. Well, take a long last look at this filet mignon. I doubt we'll be conversing ever again unless I take a sudden interest in dying of boredom.
-snip-
Sam (2019) began his transcription with this line:
“Good. Then you can hear the disappointment in my voice as I count up the ways in which I've clearly failed as being a mother”.
Other commenters also noted a line about "withering weeds".
****
93. Jassmina Vellucciano
"Take Notes Children, that’s how you give a Reading."
**
94. Carlos Rubio
"WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE SONG PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND!?!?!?!?"
**
REPLY
95. Benjamin D'Annibale
"Carlos Rubio heat you up (melt you down) by Shirley Lites :)"
**
96. Rejinald Palmer
"Edges gone. Library closed. Confidence shattered. Can Dominique Jackson release a soundboard app for all her lines."
**
97. Fabio Aug.
"The library is not only closed, but locked."
****
This concludes Part II of this three part pancocojams series.
This is Part II of a three part pancocojams series about the vernacular term "reading for filth".
This post showcases a video clip from the television series "Pose" (Season 1) entitled "Elektra Abundance Reads For Filth". Selected comments from that video's discussion thread are included in that post.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/09/real-definitions-for-examples-of.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That pancocojams post provides definitions of and examples of the vernacular term "reading [someone] to [or for] filth". Definitions and examples of the related vernacular terms "[throwing] shade" and "reading for shame" are also included in that post.
These meanings and examples are retrieved from YouTube and from certain other online site.
Part III showcases a video clip from the television series "Pose" (Season 2) entitled "Elektra Reads Customer For Filth". Selected comments from that video's discussion thread are included in that post.
The content of this post is presented for linguistic and socio-cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Dominique Jackson who portrays Elektra Abundance Evangelista in the television series Pose and thanks to all those who are associated with the Pose television series. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in these comments and videos and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-reading-someone-throwing-shade-no.html for a closely related 2014 pancocojams post entitled "What "Reading Someone", "Throwing Shade", & "No Tea No Shade" Mean".
I revisited this subject as a result of Billy Porter winning an Emmy for lead actor in a drama series (2019) for his depiction of "Pray Tell", emcee of New York City drag balls in the 1980. Congratulations, Billy Porter!
Click https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-09-22/emmys-pose-billy-porter-historic-win for an article about Billy Porter's historic win as the first openly gay Black man to win in this category.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE TELEVISION SERIES POSE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pose_(TV_series)
"Pose (stylized as POSE) is an American drama television series about New York City's African-American and Latino LGBTQ and gender-nonconforming ballroom culture scene in the 1980s and, in the second season, early 1990s. Featured characters are dancers and models who compete for trophies and recognition in this underground culture, and who support one another in a network of chosen families known as Houses.
Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Steven Canals, the series premiered on June 3, 2018, on FX. The series stars an ensemble cast including Evan Peters, Kate Mara, James Van Der Beek, Mj Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Billy Porter, Indya Moore, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Charlayne Woodard, Hailie Sahar, Angelica Ross, Angel Bismark Curiel, DyllΓ³n Burnside, and Sandra Bernhard.
The first season was met with critical acclaim and subsequently received numerous award nominations including the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama for Billy Porter. In July 2018, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a second season, which premiered on June 11, 2019. Also in June, FX renewed the series for a third season."...
****
From https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-09-22/emmys-pose-billy-porter-historic-win
‘Pose’ star Billy Porter lands historic first with Emmy win; By YVONNE VILLARREALSTAFF WRITER
SEP. 22, 2019
..." "Pose", from Ryan Murphy and Steven Canals, explores the extravagant subculture of the LGBTQ ballroom scene in late 1980s and early 1990s New York, as well of the lives of the people of that community. Porter’s visceral portrayal of Pray Tell has been praised by critics since the show’s launch last year. The first season, for which he was nominated, saw his character reckoning with an HIV diagnosis."...
[...]
“Pose,” which has been lauded for its contribution to transgender visibility and representation on TV, received six Emmy nominations this year, including Porter’s category and drama series.
The second season of the drama wrapped its run last month on FX.”...
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Elektra Abundance Reads For Filth | Pose FX (HD)
EXACTLY, Published on Jul 27, 2018
Miss Lulu and Crusty Candy try it with Mother Elektra, they end up being read to filth, after that, they were left snatched and trying to find their weaves on the ballroom floor.
-snip-
WARNING: The term "bitch" is used one time in this video. That is the only use of profanity or other not suitable for children terms that occurs in this video.
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
Special mention is given to comment #92 which is an unofficial transcription of this read.
2018
1. BHarding10
"That. Is. How. It. Is. DONE!
ππ»ππ»ππ»ππ»❤️..."
**
2. Fernando R
"WOOOOOOORK MAMAAAAAA!!!!"
**
3. Azteco Latino
"i mean she read them both to filth! not everyone can have a library card π"
**
4. ch chawngthu
"Her reading is everything"
**
5. MrPagefan1
"Oh Snap!!...Literally"
**
6. Jaleel Coley
"Them finger snaps at the end had me dead π€£π"
**
7. noor farizzul izran
"The shade. The shade of it alll."
Someone please call an ambulance. Someone got murdered here.
**
8. Rafael Uchimura
"Finger snap to seal it! ❤️"
**
9. David Jackson
" "You two are about as fierce as my morning corn flakes. LMAO MY CHEST!!! I am about to die!!! Lol"
**
REPLY
10. Stet-G Voicey
"David Jackson I didn’t get that one"
**
REPLY
11. Likan Prower
"Stet-G Gamie well... There's nothing more basic than corn flakes as a breakfast"
****
2019
12. Ellie Meli
"She's slaying it!"
**
13. PurpleKisses ASMR
"She dragged their souls to the abyss!"
**
14. KamisKisses
"Tht read was a whole library. damn."
**
15. Monica Blodgett
"The best read I could have ever seen."
**
16. Caio Vieira
"No survivors"
**
17. Lauren
"THAT READ WAS EVERYTHING BUT THAT SNAP AT THE END THO π₯π₯π₯"
**
18. Squrtile101
"That hurt my soul and it ain’t directed at me"
**
19. Luca Ortolani
"Withering weeds
THAT'S HIGH LITERATURE Y'ALL"
**
20. Drew Thomas
"my absolute favorite part of this is Lil Papi at 1:00 getting his ever lasting LIFE from all her reads lmfaoooo I had to rewind that part back when I first watched it. whatever actor that plays him looked genuinely at a loss for words π"
**
21. Knowledge Seeker 78
"That read and those snaps heard across the world"
**
22. farhana .jamal
"I only watch pose for electra''s reads....."
**
23. manuel parra
"Take a last look at this filet Mignon! lol"
**
24. Rejinald Palmer
"A read like that SHOULD take a million tries to film just right but I feel D.J flawlessly did it in one go."
**
25. Vic Tories
"Obliterated. Blasted. Burned. Dead. Destroyed. Crushed. Terminated. Roasted. Toasted. Cremated, and, Read. For. The. God's!!!!!!"
**
REPLY
26. Kable Corsey
"Vic Tories you better break it down ππ"
**
27. jahmod cook
"A filthy read without 1 cuss word. Love it"
**
REPLY
28. N Martin
"jahmod cook Keeping it classy"
**
REPLY
29. stealthis
"Will they did say bitch"
**
REPLY
30. OKHomoRose
"@stealthis "Bitch" is rude but not necessarily a swear word. And Elektra didn't say any swears."
**
31. Blu Blu
" "... as fierce as my morning Corn Flakes" I need to lay down"
**
32. QStar3
"WAIT! 0:32 is that Jiggly Caliente?!"
**
REPLY
33. Porsha Wells
"Yes it is and she's also on season 2 of this show"
-snip-
Jiggly Caliente was a contestant on Season 4 of the Ru Paul Drag Race television series.
**
34. juan sebastian gonzalez atehortua
"This!! is the ART of READING someone!!"
**
35. Alej_ndro D
"Can someone help me find my wig? I think it was last seen making its way to Neptune"
**
36. Clarence Davis III
"Because reading is what....FUNDAMENTAL"
**
37. Ur a wizard Harry
"1:00
Me whenever Electra or Pray Tell roasts someone"
-snip-
"Pray Tell" is the name of the drag ball emcee who is played by Billy Porter.
**
38. Ladybug201
"Elektra was Shakespeare before Shakespeare was Shakespeare, I’d bow to her if she ever chose to read me tf πππ"
**
39. Edith Giles
"scraping my jaw off the floor"
**
40. Arrie
"A Queen speaking with such grace, intelligence and with the intent to destroy . I stan"
**
41. Courtney
"The best read ever"
**
42. MEMPHISPRAISER
"The Library is OPEN"
**
43. Ernesto G. Williams
"4eva TVGOLD!!!!!!!"
**
44.The Dezire
"O hunty I live for Elektra.....yazzzz"
**
45. Darren Smith
"10’s 10’s 10’s across the board Electra....now THAT....was a read ππ "
**
46. Hayyaan Hussain
"1:01 Little Papis face is me living for the drama and shade Elektra is throwing π"
**
47. Mahogany. Applebum
"Those reads are biblical."
**
48. Josh White
"now this is how you roast somebody without cussing and being ratchet and getting loud. just pure class"
**
49. Belle Espirit
"I KNEW these comments would be lit and yall did not disappoint!! The house of ferocity is still picking their edges up off the floor...I have no words...I DARE anyone to show us a better read than that!!!!!! Sorry Aja baby but you got the #2 seat."
-snip-
Aja was a contestant on Season 9 of RuPaul's Drag Race.
**
50. I'm a member of STARS
"Mother just burned down the whole library!!!"
**
51. Joshua Gray
"In Latrice Royale's voice: Girl the shade the shade of it all
-snip-
Latrice Royale was a contestant on Season 4 of the Ru Paul Drag Race television series."
**
52. Wahn Yoon
"Vicious yet completely classy. Miss Elektra delivers a world class read."
**
REPLY
53. Joe
"Right?!? Elegantly read for filth"
**
56. Sebastian Patino
" "You think you are on the road to being legends, but you couldn't make it from here to the door without me pointing the way" I. WAS. ON. THE. FLOOR."
**
57. Steven James
"The best one. Someone call Jesus."
**
58. FLASHFOTO
"So smooth!"
**
59. CCHS2011stud
"That, ladies and gentlemen, is a READ. Shade comes from reading, reading came first. CLASS DISMISSED! ππΎππΎπ―"
**
60. Jamill Murray
"Childπππππ"
**
61. Zedrick Malbas
"I. AM. LIVING."
**
62. Kida Lebeau
"That was exactly what I said after witnessing that eloquent destruction - FLAWLESS VICTORY! Muahahahahahaha!"
**
63. db60615
"That's how it's done. Intelligence and exquisite wit!"
**
64. LuvJayallday
"My lawd the reads after reads after reads lol excuse me while I find a casket to lay in ππ⚰"
**
65. Jaquanda Martin
"My name is JQ and I am completely addicted to this scene...I have watched it at least 10 times a day! #POSE"
**
66. Shari Gill
"This read was so fierce, I feel attacked. πππΎ♥️"
**
67. Felix Kasperl
"That was the most beautiful massacre I’ve ever witnessed!"
**
68. Martin McMayer
"an iconic scene."
**
69. Angela Sherita
"This will forever be the READ OF THE CENTURY"
**
REPLY
70. Fatgirlriri
"Angela Sherita nah the read of the century is by the legendary Yekaterina Petrovna Zamolodchikova: “Roxxxy Andrews, I think about you all the time, especially in the morning, at the bus stop”*
**
REPLY
71. Harry Jones
"Fatgirlriri No. No. No."
**
REPLY
72. Robbie ontherails
"I'm sorry kids but the reads of the Century are in Paris is Burning and Mommie Dearest."
**
REPLY
73. Soner Kamer
"Fatgirlriri Love Katya, but don’t say something cringe-worthy like that, the best reads don’t only come from the bubble that is RPDR."
**
REPLY
74. stan alsemanchΓ© and LOONA
"@Fatgirlriri making fun of childhood trauma is not reading. Jump"
-snip-
* Roxxy Andrews and Katya were contestants on Season 5 of RuPaul’s Drag Race (RPDR). In one episode of that series Roxy shared that her mother abandoned her at a bus stop when she was a small child.
**
75. Samuel Stephens
"I love this I'm so proud of our gay generation I am a 80s Queen and it makes me proud to see this ,,ππππππππππππππ. Hail to the queen πππππ"
**
76. Ba ba
"That's it, close the library and throw away the key, cuz these plastic wanna be were READ for filth, bottom line cut & dry!!!!#ThatPART
P.S : little papi tho ππππ."
**
REPLY
77. Evalynne Torres
"It's Read TO FILTH!"
**
78. Tracy Smith
"Face crack!! There's no repairing the shattered pieces. That's the kind of read all you can do is cry and disappear.πππ"
**
79. Quint P.
"Elektra went IN. She drug them to the depths! I sure felt it when she said “You two are about as fierce and my morning Corn Flakes.” READ EM GIRL"
**
80. Lily A
"Oh man that was some Shakespeare's realness"
**
81. Ibrahim Nour
"......or die on the vines with these withering weeds!!”- Elektra such an eloquent Queen πΈπ½"
**
82. Queen Bee The Diva
"One of the nastiest reads known to man"
**
83. Clementine's Thigh Gap
"NEWS FLASH: SEVERAL WIGS FOUND ON PLUTO"
**
84. icyhugs
"A perfect murder without a drop of blood, not even a trace of foul language! I bow to thee Queen Electra!"
**
85. Robert The 3rd
"I good read is done with eloquent speech and theatrical insults."
**
87. Shakira
"LMAO, that was the most dignified disrespectful read ever!"
**
88. Still Standing
"Jesus be a fence! She just read them from Genesis to Revelations without missing a beat! I must bing watch this show!"
**
89. Esmerelda Villa-Lobos
"i watch this at least twice a week..mostly to stay humble"
**
90. Hana Afifi
"And that ladies, gentlemen and everyone in between, is how you read someone to filth!"
**
91. Daniel Rossi
"Phonics take a back seat. I'm hooked on Elektra cause she can teach you how to read!"
**
92. Dan Martin
"Look at the fruits of my labor: a foolhardy chunk who makes her living on the pole and a brainless wonder who thinks the way to get curves is to stick Charmin in her drawers or to inject cement into her derriere. House of Ferocity? You two are about as fierce as my morning corn flakes. You may have left my home but you can't leave me. I'm in your mind, that voice saying, "You're not good enough, little girl. You're not smart enough or tough enough or glamorous enough to make it in this world." And that little voice is going to eat away at you like termites until your whole pathetic house come crashing down. You think you're on the road to being legends but you couldn't make it from here to the door without me pointing the way. You're nothing but bags of rancid, rotting meat. Well, take a long last look at this filet mignon. I doubt we'll be conversing ever again unless I take a sudden interest in dying of boredom.
-snip-
Sam (2019) began his transcription with this line:
“Good. Then you can hear the disappointment in my voice as I count up the ways in which I've clearly failed as being a mother”.
Other commenters also noted a line about "withering weeds".
****
93. Jassmina Vellucciano
"Take Notes Children, that’s how you give a Reading."
**
94. Carlos Rubio
"WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE SONG PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND!?!?!?!?"
**
REPLY
95. Benjamin D'Annibale
"Carlos Rubio heat you up (melt you down) by Shirley Lites :)"
**
96. Rejinald Palmer
"Edges gone. Library closed. Confidence shattered. Can Dominique Jackson release a soundboard app for all her lines."
**
97. Fabio Aug.
"The library is not only closed, but locked."
****
This concludes Part II of this three part pancocojams series.
What "Reading For Filth" Means
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision -May 26, 2024
This is Part I of a three part pancocojams series about the vernacular term "reading for filth".
This pancocojams post provides definitions of and examples of the vernacular term "reading [someone] for filth". That pancocojams post provides definitions of and examples of the vernacular term "reading [someone] to [or for] filth". Definitions and examples of the related vernacular terms "[throwing] shade" and "reading for shame" are also included in this post.
These definitions and examples are retrieved from YouTube and from certain other online site.
Read my comments below about my theories on the meaning of "reading" and "filth" in the phrase "reading" [a person] for [or to] filth".
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/09/elektra-abundance-reads-for-filth-pose.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II showcases a video clip from the television series "Pose" (Season 1) entitled "Elektra Abundance Reads For Filth". Selected comments from that video's discussion thread are included in that post.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/09/elektra-reads-customer-for-filth-pose.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. Part III showcases a video clip from the television series "Pose" (Season 2) entitled "Elektra Reads Customer For Filth". Selected comments from that video's discussion thread are included in that post.
The content of this post is presented for linguistic and socio-cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in these comments and videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-reading-someone-throwing-shade-no.html for a closely related 2014 pancocojams post entitled "What "Reading Someone", "Throwing Shade", & "No Tea No Shade" Mean".
I revisited this subject as a result of Billy Porter winning an Emmy for lead actor in a drama series (2019) for his depiction of "Pray Tell", emcee of New York City drag balls in the 1980.
Click https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-09-22/emmys-pose-billy-porter-historic-win for an article about Billy Porter's historic win as the first openly gay Black man to win in this category.
****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
I believe that "reading [someone] to [or for] filth is the epitome of reading someone, i.e. being more skillful, more witty, more artful, and, therefore, more devastating in your insult/s than a mere read would have been.
I think that "reading someone for shame" may be the same thing as "reading [someone] to [or for] filth."
Please share additions or corrections to these general statements and/or to the statements given below. Thanks!
DEFINITIONS OF READING SOMEONE
These entries are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
1. From https://www.bustle.com/articles/82642-the-12-best-burns-in-history-because-reading-for-filth-is-nothing-new The 12 Best Burns In History, Because 'Reading For Filth' Is Nothing New
By JR THORPE, May 12, 2015
"If you don't know the beautiful term "to read for filth," it's time you learned. Popularized by the cult film Paris Is Burning back in 1990, "reading" probably originated in the LGBT community in New York in the 1980s — and it's the art of the ultimate witty comeback, the burn that packs a witty punch with a serious sting in the tail. Reading for filth? That's taking it to its furthest extent, with insults so brutally eloquent that they make you with* you'd said them instead."...
-snip-
“with” is probably a typo for “wish”
****
2. From https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=XZvTX4o3LAI Welcome To Reading and Shade 101 by Kari Howard, Published on Jan 6, 2014
Comment from I. Vee, 2014;
Kari Howard
"See, I don't like your definition of reading. Reading is more than just insulting someone. It's insulting them directly, but artfully, using comparisons, metaphor, and rhetoric to support your insult. And then shade is really the art of indirect reading; it's insulting someone, minus the insult.
Here, look at this example:
Insulting someone: "You're fat, and you're ugly."
Reading someone: "Gurl, you've gained so much weight you should be shopping in Jared's old closet! And what are you doing outside with that busted face, hasn't Animal Control caught your ass yet?"
Shading someone: "You know, I saw that blouse you're wearing in the window of Lane Bryant and KNEW it would work for you, good eye! And how's that plastic surgeon of yours doing, have you been making your appointments?"
REPLY
Kari Howard, 2014
"Thank you for the comment, I do indeed like your definition way better than mine!"
****
3. From https://www.capetownmagazine.com/arts-culture/a-beginners-guide-to-drag-terminology/104_22_19320 A Beginner’s Guide to Drag Terminology by Gary Hartley [no date noted but reference to 2018]
We enlist the help of some of Cape Town’s ‘sickening’ drag queens to school you on the drag dictionary
Over the last couple of years, RuPaul’s reality TV show, RuPaul’s Drag Race, has become a global phenomenon, and as a result, queer slang, colloquialisms and phrases have permeated popular culture. In fact, a number of the gender-bending contestants, and RuPaul herself, have inspired memes more shareable (Cher-able) than Grumpy Cat. Of course, drag performers around the world have been using the terms in their acts for decades, with the 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning, a film that explores New York’s 1980s underground balls (drag pageants and queer performance spaces), credited with first exposing larger audiences to terms like ‘fierce’, ‘shade’, ‘werk’ (with an ‘e’) and ‘vogue’, amongst others.
But despite the language being more and more popularised, the etymologies of queer slang words aren’t exactly known, and there are still people who are left scratching their heads during drag shows because they are unable to decode the linguistics.
So, with the Mother City being at the forefront of drag performance in South Africa, we’ve decided to enlist the help of some of Cape Town’s top drag artists to bring you a beginner’s guide to drag terminology. Learn what it means to ‘throw shade’, ‘read’ and ‘serve realness’ thanks to some definitions and examples from Mary Scary, Princess Pop and Manila von Teez.
THE DRAG QUEEN DICTIONARY (DRAGTIONARY) FOR BEGINNERS
[...]
Read |rΔd| verb.
Insulting someone with minimal effort.
Queens typically read each other in sessions (a phenomenon that's a bit like a wittier freestyle battle).
Before a formal session of queens reading each other can commence, the facilitator usually declares, "The library is open”.
If you unleash a ruthless onslaught of insults, you are reading someone to filth.
Example: "Hunty, is it just me, or does your weave come from the R5 store? Oh wait, you don't stop there anymore, it got too expensive,” digs Princess Pop.
Shade |SHΔd| noun and verb.
A subtler form of reading
“When one makes a comment in a company of people, or face-to-face, with the intention of insulting someone or to remind them of an embarrassing moment,” explains Manila von Teez.
When someone insults you in an indirect manner, they are throwing shade.
Example: “Ooh, girl - you look gorgeous in that double volume Ronettes wig,” says Mary Scary.".
[...]
So there you have it; a concise and thorough guide to drag-talk.
We think we read a little better than that washed up queen Merriam Webster (shade!).”....
-snip-
Italics added to highlight this statement
****
4. From https://www.reddit.com/r/rupaulsdragrace/comments/24jaeu/how_do_you_read_someone_to_filth/ How do you read someone to filth?; Posted byu/marvin1013, 2014
a. "How do you read someone to filth?
So, my friends and I likes to read each other for fun, but she usually wins. Is there any tips or tricks to read someone?
I want to be fast and clever when they read me so i can twist their words around. So any tips?"
**
b. Ximxim, 2014
"You wanna talk about reading? Here are a few tips 1- don't go for the obvious, or the hurtful. Reading isn't about the easy joke, like calling a fat person fat. That may be true, but it isn't clever. Reading should be about choices the person has made, specific things about them. Don't hit someone's sore spots either, this isn't supposed to be cruel. 2- the easy way to read is something like this- point out the ridiculous thing (girl, those jagged ass toenails!), then compare it to a pop culture reference or two (you get a pedicure from lilo?). 3- the fake compliment is also good. "I think it's so brave of you to wear your hair like that- who cares what people say." 4- finally, the most advanced level of reading is. Bianca style, where you both insult and enlighten. When I get there I'll let you know."
**
REPLY
c. LoisCarmen, 2014
"THIS SO MUCH. Saying, "you ugly fatass!" Isn't reading, your just being an ass. Keep it clever and keep it cute."
**
d. [deleted], 2014
"practice practice practice and slowly build your rolodex of hate. I like to use facial expressions Γ la Bianca. ''Oh you look so good today.'' disgusted face immediately
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's note: "Bianca" probably refers to "Bianca Del Rio" is the winner of Season 6 of the television series RuPaul's Drag Race (2014).
****
5. http://www.waywordradio.org/throw_shade/
"Reading, Reading to filth — To really let someone have it; to insult or criticize.
Ex: Well, if I see her out tonight, I will read her to filth. I will tear her sh&& up like newspaper.
-snip-
Note the addition of the intensifier "really" which I believe separates "reading" from "reading to [or for] filth".
****
A FEW ONLINE EXAMPLES OF "READING FOR FILTH" AND "READING FOR SHAME"
Pancocojams Editor's Note: The following comments either include the term "reading to [or for] filth" or "reading for shame" or are examples of those insult forms.
[Addition: September 24, 2019] - "Reading for shame" appears to be less often used than "reading to [or for] filth". I think that "reading for shame" means that the "reader" is "shaming" [making the "readee"] ashamed by insulting her/him or them].
These entries are given in no particular order and numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
WARNING: These clips often contain profanity and other references that may not be suitable for children.
1. From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEM4La4L_a8 Pose | Season 1: Pray Tell ‘Em | FX ; FX Networks, Published on Aug 15, 2018
[Pancocojams Editor: These are comments made about drag ball contestants by Pray Tell, the emcee at that ball]
a. Kay T 38, 2018
"Pray Tell can definitely read you for shame honey!!!. I LOVE IT...lol"
**
b. movie gurl74, 2018
"Put that in the Xmas ornament box,an we'll get back too to U ππππππ"
**
c. Tommy Lee, 2018
"Place that’s jacket in the Christmas ornament box! π£Hollering π€£"
**
d. Tan, 2019
"♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ Love PrayTell! “They’re serving us Buckingham Palace high tea...while the rest of you only know Lipton from the diner!”
**
e. Vanessa Allmon, 2019
"Where is the Halston/JCPenney read?????? That one was epic!"
-snip-
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnHh0FrOb5E "POSE on FX: Category is High Fashion Evening Wear! Ladies of Luxury!" for a video clip which includes that particular read.
****
2. From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AT_JpGDrN0
POSE - Fem Queen Vogue; Ron Ramseur, Published on Aug 26, 2018
a. Daddie_Doll, 2019
" “Do you have category dyslexia?”πππ"
**
b. emilou j, 2019
"1:29
Miss Caaannddyyyyyyyy πππ"
**
c. Rejinald Palmer, 2019
"You know you're about to get read for filth when someone has to stretch out the last syllable of your name."
**
d. jonwiley, 2019
"3:23 what is up with this girl's shape? She looks like a boiled egg with legs."
**
REPLY
e. Marc Murray, 2019
"LMAO You went there."
****
3. From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLMVwSmDAdA
POSE on FX: The Category Is Linen or Silk & Shade!; Butterfly Kisses, Published on Jul 22, 2018
a. DCombz, 2019
"Elektra reading them to filth is a required clip to watch after this one."
****
This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Latest revision -May 26, 2024
This is Part I of a three part pancocojams series about the vernacular term "reading for filth".
This pancocojams post provides definitions of and examples of the vernacular term "reading [someone] for filth". That pancocojams post provides definitions of and examples of the vernacular term "reading [someone] to [or for] filth". Definitions and examples of the related vernacular terms "[throwing] shade" and "reading for shame" are also included in this post.
These definitions and examples are retrieved from YouTube and from certain other online site.
Read my comments below about my theories on the meaning of "reading" and "filth" in the phrase "reading" [a person] for [or to] filth".
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/09/elektra-abundance-reads-for-filth-pose.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II showcases a video clip from the television series "Pose" (Season 1) entitled "Elektra Abundance Reads For Filth". Selected comments from that video's discussion thread are included in that post.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/09/elektra-reads-customer-for-filth-pose.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. Part III showcases a video clip from the television series "Pose" (Season 2) entitled "Elektra Reads Customer For Filth". Selected comments from that video's discussion thread are included in that post.
The content of this post is presented for linguistic and socio-cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in these comments and videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-reading-someone-throwing-shade-no.html for a closely related 2014 pancocojams post entitled "What "Reading Someone", "Throwing Shade", & "No Tea No Shade" Mean".
I revisited this subject as a result of Billy Porter winning an Emmy for lead actor in a drama series (2019) for his depiction of "Pray Tell", emcee of New York City drag balls in the 1980.
Click https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-09-22/emmys-pose-billy-porter-historic-win for an article about Billy Porter's historic win as the first openly gay Black man to win in this category.
****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
I believe that "reading [someone] to [or for] filth is the epitome of reading someone, i.e. being more skillful, more witty, more artful, and, therefore, more devastating in your insult/s than a mere read would have been.
I think that "reading someone for shame" may be the same thing as "reading [someone] to [or for] filth."
Please share additions or corrections to these general statements and/or to the statements given below. Thanks!
DEFINITIONS OF READING SOMEONE
These entries are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
1. From https://www.bustle.com/articles/82642-the-12-best-burns-in-history-because-reading-for-filth-is-nothing-new The 12 Best Burns In History, Because 'Reading For Filth' Is Nothing New
By JR THORPE, May 12, 2015
"If you don't know the beautiful term "to read for filth," it's time you learned. Popularized by the cult film Paris Is Burning back in 1990, "reading" probably originated in the LGBT community in New York in the 1980s — and it's the art of the ultimate witty comeback, the burn that packs a witty punch with a serious sting in the tail. Reading for filth? That's taking it to its furthest extent, with insults so brutally eloquent that they make you with* you'd said them instead."...
-snip-
“with” is probably a typo for “wish”
****
2. From https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=XZvTX4o3LAI Welcome To Reading and Shade 101 by Kari Howard, Published on Jan 6, 2014
Comment from I. Vee, 2014;
Kari Howard
"See, I don't like your definition of reading. Reading is more than just insulting someone. It's insulting them directly, but artfully, using comparisons, metaphor, and rhetoric to support your insult. And then shade is really the art of indirect reading; it's insulting someone, minus the insult.
Here, look at this example:
Insulting someone: "You're fat, and you're ugly."
Reading someone: "Gurl, you've gained so much weight you should be shopping in Jared's old closet! And what are you doing outside with that busted face, hasn't Animal Control caught your ass yet?"
Shading someone: "You know, I saw that blouse you're wearing in the window of Lane Bryant and KNEW it would work for you, good eye! And how's that plastic surgeon of yours doing, have you been making your appointments?"
REPLY
Kari Howard, 2014
"Thank you for the comment, I do indeed like your definition way better than mine!"
****
3. From https://www.capetownmagazine.com/arts-culture/a-beginners-guide-to-drag-terminology/104_22_19320 A Beginner’s Guide to Drag Terminology by Gary Hartley [no date noted but reference to 2018]
We enlist the help of some of Cape Town’s ‘sickening’ drag queens to school you on the drag dictionary
Over the last couple of years, RuPaul’s reality TV show, RuPaul’s Drag Race, has become a global phenomenon, and as a result, queer slang, colloquialisms and phrases have permeated popular culture. In fact, a number of the gender-bending contestants, and RuPaul herself, have inspired memes more shareable (Cher-able) than Grumpy Cat. Of course, drag performers around the world have been using the terms in their acts for decades, with the 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning, a film that explores New York’s 1980s underground balls (drag pageants and queer performance spaces), credited with first exposing larger audiences to terms like ‘fierce’, ‘shade’, ‘werk’ (with an ‘e’) and ‘vogue’, amongst others.
But despite the language being more and more popularised, the etymologies of queer slang words aren’t exactly known, and there are still people who are left scratching their heads during drag shows because they are unable to decode the linguistics.
So, with the Mother City being at the forefront of drag performance in South Africa, we’ve decided to enlist the help of some of Cape Town’s top drag artists to bring you a beginner’s guide to drag terminology. Learn what it means to ‘throw shade’, ‘read’ and ‘serve realness’ thanks to some definitions and examples from Mary Scary, Princess Pop and Manila von Teez.
THE DRAG QUEEN DICTIONARY (DRAGTIONARY) FOR BEGINNERS
[...]
Read |rΔd| verb.
Insulting someone with minimal effort.
Queens typically read each other in sessions (a phenomenon that's a bit like a wittier freestyle battle).
Before a formal session of queens reading each other can commence, the facilitator usually declares, "The library is open”.
If you unleash a ruthless onslaught of insults, you are reading someone to filth.
Example: "Hunty, is it just me, or does your weave come from the R5 store? Oh wait, you don't stop there anymore, it got too expensive,” digs Princess Pop.
Shade |SHΔd| noun and verb.
A subtler form of reading
“When one makes a comment in a company of people, or face-to-face, with the intention of insulting someone or to remind them of an embarrassing moment,” explains Manila von Teez.
When someone insults you in an indirect manner, they are throwing shade.
Example: “Ooh, girl - you look gorgeous in that double volume Ronettes wig,” says Mary Scary.".
[...]
So there you have it; a concise and thorough guide to drag-talk.
We think we read a little better than that washed up queen Merriam Webster (shade!).”....
-snip-
Italics added to highlight this statement
****
4. From https://www.reddit.com/r/rupaulsdragrace/comments/24jaeu/how_do_you_read_someone_to_filth/ How do you read someone to filth?; Posted byu/marvin1013, 2014
a. "How do you read someone to filth?
So, my friends and I likes to read each other for fun, but she usually wins. Is there any tips or tricks to read someone?
I want to be fast and clever when they read me so i can twist their words around. So any tips?"
**
b. Ximxim, 2014
"You wanna talk about reading? Here are a few tips 1- don't go for the obvious, or the hurtful. Reading isn't about the easy joke, like calling a fat person fat. That may be true, but it isn't clever. Reading should be about choices the person has made, specific things about them. Don't hit someone's sore spots either, this isn't supposed to be cruel. 2- the easy way to read is something like this- point out the ridiculous thing (girl, those jagged ass toenails!), then compare it to a pop culture reference or two (you get a pedicure from lilo?). 3- the fake compliment is also good. "I think it's so brave of you to wear your hair like that- who cares what people say." 4- finally, the most advanced level of reading is. Bianca style, where you both insult and enlighten. When I get there I'll let you know."
**
REPLY
c. LoisCarmen, 2014
"THIS SO MUCH. Saying, "you ugly fatass!" Isn't reading, your just being an ass. Keep it clever and keep it cute."
**
d. [deleted], 2014
"practice practice practice and slowly build your rolodex of hate. I like to use facial expressions Γ la Bianca. ''Oh you look so good today.'' disgusted face immediately
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's note: "Bianca" probably refers to "Bianca Del Rio" is the winner of Season 6 of the television series RuPaul's Drag Race (2014).
****
5. http://www.waywordradio.org/throw_shade/
"Reading, Reading to filth — To really let someone have it; to insult or criticize.
Ex: Well, if I see her out tonight, I will read her to filth. I will tear her sh&& up like newspaper.
-snip-
Note the addition of the intensifier "really" which I believe separates "reading" from "reading to [or for] filth".
****
A FEW ONLINE EXAMPLES OF "READING FOR FILTH" AND "READING FOR SHAME"
Pancocojams Editor's Note: The following comments either include the term "reading to [or for] filth" or "reading for shame" or are examples of those insult forms.
[Addition: September 24, 2019] - "Reading for shame" appears to be less often used than "reading to [or for] filth". I think that "reading for shame" means that the "reader" is "shaming" [making the "readee"] ashamed by insulting her/him or them].
These entries are given in no particular order and numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
WARNING: These clips often contain profanity and other references that may not be suitable for children.
1. From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEM4La4L_a8 Pose | Season 1: Pray Tell ‘Em | FX ; FX Networks, Published on Aug 15, 2018
[Pancocojams Editor: These are comments made about drag ball contestants by Pray Tell, the emcee at that ball]
a. Kay T 38, 2018
"Pray Tell can definitely read you for shame honey!!!. I LOVE IT...lol"
**
b. movie gurl74, 2018
"Put that in the Xmas ornament box,an we'll get back too to U ππππππ"
**
c. Tommy Lee, 2018
"Place that’s jacket in the Christmas ornament box! π£Hollering π€£"
**
d. Tan, 2019
"♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ Love PrayTell! “They’re serving us Buckingham Palace high tea...while the rest of you only know Lipton from the diner!”
**
e. Vanessa Allmon, 2019
"Where is the Halston/JCPenney read?????? That one was epic!"
-snip-
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnHh0FrOb5E "POSE on FX: Category is High Fashion Evening Wear! Ladies of Luxury!" for a video clip which includes that particular read.
****
2. From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AT_JpGDrN0
POSE - Fem Queen Vogue; Ron Ramseur, Published on Aug 26, 2018
a. Daddie_Doll, 2019
" “Do you have category dyslexia?”πππ"
**
b. emilou j, 2019
"1:29
Miss Caaannddyyyyyyyy πππ"
**
c. Rejinald Palmer, 2019
"You know you're about to get read for filth when someone has to stretch out the last syllable of your name."
**
d. jonwiley, 2019
"3:23 what is up with this girl's shape? She looks like a boiled egg with legs."
**
REPLY
e. Marc Murray, 2019
"LMAO You went there."
****
3. From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLMVwSmDAdA
POSE on FX: The Category Is Linen or Silk & Shade!; Butterfly Kisses, Published on Jul 22, 2018
a. DCombz, 2019
"Elektra reading them to filth is a required clip to watch after this one."
****
This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
What Do The Lyrics "Melanin Too Dark To Throw Her Shade" REALLY Mean In Beyonce's "Brown Skin Girl" Song?
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest Update: February 13, 2020
This pancocojams post explores the possible meanings of the line "melanin too dark to throw her shade" in Beyonce's 2019 song "Brown Skin Girl".
This post also features the verse from that song that includes that line.
The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the composers of this song and thanks to Beyonce for her musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Much of the content of this post was written as comments in this July 21, 2019 pancocojams post https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/07/brown-skin-girls-throughout-world.html "Brown Skin Girls Throughout The World Comment About BeyoncΓ©'s Song "Brown Skin Girl" "
Please share your explanations for that line in the comment section below. Thanks!
****
PARTIAL LYRICS FROM BEYONCE'S SONG "BROWN SKIN GIRL"
[Verse 2: BeyoncΓ©]
"Pose like a trophy when Naomi walk in
She need an Oscar for that pretty dark skin
Pretty like Lupita when the cameras close in
Drip broke the levee when my Kelly roll in
I think tonight she might braid her braids
Melanin too dark to throw her shade
She minds her business and wines her waist
Gold like 24k, okay"
Click https://genius.com/Beyonce-saint-jhn-and-wizkid-brown-skin-girl-lyrics for the complete lyrics for this song.
****
MY COMMENTS POSTED TO THE PANCOCOJAMS POST ABOUT BEYONCE'S "BROWN SKIN GIRL" SONG
Azizi Powell, July 23, 2019 at 4:14 PM
"Here's a link to a July 23, 2019 article about Beyonce's "Brown Skin Girl": https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/beyonc-brown-skin-girl-not-160516568.html
If I correctly understand its main point, that article states that Beyonce's "Brown Skin Girl" is and should be directed only toward dark skinned Black females. [Note: I disagree with this point.]
The author of that article reached that conclusion by explaining a line in that song whose meaning I'm still not sure about:
"BeyoncΓ© is deliberate in her intention by mentioning beautiful brown beauties Lupita Nyong’o, Naomi Campbell, and Kelly Rowland in the lyrics of the song.
She added to her specific pigment description by saying “melanin too dark to throw her shade.” For those of us with basic knowledge of the parts of speech, we know that the word “too” is an adverb that emphasizes the adjective “dark” to create a stronger sense of the darkness being referred to.
To break it down: Mathematically, that “too” would more than likely be represented as a power symbol on top of a number to show that the number is to be multiplied to equal something of greater value. Extra. More. Additional. This degree of melanin is specifically devoted to women who are often berated for their Blackness, women who represent African ancestry and heritage and are mocked for it.
This song is for those Black woman."...
****
Azizi Powell, July 23, 2019 at 5:10 PM
"I think that article's author Imani Bashir, is suggesting is that the lyrics "melanin too dark to thrown her shade" means that the person's melanin is "extra dark" and therefore it can provide shade (against the hot sun)- better than melanin that is not extra dark.
And that might be what those words mean in the context of that song. However, part of my problem with this interpretation is that in American English "too [something]" is usually a negative -examples: "too big", "too loud", "too much".
The word "too" might mean "very" or "so". I don't suppose that Beyonce's song means that a dark skinned person's melanin is too dark (extra dark?; very dark?, so dark?).
Maybe it's just my socialization that makes me think of this interpretation.
Clearly, the word "too" isn't supposed to be a negative in this song or is this song throwing shade?"
****
Azizi Powell, July 23, 2019 at 5:13 PM
"Am I the only one that thinks about the African American drag originated phrase "throwing shade" when they hear or read the phrase "melanin too dark to throw her shade"?
A definition for "throwing shade" is "making an artfully executed verbal or non-verbal insult".*
Are the words "too dark melanin" supposed to be throwing shade at people who have dark skin colors? (This can't be correct given Beyonce's song is sung in celebration of dark brown skin.)
But dark skinned people -and not just dark skinned Black people-are used to being subtly and directly insulted by people because of their skin color so, there's that.**
What do you think the lyrics "melanin too dark to throw her shade" means (in the context of Beyonce's song)?.
*Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/04/throwing-shade-definition-and-non.html for a pancocojams post about "throwing shade".
**Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/07/two-reprints-of-non-pancocojams.html for a pancocojams post that mentions the 2008 Trinidadian/Tobagan Reggae song "Darkie" by Orlando Octave and documents how "darkie" in that Caribbean nation isn't a put down but a descriptive and often complimentary referent for dark skinned females and males."
-snip-
UPDATE: July 24, 2019 7:29 AM
I woke up thinking about the "melanin too dark to throw her shade" line in Beyonce's "Brown Skin Girl" song.
It occurs to me that other parts of that song includes references to "skin like pearls" and "your skin, it glow like diamonds". Perhaps the "melanin too dark to throw her shade" means that the skin shines so brightly it can't be hidden by the shade (of a tree?).
By the way, I just posted the question "what does "melanin too dark to throw her shade" in the discussion part of the lyric page on https://genius.com/Beyonce-saint-jhn-and-wizkid-brown-skin-girl-lyrics. Hopefully, some commenters will share their thoughts on this line. If so, I'll quote them in this pancocojams post.
****
UPDATE: February 13, 2020
The 1929 novel The Blacker The Berry, written by African American author Wallace Thurman popularized the saying "The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice", I've been thinking about that saying after recalling that Tupac included the line "The blacker the berry" in his 1993 Hip Hop song "Keep Ya Head Up" and Kendrick Lamar used that same line as the title of his 2015 Hip Hop song.
It occurs to me that the line "melanin too dark to throw her shade" in Beyonce's 2019 song "Brown Skin Girl is another way of praising very dark skin color. If "melanin too dark" in those lyrics mean "skin so dark" or "very dark", and if "throwing shade" means that you are putting down (insulting) someone, then those lyrics can have the same or similar sentiments as "The blacker the berry/the sweeter the juice".
The terms "melanin" and "melanated" have been widely used since around 2014 among certain populations of African Americans (those who are "woke" - conscious of the political & social realities of race). Among this population, "melanated" is an adjective that means "full of melanin" (i.e. full of Black African ancestry). "Melanated" is especially used to refer to Black people with dark brown skin.*
My guess is that "Melanin so dark to throw her shade" means that the person's skin is so dark that- just by that person's very presence- it throws shade (put down/insults anyone who isn't that dark. In other words, her very dark skin (melanin) by its very being excels over anyone who isn't that same skin color.
If this is the correct meaning of "melanin so dark to throw her shade", then that line is a contemporary version of "the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice". As such it's the complete reversal of how colorism usually operates throughout Western history and culture, in that colorism usually considers light skin (skin color that is white or near white) to be far better than black or brown skin.
From https://www.bustle.com/articles/37427-5-truths-about-colorism-that-ive-learned-as-a-black-woman-in-nyc "5 Truths About Colorism That I've Learned As a Black Woman In NYC" by Kristin Collins Jackson, Nov 18 2014
..."Colorism is the principle that those with lighter, fairer skin are treated with a higher regard than those with darker skin, and it happens both between racial communities and within them. Media outlets have long been accused of using Photoshop to lighten darker-skinned folks in order to make them more appealing to the masses. During Obama's first run for president, sources audaciously pointed out that our first black president was a light-skinned man, suggesting that he may not have been elected or had the same opportunities to be elected if he were darker-skinned. This discrimination has historical roots — during slavery, lighter-skinned black people often worked in the house, while darker-skinned black people were relegated to work in the fields.
[...]
colorism is one of the worst types of discrimination, it in itself does not discriminate. It exists everywhere, in all cultures, and in all races."...
"Melanin so dark to throw her shade" lyric is part of the contemporary "Black girl magic"/"melanated people" meme that echos the much older "The blacker the berry/the sweeter the juice" saying. Although these sayings are reactions to deep seated prejudice against dark skinned people, my position is that colorism that favors dark skin people over light skin people is just as problematic and poisonous as its reverse.
*Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/05/what-does-term-melanated-mean-when-did.html for the May 2019 pancocojams post entitled "What Does The Term "Melanated" Mean & When Did "Melanin" Become A Popular Referent For Black People?"
****
COMMENTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT THE LINE "MELANIN TOO DARK TO THROW HER SHADE" IN BEYONCE'S "BROWN SKIN GIRL" SONG
Source #1:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng3y6ddBoWM BROWN SKIN GIRL, [sound file published by BeyoncΓ© on Jul 19, 2019]
(Numbers assigned for referencing purposes only; All these comments are from July 2019.)
1. Omni EyeAm
"Melanin too dark to throw her shade! Say it louder for the ones in the back!"
**
REPLY
2. Jessica Cooper
"I felt that in my soul!!"
**
REPLY
3. Karen Adkins
"❤️"
**
REPLY
4. nichail Miller
"I finally got itπ I’m so slowππ€·πΎ♀️πππ"
**
REPLY
5. DIVA & QUEEN
"I actually dont understand that verse can someone explain please"
**
REPLY
6. nichail Miller
"DIVA & QUEEN Melanin protects you from the sun. You don’t need shade....I think π"
****
Source #2
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk_snRm99J8
Beyonce - Brown Skin Girl (Dance Video) by The Happy African Kids (Dream Catchers) ft. Wizkid
Dream Catchers Dance, Published on Jul 20, 2019
1. mAya SquAw
"Melanin to dark to throw her shadeπΈπΏπ❤️"
**
REPLY
2. la joie X
"mAya SquAw what this part means?
People can’t stop to repeat that"
**
REPLY
3. 10hooper
"@la joie X it means nothing can phase them. Their skin is a shield to the hatred and negativity"
-snip-
The commenter meant "faze" and not "phase". https://www.vocabulary.com/articles/chooseyourwords/faze-phase/ "To faze is to disturb, bother, or embarrass, but a phase is a stage or step".
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Latest Update: February 13, 2020
This pancocojams post explores the possible meanings of the line "melanin too dark to throw her shade" in Beyonce's 2019 song "Brown Skin Girl".
This post also features the verse from that song that includes that line.
The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the composers of this song and thanks to Beyonce for her musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Much of the content of this post was written as comments in this July 21, 2019 pancocojams post https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/07/brown-skin-girls-throughout-world.html "Brown Skin Girls Throughout The World Comment About BeyoncΓ©'s Song "Brown Skin Girl" "
Please share your explanations for that line in the comment section below. Thanks!
****
PARTIAL LYRICS FROM BEYONCE'S SONG "BROWN SKIN GIRL"
[Verse 2: BeyoncΓ©]
"Pose like a trophy when Naomi walk in
She need an Oscar for that pretty dark skin
Pretty like Lupita when the cameras close in
Drip broke the levee when my Kelly roll in
I think tonight she might braid her braids
Melanin too dark to throw her shade
She minds her business and wines her waist
Gold like 24k, okay"
Click https://genius.com/Beyonce-saint-jhn-and-wizkid-brown-skin-girl-lyrics for the complete lyrics for this song.
****
MY COMMENTS POSTED TO THE PANCOCOJAMS POST ABOUT BEYONCE'S "BROWN SKIN GIRL" SONG
Azizi Powell, July 23, 2019 at 4:14 PM
"Here's a link to a July 23, 2019 article about Beyonce's "Brown Skin Girl": https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/beyonc-brown-skin-girl-not-160516568.html
If I correctly understand its main point, that article states that Beyonce's "Brown Skin Girl" is and should be directed only toward dark skinned Black females. [Note: I disagree with this point.]
The author of that article reached that conclusion by explaining a line in that song whose meaning I'm still not sure about:
"BeyoncΓ© is deliberate in her intention by mentioning beautiful brown beauties Lupita Nyong’o, Naomi Campbell, and Kelly Rowland in the lyrics of the song.
She added to her specific pigment description by saying “melanin too dark to throw her shade.” For those of us with basic knowledge of the parts of speech, we know that the word “too” is an adverb that emphasizes the adjective “dark” to create a stronger sense of the darkness being referred to.
To break it down: Mathematically, that “too” would more than likely be represented as a power symbol on top of a number to show that the number is to be multiplied to equal something of greater value. Extra. More. Additional. This degree of melanin is specifically devoted to women who are often berated for their Blackness, women who represent African ancestry and heritage and are mocked for it.
This song is for those Black woman."...
****
Azizi Powell, July 23, 2019 at 5:10 PM
"I think that article's author Imani Bashir, is suggesting is that the lyrics "melanin too dark to thrown her shade" means that the person's melanin is "extra dark" and therefore it can provide shade (against the hot sun)- better than melanin that is not extra dark.
And that might be what those words mean in the context of that song. However, part of my problem with this interpretation is that in American English "too [something]" is usually a negative -examples: "too big", "too loud", "too much".
The word "too" might mean "very" or "so". I don't suppose that Beyonce's song means that a dark skinned person's melanin is too dark (extra dark?; very dark?, so dark?).
Maybe it's just my socialization that makes me think of this interpretation.
Clearly, the word "too" isn't supposed to be a negative in this song or is this song throwing shade?"
****
Azizi Powell, July 23, 2019 at 5:13 PM
"Am I the only one that thinks about the African American drag originated phrase "throwing shade" when they hear or read the phrase "melanin too dark to throw her shade"?
A definition for "throwing shade" is "making an artfully executed verbal or non-verbal insult".*
Are the words "too dark melanin" supposed to be throwing shade at people who have dark skin colors? (This can't be correct given Beyonce's song is sung in celebration of dark brown skin.)
But dark skinned people -and not just dark skinned Black people-are used to being subtly and directly insulted by people because of their skin color so, there's that.**
What do you think the lyrics "melanin too dark to throw her shade" means (in the context of Beyonce's song)?.
*Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/04/throwing-shade-definition-and-non.html for a pancocojams post about "throwing shade".
**Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/07/two-reprints-of-non-pancocojams.html for a pancocojams post that mentions the 2008 Trinidadian/Tobagan Reggae song "Darkie" by Orlando Octave and documents how "darkie" in that Caribbean nation isn't a put down but a descriptive and often complimentary referent for dark skinned females and males."
-snip-
UPDATE: July 24, 2019 7:29 AM
I woke up thinking about the "melanin too dark to throw her shade" line in Beyonce's "Brown Skin Girl" song.
It occurs to me that other parts of that song includes references to "skin like pearls" and "your skin, it glow like diamonds". Perhaps the "melanin too dark to throw her shade" means that the skin shines so brightly it can't be hidden by the shade (of a tree?).
By the way, I just posted the question "what does "melanin too dark to throw her shade" in the discussion part of the lyric page on https://genius.com/Beyonce-saint-jhn-and-wizkid-brown-skin-girl-lyrics. Hopefully, some commenters will share their thoughts on this line. If so, I'll quote them in this pancocojams post.
****
UPDATE: February 13, 2020
The 1929 novel The Blacker The Berry, written by African American author Wallace Thurman popularized the saying "The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice", I've been thinking about that saying after recalling that Tupac included the line "The blacker the berry" in his 1993 Hip Hop song "Keep Ya Head Up" and Kendrick Lamar used that same line as the title of his 2015 Hip Hop song.
It occurs to me that the line "melanin too dark to throw her shade" in Beyonce's 2019 song "Brown Skin Girl is another way of praising very dark skin color. If "melanin too dark" in those lyrics mean "skin so dark" or "very dark", and if "throwing shade" means that you are putting down (insulting) someone, then those lyrics can have the same or similar sentiments as "The blacker the berry/the sweeter the juice".
The terms "melanin" and "melanated" have been widely used since around 2014 among certain populations of African Americans (those who are "woke" - conscious of the political & social realities of race). Among this population, "melanated" is an adjective that means "full of melanin" (i.e. full of Black African ancestry). "Melanated" is especially used to refer to Black people with dark brown skin.*
My guess is that "Melanin so dark to throw her shade" means that the person's skin is so dark that- just by that person's very presence- it throws shade (put down/insults anyone who isn't that dark. In other words, her very dark skin (melanin) by its very being excels over anyone who isn't that same skin color.
If this is the correct meaning of "melanin so dark to throw her shade", then that line is a contemporary version of "the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice". As such it's the complete reversal of how colorism usually operates throughout Western history and culture, in that colorism usually considers light skin (skin color that is white or near white) to be far better than black or brown skin.
From https://www.bustle.com/articles/37427-5-truths-about-colorism-that-ive-learned-as-a-black-woman-in-nyc "5 Truths About Colorism That I've Learned As a Black Woman In NYC" by Kristin Collins Jackson, Nov 18 2014
..."Colorism is the principle that those with lighter, fairer skin are treated with a higher regard than those with darker skin, and it happens both between racial communities and within them. Media outlets have long been accused of using Photoshop to lighten darker-skinned folks in order to make them more appealing to the masses. During Obama's first run for president, sources audaciously pointed out that our first black president was a light-skinned man, suggesting that he may not have been elected or had the same opportunities to be elected if he were darker-skinned. This discrimination has historical roots — during slavery, lighter-skinned black people often worked in the house, while darker-skinned black people were relegated to work in the fields.
[...]
colorism is one of the worst types of discrimination, it in itself does not discriminate. It exists everywhere, in all cultures, and in all races."...
"Melanin so dark to throw her shade" lyric is part of the contemporary "Black girl magic"/"melanated people" meme that echos the much older "The blacker the berry/the sweeter the juice" saying. Although these sayings are reactions to deep seated prejudice against dark skinned people, my position is that colorism that favors dark skin people over light skin people is just as problematic and poisonous as its reverse.
*Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/05/what-does-term-melanated-mean-when-did.html for the May 2019 pancocojams post entitled "What Does The Term "Melanated" Mean & When Did "Melanin" Become A Popular Referent For Black People?"
****
COMMENTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT THE LINE "MELANIN TOO DARK TO THROW HER SHADE" IN BEYONCE'S "BROWN SKIN GIRL" SONG
Source #1:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng3y6ddBoWM BROWN SKIN GIRL, [sound file published by BeyoncΓ© on Jul 19, 2019]
(Numbers assigned for referencing purposes only; All these comments are from July 2019.)
1. Omni EyeAm
"Melanin too dark to throw her shade! Say it louder for the ones in the back!"
**
REPLY
2. Jessica Cooper
"I felt that in my soul!!"
**
REPLY
3. Karen Adkins
"❤️"
**
REPLY
4. nichail Miller
"I finally got itπ I’m so slowππ€·πΎ♀️πππ"
**
REPLY
5. DIVA & QUEEN
"I actually dont understand that verse can someone explain please"
**
REPLY
6. nichail Miller
"DIVA & QUEEN Melanin protects you from the sun. You don’t need shade....I think π"
****
Source #2
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk_snRm99J8
Beyonce - Brown Skin Girl (Dance Video) by The Happy African Kids (Dream Catchers) ft. Wizkid
Dream Catchers Dance, Published on Jul 20, 2019
1. mAya SquAw
"Melanin to dark to throw her shadeπΈπΏπ❤️"
**
REPLY
2. la joie X
"mAya SquAw what this part means?
People can’t stop to repeat that"
**
REPLY
3. 10hooper
"@la joie X it means nothing can phase them. Their skin is a shield to the hatred and negativity"
-snip-
The commenter meant "faze" and not "phase". https://www.vocabulary.com/articles/chooseyourwords/faze-phase/ "To faze is to disturb, bother, or embarrass, but a phase is a stage or step".
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Monday, September 19, 2016
Shady Drama - Selected Comments From A RuPaul Drag Race Discussion Thread
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post presents selected comments from a September 18, 2016 Reddit discussion thread for RuPaul's Drag Race- All Stars 2.
The content of this post is presented for cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
INFORMATION & DEFINITIONS
RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RuPaul%27s_Drag_Race
"RuPaul's Drag Race is an American reality competition television series produced by World of Wonder for Logo TV. The show documents RuPaul in his search for "America's next drag superstar."[1] Queen RuPaul plays the roles of host, mentor, and source of inspiration for this series, as contestants are given different challenges each week. RuPaul's Drag Race employs a panel of judges, including RuPaul, Michelle Visage and a host of other guest judges, who critique contestants' progress throughout the competition. The title of the show is a play on drag queen and drag racing, and the title sequence and song "Drag Race" both have a drag-racing theme.
RuPaul's Drag Race has spanned eight seasons and inspired the spin-off shows RuPaul's Drag U and RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars. The show has become the highest-rated television program on Logo TV,[2] and airs internationally, including in Australia, Canada and the UK. The show earned Rupaul a 2016 Emmy for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program, and the show itself was awarded as an Outstanding Reality Program at the 21st GLAAD Media Awards."
-snip-
The discussion thread excerpted below centers around ongoing drama between RuPaul and Phi Phi O'Hara, a drag queen who was a contestant on Ru Paul's Drag Race, Season 3 as well as a contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race - AllStars 2. Click http://www.thebitbag.com/rupauls-drag-race-stars-season-2-controversy-phiphi-not-attending-reunion-ru-throws-shade/182845 for information about that conflict.
****
SHADY
Here's a definition for "shady" from urbandictionary.com:
shady
"to be very sneaky, suspect, or to have an all around backstabbing personality
Jocelyn or DJ is one shady individual, which is why she is called Shady C."
by ak3aeafdf May 30, 2014
-snip-
Also, here's a definition of "shade" and "throwing shade" from this pancocojams post http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-reading-someone-throwing-shade-no.html:
"My definition of "throwing shade" [is] 'to obliquely (indirectly) insult someone'....
[quoting a famous drag queen in the 1990 New York drag queen ball documentary Paris Is Burning]
****
TO BE "READ TO FILTH"
to receive a really good (vicious) read (insult)
****
RICKROLL
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickrolling
"Rickrolling, alternatively rick-rolling, is a prank and an Internet meme involving an unexpected appearance of the music video for the 1987 Rick Astley song "Never Gonna Give You Up". The meme is a type of bait and switch using a disguised hyperlink. Those led to the music video believing that they were accessing some unrelated material are said to have been rickrolled."...
****
SELECTED COMMENTS
From https://www.reddit.com/r/rupaulsdragrace/comments/53cn7x/rupaul_being_a_shady_lady_again/ "Rupaul being a shady lady... AGAIN"
Pancocojams Editor's Note:
This is a small sample of the comments on that discussion thread. I'm most interested in the use of vernacular terms, and the use of cultural customs such as a "gay rickroll".
My apologies that some references and "in-jokes" in this post may not be understood by people who aren't active fans of RuPaul's Drag Race.
All of these comments are from September 18, 2016. They are given in relative chronological order based on in part on their publishing time, except for responses, and their subject. I've added "reply" for comments in the same sub-discussion thread.
As per the policy of this blog, amended spelling is used for profanity.
****
RUPAUL BEING A SHADY LADY....AGAIN
1. Submitted by hottea23 9/18/2016
RuPaul tweet:
"Sour grapes
Make the best
Whine"
2016-09-18 12:51 PM
**
2. katyaskid
"Her arms get so toned from stirring the pot"
**
Reply
3. MatronneGeorgia
"flashback to Ru's awkward bicep flex while using the mixer for the Tic Tac Lunch"
**
Reply
4. VictoriaFoxNow
"can i have a link"
**
Reply
5. glsand3
"here you go"
**
Reply
6. VictoriaFoxNow
"Thank you F&&k you"
**
Reply
7. save-iour
"i stumbled here from /r/all, is this the drag equivalent of rickroll?"
**
Reply
8. Vibr8
"Yes."
**
Reply
9. madisonrupaul
"i can already tell it's rectangle girls because the link is purple from clicking it before
not today satan"
**
Reply
10. SplurgyA
"Every single time I fall for RectangleRoll I end up watching the whole thing"
**
Reply
11. willkip
"Weeeeeee just wanna celeb(rate)Rectangle gurlz of the wuurld"
**
Reply
12. LaTransBear
"You may be shaped like a buuuumblebee, but you're beautiful girl, just love your bodieeeeeeeeee!"
**
Reply
13. heartbeatbreak
"god&&mnit that's the first time it's gotten meeeee"
**
Onlove
14. "I like it better when Ru doesn't comment on these things.
It somehow seems to be beneath her to get involved. There is no dignity in dirt!"
**
Reply
mateytatey
15. "i don't get it omg help me"
**
Reply
16. eelsify
"Whine means complain. Sour grapes means you're a bitter betty."
**
17. 0six0four
"Ladies we might have a straight here! act cool"
**
Reply
18. adoredelanoroosevelt
"I love that this immediately translates to anyone"
**
19. Oh_nosferatu
"Thank you for coming prepared and having a fully charged battery."
**
Reply
20. hottea
"I learned my lesson when I got read for filth about my battery being on 18% last time π"
**
21. purpledildoinvader
"This seems really petty at this point."
**
Reply
22. DornishMasterPlan
"And Phi Phi's weeks long rants against the show and Ru isn't? But two tweets from mother and now it's "petty"?"
**
Reply
23. thankyeuw
"We do hold different standards for Mama Ru(who's the older one and basically is a legend) and Phi Phi"
**
Reply
24. purpledildoinvader
"The difference is that phiphi isn't a famous emmy winner with her own reality show who constantly preaches about love and forgiveness."
**
Reply
25. AlfieBoheme
"Phi Phi has been attacking the show and trying to 'expose' it with outright lies but this is disgusting behaviour from Ru imo. Phi Phi (and other contestants like Roxxxy) have spoken candidly in interviews, and even on the show, about fans vehement hatred and threats towards them. Ru stands with them in solidarity for the cameras but in reality all this petty Mom shade is gonna do is cause more distress and bullying toward Phi Phi"
**
26. Beharkei
"Grapes give me gas, I just avoid them."
**
27. carollitrel
"Rupaul will keep throwing shade at Phiphi at the reunion even though she's absent? She should step it up for her and address all the online bullying and death threats. Mama does not walk children in nature like that to let them get to that point. She's been shady and messy on the show and social media, ok, I get it, but we're all humans.
**
28. dignifiedstrut
"If Ru's gonna step out of her platform of dignified silence it had better be worth it. These petty and indirect meme insults arent really becoming of her.
Like it or not she has responsibility to either stay out of it or respond constructively, because every new social media swipe riles up thousands and thousands of fans to join the fray.
**
Reply
29. deidaradrew
"Exactly. Every person who wanted to attack Phi Phi has basically just been given permission. In a way yes, you want to get fans riled up. You want them to be excited and you want them to feel like they're participating, but it NEVER should be against someone."
**
30. 420BearGurl
"This might not be the Rupaul we want, but it's the Rupaul Phi Phi deserves."
**
31. eighteen_forty_no
"Everybody Say Love!"
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post presents selected comments from a September 18, 2016 Reddit discussion thread for RuPaul's Drag Race- All Stars 2.
The content of this post is presented for cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
INFORMATION & DEFINITIONS
RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RuPaul%27s_Drag_Race
"RuPaul's Drag Race is an American reality competition television series produced by World of Wonder for Logo TV. The show documents RuPaul in his search for "America's next drag superstar."[1] Queen RuPaul plays the roles of host, mentor, and source of inspiration for this series, as contestants are given different challenges each week. RuPaul's Drag Race employs a panel of judges, including RuPaul, Michelle Visage and a host of other guest judges, who critique contestants' progress throughout the competition. The title of the show is a play on drag queen and drag racing, and the title sequence and song "Drag Race" both have a drag-racing theme.
RuPaul's Drag Race has spanned eight seasons and inspired the spin-off shows RuPaul's Drag U and RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars. The show has become the highest-rated television program on Logo TV,[2] and airs internationally, including in Australia, Canada and the UK. The show earned Rupaul a 2016 Emmy for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program, and the show itself was awarded as an Outstanding Reality Program at the 21st GLAAD Media Awards."
-snip-
The discussion thread excerpted below centers around ongoing drama between RuPaul and Phi Phi O'Hara, a drag queen who was a contestant on Ru Paul's Drag Race, Season 3 as well as a contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race - AllStars 2. Click http://www.thebitbag.com/rupauls-drag-race-stars-season-2-controversy-phiphi-not-attending-reunion-ru-throws-shade/182845 for information about that conflict.
****
SHADY
Here's a definition for "shady" from urbandictionary.com:
shady
"to be very sneaky, suspect, or to have an all around backstabbing personality
Jocelyn or DJ is one shady individual, which is why she is called Shady C."
by ak3aeafdf May 30, 2014
-snip-
Also, here's a definition of "shade" and "throwing shade" from this pancocojams post http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-reading-someone-throwing-shade-no.html:
"My definition of "throwing shade" [is] 'to obliquely (indirectly) insult someone'....
[quoting a famous drag queen in the 1990 New York drag queen ball documentary Paris Is Burning]
In one scene, a queen named Dorian Corey explains what "shade" is.
"Shade is, I don't have to tell you you're ugly, because you know you're ugly," she says.
When someone insults you directly, that's called a "read." For example, if I were to tell you that your glasses are ugly. Point blank. That's a read. Reads can be long or short.
"Shade" comes from reading, as Corey explains.
If I were to say in a terribly condescending voice, "Oh honey, I'm so glad you saved up to buy those glasses," that's blatant shade. I didn't insult the glasses, or you, directly. It's implied by my voice and the context of what I said. You know they're ugly.
Sometimes people don't get that they're being "shaded" — this is always sad."
To "throw shade" simply means you've said something shady to someone."
****
TO BE "READ TO FILTH"
to receive a really good (vicious) read (insult)
****
RICKROLL
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickrolling
"Rickrolling, alternatively rick-rolling, is a prank and an Internet meme involving an unexpected appearance of the music video for the 1987 Rick Astley song "Never Gonna Give You Up". The meme is a type of bait and switch using a disguised hyperlink. Those led to the music video believing that they were accessing some unrelated material are said to have been rickrolled."...
****
SELECTED COMMENTS
From https://www.reddit.com/r/rupaulsdragrace/comments/53cn7x/rupaul_being_a_shady_lady_again/ "Rupaul being a shady lady... AGAIN"
Pancocojams Editor's Note:
This is a small sample of the comments on that discussion thread. I'm most interested in the use of vernacular terms, and the use of cultural customs such as a "gay rickroll".
My apologies that some references and "in-jokes" in this post may not be understood by people who aren't active fans of RuPaul's Drag Race.
All of these comments are from September 18, 2016. They are given in relative chronological order based on in part on their publishing time, except for responses, and their subject. I've added "reply" for comments in the same sub-discussion thread.
As per the policy of this blog, amended spelling is used for profanity.
****
RUPAUL BEING A SHADY LADY....AGAIN
1. Submitted by hottea23 9/18/2016
RuPaul tweet:
"Sour grapes
Make the best
Whine"
2016-09-18 12:51 PM
**
2. katyaskid
"Her arms get so toned from stirring the pot"
**
Reply
3. MatronneGeorgia
"flashback to Ru's awkward bicep flex while using the mixer for the Tic Tac Lunch"
**
Reply
4. VictoriaFoxNow
"can i have a link"
**
Reply
5. glsand3
"here you go"
**
Reply
6. VictoriaFoxNow
"
**
Reply
7. save-iour
"i stumbled here from /r/all, is this the drag equivalent of rickroll?"
**
Reply
8. Vibr8
"Yes."
**
Reply
9. madisonrupaul
"i can already tell it's rectangle girls because the link is purple from clicking it before
not today satan"
**
Reply
10. SplurgyA
"Every single time I fall for RectangleRoll I end up watching the whole thing"
**
Reply
11. willkip
"Weeeeeee just wanna celeb(rate)Rectangle gurlz of the wuurld"
**
Reply
12. LaTransBear
"You may be shaped like a buuuumblebee, but you're beautiful girl, just love your bodieeeeeeeeee!"
**
Reply
13. heartbeatbreak
"god&&mnit that's the first time it's gotten meeeee"
**
Onlove
14. "I like it better when Ru doesn't comment on these things.
It somehow seems to be beneath her to get involved. There is no dignity in dirt!"
**
Reply
mateytatey
15. "i don't get it omg help me"
**
Reply
16. eelsify
"Whine means complain. Sour grapes means you're a bitter betty."
**
17. 0six0four
"Ladies we might have a straight here! act cool"
**
Reply
18. adoredelanoroosevelt
"I love that this immediately translates to anyone"
**
19. Oh_nosferatu
"Thank you for coming prepared and having a fully charged battery."
**
Reply
20. hottea
"I learned my lesson when I got read for filth about my battery being on 18% last time π"
**
21. purpledildoinvader
"This seems really petty at this point."
**
Reply
22. DornishMasterPlan
"And Phi Phi's weeks long rants against the show and Ru isn't? But two tweets from mother and now it's "petty"?"
**
Reply
23. thankyeuw
"We do hold different standards for Mama Ru(who's the older one and basically is a legend) and Phi Phi"
**
Reply
24. purpledildoinvader
"The difference is that phiphi isn't a famous emmy winner with her own reality show who constantly preaches about love and forgiveness."
**
Reply
25. AlfieBoheme
"Phi Phi has been attacking the show and trying to 'expose' it with outright lies but this is disgusting behaviour from Ru imo. Phi Phi (and other contestants like Roxxxy) have spoken candidly in interviews, and even on the show, about fans vehement hatred and threats towards them. Ru stands with them in solidarity for the cameras but in reality all this petty Mom shade is gonna do is cause more distress and bullying toward Phi Phi"
**
26. Beharkei
"Grapes give me gas, I just avoid them."
**
27. carollitrel
"Rupaul will keep throwing shade at Phiphi at the reunion even though she's absent? She should step it up for her and address all the online bullying and death threats. Mama does not walk children in nature like that to let them get to that point. She's been shady and messy on the show and social media, ok, I get it, but we're all humans.
**
28. dignifiedstrut
"If Ru's gonna step out of her platform of dignified silence it had better be worth it. These petty and indirect meme insults arent really becoming of her.
Like it or not she has responsibility to either stay out of it or respond constructively, because every new social media swipe riles up thousands and thousands of fans to join the fray.
**
Reply
29. deidaradrew
"Exactly. Every person who wanted to attack Phi Phi has basically just been given permission. In a way yes, you want to get fans riled up. You want them to be excited and you want them to feel like they're participating, but it NEVER should be against someone."
**
30. 420BearGurl
"This might not be the Rupaul we want, but it's the Rupaul Phi Phi deserves."
**
31. eighteen_forty_no
"Everybody Say Love!"
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Throwing Shade (Definition And Non-Verbal & Verbal Examples)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post provides definitions of non-verbal and verbal "throwing shade". A video example of what is said to have been throwing shade (First Lady Michelle Obama rolling her eyes at then Senate Leader John Boehner) is included in this post. Also included in this post is a sub-section of a discussion thread in which a commenter is said to have thrown "world class shade".
The content of this post is presented for etymological, and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-reading-someone-throwing-shade-no.html
for an earlier pancocojams on "reading" and "throwing shade".
****
DEFINITION OF THROWING SHADE (Non-Verbal And Verbal)
From http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/277511/what-is-the-correct-usage-of-throwing-shade
"Two other Google Books matches focus on the gay African American subculture from which "throw shade" in its modern sense seems to have arisen. Both articles are well worth reading at fuller length if you're interested in the subject. From Tricia Rose, "An Interview with Willi Ninja," in Microphone Fiends: Youth Music an Youth Culture (1994):
"R: Before we go, define “throw shade" for me.
N: [Laughter] Shade is basically a nonverbal response to verbal or nonverbal abuse. Shade is about using certain mannerisms in battle. If you said something nasty to me, I would just turn to you, and give you a look like: "Bitch please, you're not even worth my time, go on." All with a facial expression and body posture, that's throwing shade. If I want to be a little extra nasty I might throw in a little cough, but not so loud, just a little bit like: "You're making me choke."...
And from E. Patrick Johnson, "SNAP! Culture: a Different Way of Reading" in Text and Performance Quarterly 15(2) (1995), reprinted in Performance: Media and Technology (2003):
"The nonverbal counterpart to reading is called "throwing shade." To throw shade is to ignore a person altogether, even if the person is in immediate proximity. If a shade thrower wishes to acknowledge the presence of the third party, he or she might roll his or her eyes and neck while poking out his or her lips. People throw shade if they do not like a particular person or if that person has dissed them in the past. The effect of throwing shade in this manner is also a type of dissing, because it is considered disrespectful not to acknowledge someone's presence. In the playful mode, however, a person may throw shade at a person with whom he or she is a best friend."
-snip-
If I correctly understand that article, it is saying that originally Black and Latino drag queens used "throwing shade" to mean giving non-verbal insults. However, their use of the term "shade" (and other folks' use of that term) changed over time to what Dorian Corey said was making a "more artfully executed, more dependent on constructing a veiled (or not-so-veiled) insult rather than relying on obvious crudities and innuendo. Throwing shade requires wielding your words like a rapier rather than a cudgel." [quote from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/parisisburningrhowe_a0b315.htm ‘Paris Is Burning’ (R), By Desson Howe
Washington Post Staff Writer, August 09, 1991]
-snip-
It seems to me that at this time (2016) making an "artfully executed [verbal] insult" is still the usual definition of "throwing shade". But "throwing shade" can also still be non-verbal. Take, for instance, this 2013 example in which (rightly or wrongly" Michelle Obama
Watch Michelle Obama Throw World Historical Shade at John Boehner
Mike Roda, Published on Jan 21, 2013
-snip-
Here's a comment from that video's discussion thread:
Cristina SantamarΓa, 2015
"flawless shade right there"
****
Here's an excerpt of an article about throwing shade
From http://www.gurl.com/2015/03/23/flawless-examples-of-celebrities-throwing-shade-twitter-instagram-feuds/ The 22 Most Flawless Examples Of Celebrities Throwing Shade
Monday, March 23, 2015 by Jessica Booth
"One of my favorite things about social media is watching people get angry about something, then turn around and throw shade at someone in a fascinatingly epic way. Before we get any further, for those of you who don’t know the ins and outs of shade throwing, let’s check out the Urban Dictionary definition for throwing shade:
“To talk trash about a friend or acquaintance, to publicly denounce or disrespect. When throwing shade it’s immediately obvious to on-lookers that the thrower, and not the throwee, is the bitcy, uncool one”
Throwing shade can be done with an epic side-eye, by picking out flaws, or it can be done indirectly – sort of like sub-tweeting. The most flawless shade throwing moments are often the indirect ones, when you’re not sure if the person really did the shade throwing or not. It’s fun to guess! And even though celebrities usually don’t like to air their dirty laundry, many of them are still guilty of doing massive amounts of shade throwing.
The results are almost always amusing for the rest of us – except for some cases, which are just pretty offensive and will literally make you cringe."...
-snip-
Here's an example of verbal shade from that same article:
"Even Madeline Albright got in on the fun!
[tweet] - 23 Oct. 14
"Conan O'Brien ✔ @ConanOBrien
I picked out my Halloween costume. I’m going as “Slutty Madeleine Albright.”
Madeleine Albright ✔ @madeleine
.@ConanOBrien I'm considering going as hunky Conan O'Brien - but that might be too far fetched."
4:26 PM 23 Oct. 2014
-snip-
Here's a tweet about that exchange:
"Tony AielloVerified account
@AielloTV
. @madeleine @ConanOBrien call 911 - tall red haired man down - speared by rapier-like wit
2:47 PM - 23 Oct 2014" https://twitter.com/AielloTV/status/525403056897527808
****
A SUB-SET OF A DISCUSSION THREAD IN WHICH A BLOGGER IS SAID TO HAVE THROWN "WORLD CLASS SHADE"
From http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-brown/white-commentary-on-lemonade_b_9780056.html White Commentary on ‘Lemonade’: No One Asked Us
04/27/2016 12:17 pm ET | Updated 20 hours ago Alex Brown
Note:
All of these comments were retrieved on 4/28/2016 at about 2 PM. I'm leaving the time stamps and other notations with each comment to show how that portion of that discussion thread flowed and what other bloggers thought about each comment.
I believe that the number after "Like . Reply" is the number of participants in that discussion who replied that they "liked" that particular comment.
I've assigned numbers to those comments for referencing purposes only.
1. Maui Strife · Universidad AutΓ³noma de Tamaulipas
"its music,it doesnt matter the race, anyone can study and disect a song music in universal, because if it isnt,then why is she singing pop? and i dont want black woman to take over the world,in 5 years we would be living in huts just like with feminism."
Like · Reply · 1 · 22 hrs
**
2. Irene Lartey
"What?"
Like · Reply · 42 · 22 hrs
**
3. Irene Lartey
"I've been trying to dissect this comment for about 7 minutes and I still don't get it. So I'm just going to write something random like the poster above.
The mailbox is universal. It will take over the world. Purple."
Like · Reply · 143 · 22 hrs
**
4. Jack Manley · Metadata QC Coordinator at In Demand
"Irene Lartey I may not be able to understand Lemonade due to the fact that it isn't, nor should it be, intended for me, but I do understand world-class shade. You're awesome"
Like · Reply · 71 · 22 hrs
**
5. Lynnette Beth Mcfadzen · Secretary, Board of Directors at BiNet USA
"Irene Lartey lol..what? lol"
Like · Reply · 1 · 21 hrs
**
6. Tanya Mlcm
"Irene Lartey ROFL"
Like · Reply · 8 · 21 hrs
**
7. Terrell Anderson · CEO/Founder/Owner at Get Versed
"Irene Lartey lmaaoooooooooooooooooo"
Like · Reply · 7 · 21 hrs
**
8. Coco Ochwada
"Irene Lartey OMG!!!! I'm glad Prince's decades of shade lessons have paid off for the black community. *dying*."
Like · Reply · 10 · 21 hrs
**
9. Craig Webster · Toronto, Ontario
"Feminism's living in huts??"
Like · Reply · 3 · 21 hrs
**
Retonia Knott Smith
"Irene Lartey my thoughts exactly, LMAO."
Like · Reply · 4 · 20 hrs
**
10. Sy Gruza
"Irene Lartey I guess you're comprehension-challenged. You know exactly what the poster means. address substance and bag the personal insults."
Like · Reply · 20 hrs
**
11. Dee Balt
"DOES NOT MAKE SENSE!!!!!!"
Like · Reply · 3 · 20 hrs
**
12. Irene Lartey
"When there is substance, Sy Garza, I will happy to address.
Just come get me when it occurs. I'll be in my hut."
Like · Reply · 58 · 20 hrs
**
13. Joyce Konrad · Auburn, Massachusetts
"Irene Lartey ❤"
Like · Reply · 5 · 19 hrs
**
14. Jarlisa Corbett
"Irene Lartey be my friend"
Like · Reply · 5 · 19 hrs
**
15. Elissa Malaikah · Bronx, New York
"Irene Lartey i hate'chu! Thanks for making me laugh all the way home."
Like · Reply · 4 · 18 hrs
**
16. Monique Barbour · Massage Therapist at Licensed Certified Massage Therapist
"What?!"
Like · Reply · 3 · 17 hrs
**
17. Tee Artice
"Irene Lartey...don't even try to comprehend it because you can't make sense out of something that's just not sensible. SMH. Chalk it up to the attitude of entitlement that has always been instilled for centuries."
Like · Reply · 5 · 15 hrs · Edited
**
18. Danielle Terry
"Hahaha..you gave me a good laugh amongst all the serious discussion...thanks"
Like · Reply · 4 · 14 hrs
**
19. Audrey Nelson · Minnesota State University, Mankato
"Irene Lartey... 2 SNAPS GIRLFRIEND!!!!!!!!!! Sent from my Hutt.. Lmao"
Like · Reply · 6 · 13 hrs
-snip-
That comment is the end of that comment sub-set as of this time.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post provides definitions of non-verbal and verbal "throwing shade". A video example of what is said to have been throwing shade (First Lady Michelle Obama rolling her eyes at then Senate Leader John Boehner) is included in this post. Also included in this post is a sub-section of a discussion thread in which a commenter is said to have thrown "world class shade".
The content of this post is presented for etymological, and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-reading-someone-throwing-shade-no.html
for an earlier pancocojams on "reading" and "throwing shade".
****
DEFINITION OF THROWING SHADE (Non-Verbal And Verbal)
From http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/277511/what-is-the-correct-usage-of-throwing-shade
"Two other Google Books matches focus on the gay African American subculture from which "throw shade" in its modern sense seems to have arisen. Both articles are well worth reading at fuller length if you're interested in the subject. From Tricia Rose, "An Interview with Willi Ninja," in Microphone Fiends: Youth Music an Youth Culture (1994):
"R: Before we go, define “throw shade" for me.
N: [Laughter] Shade is basically a nonverbal response to verbal or nonverbal abuse. Shade is about using certain mannerisms in battle. If you said something nasty to me, I would just turn to you, and give you a look like: "Bitch please, you're not even worth my time, go on." All with a facial expression and body posture, that's throwing shade. If I want to be a little extra nasty I might throw in a little cough, but not so loud, just a little bit like: "You're making me choke."...
And from E. Patrick Johnson, "SNAP! Culture: a Different Way of Reading" in Text and Performance Quarterly 15(2) (1995), reprinted in Performance: Media and Technology (2003):
"The nonverbal counterpart to reading is called "throwing shade." To throw shade is to ignore a person altogether, even if the person is in immediate proximity. If a shade thrower wishes to acknowledge the presence of the third party, he or she might roll his or her eyes and neck while poking out his or her lips. People throw shade if they do not like a particular person or if that person has dissed them in the past. The effect of throwing shade in this manner is also a type of dissing, because it is considered disrespectful not to acknowledge someone's presence. In the playful mode, however, a person may throw shade at a person with whom he or she is a best friend."
-snip-
If I correctly understand that article, it is saying that originally Black and Latino drag queens used "throwing shade" to mean giving non-verbal insults. However, their use of the term "shade" (and other folks' use of that term) changed over time to what Dorian Corey said was making a "more artfully executed, more dependent on constructing a veiled (or not-so-veiled) insult rather than relying on obvious crudities and innuendo. Throwing shade requires wielding your words like a rapier rather than a cudgel." [quote from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/parisisburningrhowe_a0b315.htm ‘Paris Is Burning’ (R), By Desson Howe
Washington Post Staff Writer, August 09, 1991]
-snip-
It seems to me that at this time (2016) making an "artfully executed [verbal] insult" is still the usual definition of "throwing shade". But "throwing shade" can also still be non-verbal. Take, for instance, this 2013 example in which (rightly or wrongly" Michelle Obama
Watch Michelle Obama Throw World Historical Shade at John Boehner
Mike Roda, Published on Jan 21, 2013
-snip-
Here's a comment from that video's discussion thread:
Cristina SantamarΓa, 2015
"flawless shade right there"
****
Here's an excerpt of an article about throwing shade
From http://www.gurl.com/2015/03/23/flawless-examples-of-celebrities-throwing-shade-twitter-instagram-feuds/ The 22 Most Flawless Examples Of Celebrities Throwing Shade
Monday, March 23, 2015 by Jessica Booth
"One of my favorite things about social media is watching people get angry about something, then turn around and throw shade at someone in a fascinatingly epic way. Before we get any further, for those of you who don’t know the ins and outs of shade throwing, let’s check out the Urban Dictionary definition for throwing shade:
“To talk trash about a friend or acquaintance, to publicly denounce or disrespect. When throwing shade it’s immediately obvious to on-lookers that the thrower, and not the throwee, is the bitcy, uncool one”
Throwing shade can be done with an epic side-eye, by picking out flaws, or it can be done indirectly – sort of like sub-tweeting. The most flawless shade throwing moments are often the indirect ones, when you’re not sure if the person really did the shade throwing or not. It’s fun to guess! And even though celebrities usually don’t like to air their dirty laundry, many of them are still guilty of doing massive amounts of shade throwing.
The results are almost always amusing for the rest of us – except for some cases, which are just pretty offensive and will literally make you cringe."...
-snip-
Here's an example of verbal shade from that same article:
"Even Madeline Albright got in on the fun!
[tweet] - 23 Oct. 14
"Conan O'Brien ✔ @ConanOBrien
I picked out my Halloween costume. I’m going as “Slutty Madeleine Albright.”
Madeleine Albright ✔ @madeleine
.@ConanOBrien I'm considering going as hunky Conan O'Brien - but that might be too far fetched."
4:26 PM 23 Oct. 2014
-snip-
Here's a tweet about that exchange:
"Tony AielloVerified account
@AielloTV
. @madeleine @ConanOBrien call 911 - tall red haired man down - speared by rapier-like wit
2:47 PM - 23 Oct 2014" https://twitter.com/AielloTV/status/525403056897527808
****
A SUB-SET OF A DISCUSSION THREAD IN WHICH A BLOGGER IS SAID TO HAVE THROWN "WORLD CLASS SHADE"
From http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-brown/white-commentary-on-lemonade_b_9780056.html White Commentary on ‘Lemonade’: No One Asked Us
04/27/2016 12:17 pm ET | Updated 20 hours ago Alex Brown
Note:
All of these comments were retrieved on 4/28/2016 at about 2 PM. I'm leaving the time stamps and other notations with each comment to show how that portion of that discussion thread flowed and what other bloggers thought about each comment.
I believe that the number after "Like . Reply" is the number of participants in that discussion who replied that they "liked" that particular comment.
I've assigned numbers to those comments for referencing purposes only.
1. Maui Strife · Universidad AutΓ³noma de Tamaulipas
"its music,it doesnt matter the race, anyone can study and disect a song music in universal, because if it isnt,then why is she singing pop? and i dont want black woman to take over the world,in 5 years we would be living in huts just like with feminism."
Like · Reply · 1 · 22 hrs
**
2. Irene Lartey
"What?"
Like · Reply · 42 · 22 hrs
**
3. Irene Lartey
"I've been trying to dissect this comment for about 7 minutes and I still don't get it. So I'm just going to write something random like the poster above.
The mailbox is universal. It will take over the world. Purple."
Like · Reply · 143 · 22 hrs
**
4. Jack Manley · Metadata QC Coordinator at In Demand
"Irene Lartey I may not be able to understand Lemonade due to the fact that it isn't, nor should it be, intended for me, but I do understand world-class shade. You're awesome"
Like · Reply · 71 · 22 hrs
**
5. Lynnette Beth Mcfadzen · Secretary, Board of Directors at BiNet USA
"Irene Lartey lol..what? lol"
Like · Reply · 1 · 21 hrs
**
6. Tanya Mlcm
"Irene Lartey ROFL"
Like · Reply · 8 · 21 hrs
**
7. Terrell Anderson · CEO/Founder/Owner at Get Versed
"Irene Lartey lmaaoooooooooooooooooo"
Like · Reply · 7 · 21 hrs
**
8. Coco Ochwada
"Irene Lartey OMG!!!! I'm glad Prince's decades of shade lessons have paid off for the black community. *dying*."
Like · Reply · 10 · 21 hrs
**
9. Craig Webster · Toronto, Ontario
"Feminism's living in huts??"
Like · Reply · 3 · 21 hrs
**
Retonia Knott Smith
"Irene Lartey my thoughts exactly, LMAO."
Like · Reply · 4 · 20 hrs
**
10. Sy Gruza
"Irene Lartey I guess you're comprehension-challenged. You know exactly what the poster means. address substance and bag the personal insults."
Like · Reply · 20 hrs
**
11. Dee Balt
"DOES NOT MAKE SENSE!!!!!!"
Like · Reply · 3 · 20 hrs
**
12. Irene Lartey
"When there is substance, Sy Garza, I will happy to address.
Just come get me when it occurs. I'll be in my hut."
Like · Reply · 58 · 20 hrs
**
13. Joyce Konrad · Auburn, Massachusetts
"Irene Lartey ❤"
Like · Reply · 5 · 19 hrs
**
14. Jarlisa Corbett
"Irene Lartey be my friend"
Like · Reply · 5 · 19 hrs
**
15. Elissa Malaikah · Bronx, New York
"Irene Lartey i hate'chu! Thanks for making me laugh all the way home."
Like · Reply · 4 · 18 hrs
**
16. Monique Barbour · Massage Therapist at Licensed Certified Massage Therapist
"What?!"
Like · Reply · 3 · 17 hrs
**
17. Tee Artice
"Irene Lartey...don't even try to comprehend it because you can't make sense out of something that's just not sensible. SMH. Chalk it up to the attitude of entitlement that has always been instilled for centuries."
Like · Reply · 5 · 15 hrs · Edited
**
18. Danielle Terry
"Hahaha..you gave me a good laugh amongst all the serious discussion...thanks"
Like · Reply · 4 · 14 hrs
**
19. Audrey Nelson · Minnesota State University, Mankato
"Irene Lartey... 2 SNAPS GIRLFRIEND!!!!!!!!!! Sent from my Hutt.. Lmao"
Like · Reply · 6 · 13 hrs
-snip-
That comment is the end of that comment sub-set as of this time.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Thursday, August 27, 2015
25th Birthday of "Paris Is Burning" Documentary Of New York City's Gay Ballroom Culture
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post provides information and comments about the 1990 New York City gay ballroom documentary documentary "Paris Is Burning" on that film's 25th birthday. Quotes from drag queen Dorian Corey who is featured in this documentary are also included in this post along with the original movie trailer of this documentary.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and sociological purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the producer of this documentary and all those who were featured in this documentary. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post, and the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY "PARIS IS BURNING"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Is_Burning_(film)
"Paris Is Burning is a 1990 American documentary film directed by Jennie Livingston. Filmed in the mid-to-late 1980s, it chronicles the ball culture of New York City and the African-American,Latino, gay, and transgender communities involved in it. Some critics consider the film to be an invaluable documentary of the end of the "Golden Age" of New York City drag balls, and a thoughtful exploration of race, class, gender, and sexuality in America.[2][3] Others have criticized it as exploitive and fetishizing towards trans people of color.[4]
Controversy
The film received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts shortly during the period when the organization was under fire for funding controversial artists including Robert Mapplethorpe and Andres Serrano. …
Several of the most heavily featured performers wished to sue in 1991 for a share of the film's profits. Paris DuPree sought the largest settlement with $40 million for unauthorized use of her ball. The producers stated that they had always planned on compensating the principal participants. All dropped their claims after their attorneys confirmed that they had signed releases. The producers then distributed approximately $55,000 among thirteen of the participants.[2]
Critical reception
Upon release, the documentary received rave reviews from critics and won several awards including a Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize, a Berlin International Film Festival Teddy Bear, an audience award from the Toronto International Film Festival, a GLAAD Media Award, aWomen in Film Crystal Award, a Best Documentary award from the Los Angeles, New York, and National Film Critics' Circles, and it also was named as one of 1991's best films by the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, National Public Radio, Time Magazine, and others.
Paris Is Burning failed to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature that year, adding to a growing perception that certain subjects and treatments were excluded from consideration for Oscars, and leading, in part, to a change in how documentaries are nominated for the Academy Awards.[11]
More than two decades later, Paris Is Burning remains an organizing tool for gay and trans youth; a way for scholars and students to examine issues of race, class, and gender; a way for younger ball participants to meet their ancestors; and a portrait of several remarkable Americans, most of whom have died since the film's production.[12]
However, some in the LGBTQ community have criticized Paris Is Burning. In Is Paris Burning?, bell hooks questioned Livingston's depiction of the drag balls, arguing that it reduces them to mere spectacle: “Much of the film’s focus on pageantry takes the ritual of the black drag ball and makes it spectacle. Ritual is that ceremonial act that carries with it meaning and significance beyond what appears, while spectacle functions primarily as entertaining dramatic display... Hence it is easy for white observers to depict black rituals as spectacle.”[4]
Critic Judith Butler based some of her book, Bodies that Matter: On the Discursive Limits of "Sex", on this film.[13]"...
****
COMMENTS ABOUT THIS FILM
From http://www.lipstickalley.com/showthread.php/911552-quot-Paris-is-Burning-quot-Turns-25-Years-Old-This-Sunday?p=23041999
08-14-2015, 12:54 PM
ImmaculateOne
Re: "Paris is Burning" Turns 25 Years Old This Sunday
"I loved this documentary. I can't believe we're the same age. It's crazy how even though this took place 25 years ago, A LOT of the same things can still be applied to today. There have been advancements within the LGBT community, however the ball room scene is relatively still the same if not worse. After, doing my due diligence on the lady who did the documentary, I didn't like how she treated them. She was shiesty and tried to refuse to give them royalties for their participation in the film."
-snip-
"shiesty" = acting like a shyster
"Shyster ... is a slang word for someone who acts in a disreputable, unethical, or unscrupulous way, especially in the practice of law, sometimes also politics or business." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shyster
**
From http://www.lipstickalley.com/showthread.php/911552-quot-Paris-is-Burning-quot-Turns-25-Years-Old-This-Sunday/page2
Re: "Paris is Burning" Turns 25 Years Old This Sunday
08-14-2015, 11:01 AM
CocoaPony
"I read the backstory of many participants in the documentary and many of them did not like how they were portrayed.nmost of them were really close to their families and they didn't like how the filmmaker portrayed them as castaways with no families or careers outside of drag"...
**
08-14-2015, 11:45 AM
MimiLuvs...
Location:Jamaica... The one in Queens, N.Y.
Re: "Paris is Burning" Turns 25 Years Old This Sunday
"The one fact about this film that makes me go "Whoa!" and make me feel as if I jump out of my body:
Everything that occurred in this documentary did not happen too long ago.
This didn't occur 40... 50... 55.... 65 years ago. This was only 25 years ago.
The technology, the music, the art and the fashion has changed, but for a large amount of people (in particular, for the LGBTQA members) this kind of sh&t* happened last week... yesterday."
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.
**
08-14-2015, 12:18 PM
From Tokyo
Re: "Paris is Burning" Turns 25 Years Old This Sunday
"Just watched this again last week. Really good documentary and showed how much has been poached from gay ballroom culture. Some people build their careers on it, in fact.
-snip-
"Voguing", "reading someone", and "throwing shade" are some of the cultural products that came from the 1990s gay ballroom scene. The term "boo boo kitty" is also said to come from gay culture where it was coined as "boo kitty".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/waacking-and-voguing-street-dances-part_5.html for a pancocojams post on voguing.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-reading-someone-throwing-shade-no.html for a pancocojams post on reading and throwing shade.
Here's a comment about the early use of "boo kitty" from Corey Terrell Daniels, June 2015 on http://www.ew.com/article/2015/03/02/empire-star-taraji-p-henson-her-signature-line-you-don%E2%80%99t-want-be-called-boo-boo
"Boo Kitty" specifically is a term from underground gay culture of the 1970's and 1980's.... reference 'Paris is Burning' and you will hear a lot of pop culture language"...
****
SELECTED QUOTES FROM DORIAN COREY
From
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Paris_is_Burninghttps://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Paris_is_Burning
"• I always had hopes of being a big star. But as you get older, you aim a little lower. Everybody wants to make an impression, some mark upon the world. Then you think, you've made a mark on the world if you just get through it, and a few people remember your name. Then you've left a mark. You don't have to bend the whole world. I think it's better to just enjoy it. Pay your dues, and just enjoy it. If you shoot a arrow and it goes real high, hooray for you.
• Shade comes from reading. Reading came first.
• You get in a smart crack, and everyone laughs and kikis because you've found a flaw and exaggerated it, then you've got a good read going.
• Shade is I don't tell you you're ugly but I don't have to tell you because you know you're ugly ... and that's shade.
• In real life you can't get a job as an executive unless you have the educational background and the opportunity. Now, the fact that you are not an executive is merely because of the social standing of life. Black people have a hard time getting anywhere and those that do are usually straight. In a ballroom you can be anything you want. You're not really an executive but you're looking like an executive. You're showing the straight world that I can be an executive if I had the opportunity because can look like one, and that is like a fulfillment.
• When they're undetectable and they can walk out of that ballroom into the sunlight and onto the subway and get home, and still have all their clothes and no blood running off their bodies- those are the femme realness queens... and usually its a category for young queens.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Paris Is Burning original theatrical trailer
Jenni Olson, Published on Aug 2, 2014
This is the original theatrical release trailer for the legendary documentary film Paris is Burning, by Jennie Livingston (preceded by a fun little vintage preview message)! …
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post provides information and comments about the 1990 New York City gay ballroom documentary documentary "Paris Is Burning" on that film's 25th birthday. Quotes from drag queen Dorian Corey who is featured in this documentary are also included in this post along with the original movie trailer of this documentary.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and sociological purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the producer of this documentary and all those who were featured in this documentary. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post, and the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY "PARIS IS BURNING"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Is_Burning_(film)
"Paris Is Burning is a 1990 American documentary film directed by Jennie Livingston. Filmed in the mid-to-late 1980s, it chronicles the ball culture of New York City and the African-American,Latino, gay, and transgender communities involved in it. Some critics consider the film to be an invaluable documentary of the end of the "Golden Age" of New York City drag balls, and a thoughtful exploration of race, class, gender, and sexuality in America.[2][3] Others have criticized it as exploitive and fetishizing towards trans people of color.[4]
Controversy
The film received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts shortly during the period when the organization was under fire for funding controversial artists including Robert Mapplethorpe and Andres Serrano. …
Several of the most heavily featured performers wished to sue in 1991 for a share of the film's profits. Paris DuPree sought the largest settlement with $40 million for unauthorized use of her ball. The producers stated that they had always planned on compensating the principal participants. All dropped their claims after their attorneys confirmed that they had signed releases. The producers then distributed approximately $55,000 among thirteen of the participants.[2]
Critical reception
Upon release, the documentary received rave reviews from critics and won several awards including a Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize, a Berlin International Film Festival Teddy Bear, an audience award from the Toronto International Film Festival, a GLAAD Media Award, aWomen in Film Crystal Award, a Best Documentary award from the Los Angeles, New York, and National Film Critics' Circles, and it also was named as one of 1991's best films by the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, National Public Radio, Time Magazine, and others.
Paris Is Burning failed to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature that year, adding to a growing perception that certain subjects and treatments were excluded from consideration for Oscars, and leading, in part, to a change in how documentaries are nominated for the Academy Awards.[11]
More than two decades later, Paris Is Burning remains an organizing tool for gay and trans youth; a way for scholars and students to examine issues of race, class, and gender; a way for younger ball participants to meet their ancestors; and a portrait of several remarkable Americans, most of whom have died since the film's production.[12]
However, some in the LGBTQ community have criticized Paris Is Burning. In Is Paris Burning?, bell hooks questioned Livingston's depiction of the drag balls, arguing that it reduces them to mere spectacle: “Much of the film’s focus on pageantry takes the ritual of the black drag ball and makes it spectacle. Ritual is that ceremonial act that carries with it meaning and significance beyond what appears, while spectacle functions primarily as entertaining dramatic display... Hence it is easy for white observers to depict black rituals as spectacle.”[4]
Critic Judith Butler based some of her book, Bodies that Matter: On the Discursive Limits of "Sex", on this film.[13]"...
****
COMMENTS ABOUT THIS FILM
From http://www.lipstickalley.com/showthread.php/911552-quot-Paris-is-Burning-quot-Turns-25-Years-Old-This-Sunday?p=23041999
08-14-2015, 12:54 PM
ImmaculateOne
Re: "Paris is Burning" Turns 25 Years Old This Sunday
"I loved this documentary. I can't believe we're the same age. It's crazy how even though this took place 25 years ago, A LOT of the same things can still be applied to today. There have been advancements within the LGBT community, however the ball room scene is relatively still the same if not worse. After, doing my due diligence on the lady who did the documentary, I didn't like how she treated them. She was shiesty and tried to refuse to give them royalties for their participation in the film."
-snip-
"shiesty" = acting like a shyster
"Shyster ... is a slang word for someone who acts in a disreputable, unethical, or unscrupulous way, especially in the practice of law, sometimes also politics or business." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shyster
**
From http://www.lipstickalley.com/showthread.php/911552-quot-Paris-is-Burning-quot-Turns-25-Years-Old-This-Sunday/page2
Re: "Paris is Burning" Turns 25 Years Old This Sunday
08-14-2015, 11:01 AM
CocoaPony
"I read the backstory of many participants in the documentary and many of them did not like how they were portrayed.nmost of them were really close to their families and they didn't like how the filmmaker portrayed them as castaways with no families or careers outside of drag"...
**
08-14-2015, 11:45 AM
MimiLuvs...
Location:Jamaica... The one in Queens, N.Y.
Re: "Paris is Burning" Turns 25 Years Old This Sunday
"The one fact about this film that makes me go "Whoa!" and make me feel as if I jump out of my body:
Everything that occurred in this documentary did not happen too long ago.
This didn't occur 40... 50... 55.... 65 years ago. This was only 25 years ago.
The technology, the music, the art and the fashion has changed, but for a large amount of people (in particular, for the LGBTQA members) this kind of sh&t* happened last week... yesterday."
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.
**
08-14-2015, 12:18 PM
From Tokyo
Re: "Paris is Burning" Turns 25 Years Old This Sunday
"Just watched this again last week. Really good documentary and showed how much has been poached from gay ballroom culture. Some people build their careers on it, in fact.
-snip-
"Voguing", "reading someone", and "throwing shade" are some of the cultural products that came from the 1990s gay ballroom scene. The term "boo boo kitty" is also said to come from gay culture where it was coined as "boo kitty".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/waacking-and-voguing-street-dances-part_5.html for a pancocojams post on voguing.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-reading-someone-throwing-shade-no.html for a pancocojams post on reading and throwing shade.
Here's a comment about the early use of "boo kitty" from Corey Terrell Daniels, June 2015 on http://www.ew.com/article/2015/03/02/empire-star-taraji-p-henson-her-signature-line-you-don%E2%80%99t-want-be-called-boo-boo
"Boo Kitty" specifically is a term from underground gay culture of the 1970's and 1980's.... reference 'Paris is Burning' and you will hear a lot of pop culture language"...
****
SELECTED QUOTES FROM DORIAN COREY
From
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Paris_is_Burninghttps://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Paris_is_Burning
"• I always had hopes of being a big star. But as you get older, you aim a little lower. Everybody wants to make an impression, some mark upon the world. Then you think, you've made a mark on the world if you just get through it, and a few people remember your name. Then you've left a mark. You don't have to bend the whole world. I think it's better to just enjoy it. Pay your dues, and just enjoy it. If you shoot a arrow and it goes real high, hooray for you.
• Shade comes from reading. Reading came first.
• You get in a smart crack, and everyone laughs and kikis because you've found a flaw and exaggerated it, then you've got a good read going.
• Shade is I don't tell you you're ugly but I don't have to tell you because you know you're ugly ... and that's shade.
• In real life you can't get a job as an executive unless you have the educational background and the opportunity. Now, the fact that you are not an executive is merely because of the social standing of life. Black people have a hard time getting anywhere and those that do are usually straight. In a ballroom you can be anything you want. You're not really an executive but you're looking like an executive. You're showing the straight world that I can be an executive if I had the opportunity because can look like one, and that is like a fulfillment.
• When they're undetectable and they can walk out of that ballroom into the sunlight and onto the subway and get home, and still have all their clothes and no blood running off their bodies- those are the femme realness queens... and usually its a category for young queens.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Paris Is Burning original theatrical trailer
Jenni Olson, Published on Aug 2, 2014
This is the original theatrical release trailer for the legendary documentary film Paris is Burning, by Jennie Livingston (preceded by a fun little vintage preview message)! …
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
What "Reading Someone", "Reading To Filth", "Throwing Shade", & "No Tea No Shade" Mean
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision: July 27, 2024
This pancocojams post provides information & comments about the vernacular terms "reading someone", "throwing shade", and the vernacular saying "no tea no shade".
One video on this subject with a partial transcription is also included in this post.
The content of this post is provided for cultural and educational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of this video on YouTube.
****
WARNING: Most YouTube videos & viewer comment threads about reading and throwing shade contain profanity and other content that may be considered objectionable.
I consider the examples of profanity in this post, including in the featured video, to be mild profanity, i.e. the words "bitch" and "ass"). Another somewhat mild "curse word "sh&t" is given with partial spelling. (Remember I'm a grandmother. So give me some slack, okay? Thanks.)
As a bonus, this post also includes a video of "Reading Is Fundamental" from RuPaul's Drag Race Season 4 along with a few comments from that video's viewer comment thread.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/04/throwing-shade-definition-and-non.html for another pancocojams post on throwing shade.
****
WHAT THE SLANG TERM "READING" AND "READING tO FILTH" MEAN
From http://www.waywordradio.org/throw_shade/
"Reading, Reading to filth — To really let someone have it; to insult or criticize.
Ex: Well, if I see her out tonight, I will read her to filth. I will tear her sh&& up like newspaper.
****
From http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=read
"Read
To tell someone about themself, mostly used by gay black men.
"That was a read honey!"
"Don't do it honet,* I will read your ass"
by Darren December 03, 2004
-snip-
"honet" is probably a typo for "honey" or "hunty" . Click http://www.buzzfeed.com/saeedjones/a-beginners-guide-to-drag-speak for information about theword "hunty".
**
Read
"n. a taunt or mockery. A phrase or word used to mock someone in a humorous way.
When she said that you should have taken the receipt with your haircut, that was a read."
by Xing Shuay June 06, 2009
****
From http://www.buzzfeed.com/saeedjones/a-beginners-guide-to-drag-speak
"verb: to insult someone ruthlessly without breaking a sweat; see: Mariah Carey every time she refers to Nicki Minaj.
“Oh, miss thing. You don’t want it. I will read you six feet under and then twerk on your grave.”
****
[Addition April 8, 2014]
Example of the use of "reading for filth"
"I am so tired of Courtney reading Joslyn for filth. I was rooting for her at the beginning, but her attitude is starting to turn me off. She just seems really pretentious and honestly I'm surprised the judges aren't reading her for her consistent middle-of-the-road performances. Ugh. /rant"
http://www.reddit.com/r/rupaulsdragrace/comments/22hnsr/season_6_episodes_7_8_rupersized_postepisode/ "RuPaul Drag Race's discussion- season 6,episodes 7 & 8"
-snip-
Another commenter said that Laganja knew the difference between those two words, but she was just being clever.
****
[Addition: September 23, 2019]
From https://www.bustle.com/articles/82642-the-12-best-burns-in-history-because-reading-for-filth-is-nothing-new The 12 Best Burns In History, Because 'Reading For Filth' Is Nothing New
By JR THORPE, May 12, 2015
"If you don't know the beautiful term "to read for filth," it's time you learned. Popularized by the cult film Paris Is Burning back in 1990, "reading" probably originated in the LGBT community in New York in the 1980s — and it's the art of the ultimate witty comeback, the burn that packs a witty punch with a serious sting in the tail. Reading for filth? That's taking it to its furthest extent, with insults so brutally eloquent that they make you with* you'd said them instead."
-snip-
“with”- probably a typo for “wish”
****
WHAT "THROWING SHADE" MEANS [updated July 10, 2015]
My definition of "throwing shade" - to obliquely (indirectly) insult someone.
From http://www.businessinsider.com/where-the-expression-throw-shade-comes-from-2015-3
"The term "throwing shade" comes from black and Latino gay communities.
The term's first significant step into straight culture was in the 1990 documentary about young, black, and Latino drag queens in New York City, "Paris is Burning."
The central characters explain their culture and guide you through the underground world of parties and drag balls.
In one scene, a queen named Dorian Corey explains what "shade" is.
"Shade is, I don't have to tell you you're ugly, because you know you're ugly," she says.
When someone insults you directly, that's called a "read." For example, if I were to tell you that your glasses are ugly. Point blank. That's a read. Reads can be long or short.
"Shade" comes from reading, as Corey explains.
If I were to say in a terribly condescending voice, "Oh honey, I'm so glad you saved up to buy those glasses," that's blatant shade. I didn't insult the glasses, or you, directly. It's implied by my voice and the context of what I said. You know they're ugly.
Sometimes people don't get that they're being "shaded" — this is always sad."
To "throw shade" simply means you've said something shady to someone...
-snip-
That article includes the clip of Dorian Corey giving those remarks from the "Paris Is Burning" film.
****
From http://gawker.com/5980303/go-ahead-and-throw-all-the-shade-you-want-straight-people
Rich Juzwiak "Go Ahead and Throw All the Shade You Want, Straight People (1/30/13)
"When I want to explain exactly what shade (as in "throwing shade") is, I refer back to the expert words of Dorian Corey in Jennie Livingston's Paris Is Burning: "Shade is, ‘I don't tell you you're ugly, but I don't have to tell you because you know you're ugly.' And that's shade."...
The subtle shade that Corey speaks of is a rarity. ....Subtlety is a dying art, which you understand if you've ever been misunderstood on the Internet. Shade is a form of expression, and expression must shift to accommodate modern media. The form and understanding of it was bound to water down...
We remember the queens of Paris Is Burning; we remember how they lived and most of us do so in admiration. The proliferation of "throwing shade" is a small victory for them, a happy ending of sorts for people who thought a lot about the mark they were leaving, a realization of what was once all a dream. When we use it, we are saying "hooray for them," and we are serious, no tea no shade.
****
From http://www.waywordradio.org/throw_shade/
Posted by Grant Barrett on January 4, 2006
"throw shade v. phr. to take a superior attitude; to criticize, demean, or insult; to diss or derogate. Editorial Note: This term has is most often associated with Black English, but it is also said to be used among gay and cross-dressing performers and club-goers. Etymological Note: Probably related to shade, v., which means “to defeat, to outdo” and dates to at least as early as 1925 and also to the far more common put in/throw in the shade with the same meaning. A mild form of the term was popularized during the late 1980s and early 1990s when the much-hyped dance and peformance style of “voguing” came to widespread attention. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)"
-snip-
I believe that the drag verb "throwing shade" and the drag noun "shade" have their source or at least were influenced by the common African American Vernacular English term "being shady". A person who is "shady" or who is "acting shady" (a person who is shady") is "no good", amd can't be trusted.
****
ADDED May 10, 2015 - An example of "Shade":
From http://www.reddit.com/r/rupaulsdragrace/comments/35fo0i/will_they_ever_have_reunions_of_past_seasons/ "Will they ever have reunions of past seasons?" (all comments from May 9, 2015)
Jambeard#TeamSasha:
"I was thinking today, wouldn't be interesting if they had reunions with girls from past seasons?"
**
preposey
"I don't think Logo could make room in their busy schedule.
**
cookiemonsta11111
Shade.
-snip-
Preposey's comment is shade because it's considered to be a well known fact that most of the programming on the Logo television network is repeats of a few old sitcoms. Therefore, Logo doesn't have "a busy schedule".
cookiemonsta11111 recognized (gave recognition to) preposey's oblique (indirect, cleverly crafted) shady (snarky) comment by writing the word "Shade".
****
ADDED April 28, 2016- Explanation of Non-Verbal Shade
From http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/277511/what-is-the-correct-usage-of-throwing-shade
"Two other Google Books matches focus on the gay African American subculture from which "throw shade" in its modern sense seems to have arisen. Both articles are well worth reading at fuller length if you're interested in the subject. From Tricia Rose, "An Interview with Willi Ninja," in Microphone Fiends: Youth Music an Youth Culture (1994):
Tricia Rose, "An Interview with Willi Ninja," in Microphone Fiends: Youth Music an Youth Culture (1994):
R: Before we go, define “throw shade" for me.
N: [Laughter] Shade is basically a nonverbal response to verbal or nonverbal abuse. Shade is about using certain mannerisms in battle. If you said something nasty to me, I would just turn to you, and give you a look like: "Bitch please, you're not even worth my time, go on." All with a facial expression and body posture, that's throwing shade. If I want to be a little extra nasty I might throw in a little cough, but not so loud, just a little bit like: "You're making me choke."...
And from E. Patrick Johnson, "SNAP! Culture: a Different Way of Reading" in Text and Performance Quarterly 15(2) (1995), reprinted in Performance: Media and Technology (2003):
The nonverbal counterpart to reading is called "throwing shade." To throw shade is to ignore a person altogether, even if the person is in immediate proximity. If a shade thrower wishes to acknowledge the presence of the third party, he or she might roll his or her eyes and neck while poking out his or her lips. People throw shade if they do not like a particular person or if that person has dissed them in the past. The effect of throwing shade in this manner is also a type of dissing, because it is considered disrespectful not to acknowledge someone's presence. In the playful mode, however, a person may throw shade at a person with whom he or she is a best friend."
-snip-
If I correctly understand that article, it is saying that originally Black and Latino drag queens used "throwing shade" to mean giving non-verbal put downs. However, their use of the term "shade" (and other folks' use of that term) changed over time to what Dorian Corey said was making a "more artfully executed, more dependent on constructing a veiled (or not-so-veiled) insult rather than relying on obvious crudities and innuendo. Throwing shade requires wielding your words like a rapier rather than a cudgel." [quote from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/parisisburningrhowe_a0b315.htm ‘Paris Is Burning’ (R), By Desson Howe
Washington Post Staff Writer, August 09, 1991]
****
WHAT "NO TEA NO SHADE" MEANS
From http://www.realitynation.com/tv-shows/rupauls-drag-race/drag-queen-lingo-dictionary/23856/#_is=1p3t37yfyodshywg1vwh3pbgmh
"No T, No Shade — No disrespect. According to RuPaul herself via Twitter: “No T No Shade = I’m not trying to come for you or offend you, but this is what its really like.”
**
From http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=No%20Tea%20No%20Shade
"No Tea No Shade
A phrase meaning:
I'm not trying to come for you or offend you, but this is what its really like.
A phrase you add at the beginning or the end of a sentence that can be seen as negative to somebody, but its not supposed to be, and just stating the obvious.
Ex. 1 - Girl! No Tea No Shade, but you need to fix your hair.
Ex. 2 - Girl please! I can't get with some one I'm not attracted to, No Tea No Shade!
by <3qaadir 12="" 2009="" p="" september="">**From http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120510161850AAa6f98
What does no tea no shade mean from RuPaul show?
Neil answered 2011
"As you wrote, it is 'no tea no shade'.
It is used at the beginning of a sentence and means, "I'm not trying to offend you..." and then they go right ahead and offend you."
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO : Welcome To Reading and Shade 101
Will Howard, Published on Jan 6, 2014
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am here today to give you lessons in reading and throwing shade, along with history and tips. This is Reading and Shade 101! Class is in session!
Credits: Music "Throwing Shade" - Shaun Bentley
Movie Clips: "Paris Is Burning"
For more references on reading and throwing shade, check these YouTube Videos and Accounts out:
Got To Be Real Parody (LaBelleOfTheBall2)
Hater's Mansion (Phabian Mitchell)
The Legends Panel (ithl123)
Take Care everyone!!!
-snip-
Excerpts from that video:
"Reading (v) to insult
(looking for a flaw and then making it bigger)"...
“If you can’t read, stay out of the library.” [Don’t attempt to give a person an insult if you don’t know how to read]...
"Shade – (n) a subtle insult in the form of a question/statement.
Basically I’m insulting you, but at the same time I’m not.
Throwing shade (v) – the act of shading.
Two ways that you can throw shade
1. Non-verbal (for instance, give a side eye, look a person up and down, flip their hair to insult someone elses’ hair)
2. Verbal:
Example:
First person -"Hey you looked good in that movie I seen last night.
Second person- Movie? What movie? I was never in no movie. What movie could you be talking about?
First person – Planet of the Apes.
Tips:
1. Be creative [Throwing shade is a art form, a skill, a mindset]
2. Have the right poise [look confident and relaxed. The last thing you want to look like is intimidated]
3. Tone and Expression (Delivery is EVERYTHING)
...Don’t forget, “reading is fundamental”."
-snip-
"Reading Is Fundamental" is the name of a widely known in the USA reading (books) readiness program.
-snip-
Added September 23, 2019:
Comment from I. Vee, 2014
"See, I don't like your definition of reading. Reading is more than just insulting someone. It's insulting them directly, but artfully, using comparisons, metaphor, and rhetoric to support your insult. And then shade is really the art of indirect reading; it's insulting someone, minus the insult.
Here, look at this example:
Insulting someone: "You're fat, and you're ugly."
Reading someone: "Gurl, you've gained so much weight you should be shopping in Jared's old closet! And what are you doing outside with that busted face, hasn't Animal Control caught your ass yet?"
Shading someone: "You know, I saw that blouse you're wearing in the window of Lane Bryant and KNEW it would work for you, good eye! And how's that plastic surgeon of yours doing, have you been making your appointments?"
****
BONUS: RuPaul's Drag Race: Reading is Fundamental - Season 4 - LogoTV
Logo TV, Published on Sep 11, 2013
-snip-
Explanation of Sharon Needle's read on Dida Ritz, and African American contestant:
inasexymood, 2013
"I was inspired by your knees." lmaoooooooooooooooooo!
Reply
Dadacomero, 2014
"l didn't get it ? can u explain it ,please?
(l'm italian)"
Reply
inasexymood, 2014
"+Dadacomero Sharon is saying her spooky 'gray' drag aesthetic was inspired by Dida's ashy knees (dry skin, especially around knees and elbows, tend to look grayish, 'ashy'. Everyone can have it, but on darker skin it's more obvious). Exquisite read."
Reply
Dadacomero, 2014
"loooooooooooooooooool
X'D thank u!"
-snip-
Additional comments from that video's viewer comment thread:
Taose HunHan, 2013
"Phi Phi can dish it but she can't take it. She was THE WORST and how rude of her to say that Sharon was weak when all she did was call people names. Shade is about insulting without being to obvious or in your face Phi Phi."
**
Anthony DeVeaux, 2014
"There's a difference between reading and offending people, Phi Phi. Take notes."
**
Chris Horn, 2013
"Why is it that the girls who throw the most shade throughout the competition (Tati, Phi Phi, Roxxxy) are always the ones who 1) Are crap at the reading mini-challenge and 2) Always make a narky comment when their "enemy" reads them?
I mean the nerve of Phi Phi saying "That was a weak one" when all of her reads were pathetic and tryhard."
**
OrangeXenon54, 2013
"No offense to Latrice, who I LOVEEEEEEEEEE, but Sharon obv won that one, especially when he turned Phi Phi's joke on her during his time."
**
Tony Lewis Williams, 2013
"Sharon, I love how you rocked the Party City!" "That's where I got your Lady Gaga wig!" LIVE FOR SHARON! xD"
**
timemonkey, 2013
"You know a queen is crap at reading when the person they're trying to read reads them better with their own material."
**
WaterElementall, 2013
"Everyone was reading except phi phi. Reading isn't trying to embarrass the person. Everyone else was HILARIOUS and in no hostile way what so ever. I love it! "
**
Frederica Bimble, 2013
"I like Latrice's laugh when Dida says, 'you don't have to rock the prison yard look anymore'."
****
BONUS 2: March 7, 2014
Here's a comment from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Zt8Z5B8Eo "RuPaul's Drag Race - Dragged to the Dark Side - LogoTV" about throwing shade and Gia, a contestant from Season 6:
Misterms Reason, 2014
..."Gia does not understand the foundation of throwing shade and just uses cliches like a parrot with zero understanding . A ladyboy mincing around a room being rude is no more throwing shade, than Susan Boyle in a bikini is being a Sports Illustrated model. Shade is a form of satire a word Gia clearly does not understand as it possess more than 2 letters. Now that is shade,"
****
ADDITION: May 18, 2015
"No T. No Shade., No Pink Lemonade." is a variant form of "No T. No Shade". That saying was created or popularized by Jasmine, a contestant on Season 7 of "Ru Paul's Drag Race". The "pink lemonade" portion of that saying probably has no other meaning but providing an aesthetically pleasing rhyming extention to the "No t. No shade" words.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Latest revision: July 27, 2024
This pancocojams post provides information & comments about the vernacular terms "reading someone", "throwing shade", and the vernacular saying "no tea no shade".
One video on this subject with a partial transcription is also included in this post.
The content of this post is provided for cultural and educational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of this video on YouTube.
****
WARNING: Most YouTube videos & viewer comment threads about reading and throwing shade contain profanity and other content that may be considered objectionable.
I consider the examples of profanity in this post, including in the featured video, to be mild profanity, i.e. the words "bitch" and "ass"). Another somewhat mild "curse word "sh&t" is given with partial spelling. (Remember I'm a grandmother. So give me some slack, okay? Thanks.)
As a bonus, this post also includes a video of "Reading Is Fundamental" from RuPaul's Drag Race Season 4 along with a few comments from that video's viewer comment thread.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/04/throwing-shade-definition-and-non.html for another pancocojams post on throwing shade.
****
WHAT THE SLANG TERM "READING" AND "READING tO FILTH" MEAN
From http://www.waywordradio.org/throw_shade/
"Reading, Reading to filth — To really let someone have it; to insult or criticize.
Ex: Well, if I see her out tonight, I will read her to filth. I will tear her sh&& up like newspaper.
****
From http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=read
"Read
To tell someone about themself, mostly used by gay black men.
"That was a read honey!"
"Don't do it honet,* I will read your ass"
by Darren December 03, 2004
-snip-
"honet" is probably a typo for "honey" or "hunty" . Click http://www.buzzfeed.com/saeedjones/a-beginners-guide-to-drag-speak for information about theword "hunty".
**
Read
"n. a taunt or mockery. A phrase or word used to mock someone in a humorous way.
When she said that you should have taken the receipt with your haircut, that was a read."
by Xing Shuay June 06, 2009
****
From http://www.buzzfeed.com/saeedjones/a-beginners-guide-to-drag-speak
"verb: to insult someone ruthlessly without breaking a sweat; see: Mariah Carey every time she refers to Nicki Minaj.
“Oh, miss thing. You don’t want it. I will read you six feet under and then twerk on your grave.”
****
[Addition April 8, 2014]
Example of the use of "reading for filth"
"I am so tired of Courtney reading Joslyn for filth. I was rooting for her at the beginning, but her attitude is starting to turn me off. She just seems really pretentious and honestly I'm surprised the judges aren't reading her for her consistent middle-of-the-road performances. Ugh. /rant"
http://www.reddit.com/r/rupaulsdragrace/comments/22hnsr/season_6_episodes_7_8_rupersized_postepisode/ "RuPaul Drag Race's discussion- season 6,episodes 7 & 8"
-snip-
Another commenter said that Laganja knew the difference between those two words, but she was just being clever.
****
[Addition: September 23, 2019]
From https://www.bustle.com/articles/82642-the-12-best-burns-in-history-because-reading-for-filth-is-nothing-new The 12 Best Burns In History, Because 'Reading For Filth' Is Nothing New
By JR THORPE, May 12, 2015
"If you don't know the beautiful term "to read for filth," it's time you learned. Popularized by the cult film Paris Is Burning back in 1990, "reading" probably originated in the LGBT community in New York in the 1980s — and it's the art of the ultimate witty comeback, the burn that packs a witty punch with a serious sting in the tail. Reading for filth? That's taking it to its furthest extent, with insults so brutally eloquent that they make you with* you'd said them instead."
-snip-
“with”- probably a typo for “wish”
****
WHAT "THROWING SHADE" MEANS [updated July 10, 2015]
My definition of "throwing shade" - to obliquely (indirectly) insult someone.
From http://www.businessinsider.com/where-the-expression-throw-shade-comes-from-2015-3
"The term "throwing shade" comes from black and Latino gay communities.
The term's first significant step into straight culture was in the 1990 documentary about young, black, and Latino drag queens in New York City, "Paris is Burning."
The central characters explain their culture and guide you through the underground world of parties and drag balls.
In one scene, a queen named Dorian Corey explains what "shade" is.
"Shade is, I don't have to tell you you're ugly, because you know you're ugly," she says.
When someone insults you directly, that's called a "read." For example, if I were to tell you that your glasses are ugly. Point blank. That's a read. Reads can be long or short.
"Shade" comes from reading, as Corey explains.
If I were to say in a terribly condescending voice, "Oh honey, I'm so glad you saved up to buy those glasses," that's blatant shade. I didn't insult the glasses, or you, directly. It's implied by my voice and the context of what I said. You know they're ugly.
Sometimes people don't get that they're being "shaded" — this is always sad."
To "throw shade" simply means you've said something shady to someone...
-snip-
That article includes the clip of Dorian Corey giving those remarks from the "Paris Is Burning" film.
****
From http://gawker.com/5980303/go-ahead-and-throw-all-the-shade-you-want-straight-people
Rich Juzwiak "Go Ahead and Throw All the Shade You Want, Straight People (1/30/13)
"When I want to explain exactly what shade (as in "throwing shade") is, I refer back to the expert words of Dorian Corey in Jennie Livingston's Paris Is Burning: "Shade is, ‘I don't tell you you're ugly, but I don't have to tell you because you know you're ugly.' And that's shade."...
The subtle shade that Corey speaks of is a rarity. ....Subtlety is a dying art, which you understand if you've ever been misunderstood on the Internet. Shade is a form of expression, and expression must shift to accommodate modern media. The form and understanding of it was bound to water down...
We remember the queens of Paris Is Burning; we remember how they lived and most of us do so in admiration. The proliferation of "throwing shade" is a small victory for them, a happy ending of sorts for people who thought a lot about the mark they were leaving, a realization of what was once all a dream. When we use it, we are saying "hooray for them," and we are serious, no tea no shade.
****
From http://www.waywordradio.org/throw_shade/
Posted by Grant Barrett on January 4, 2006
"throw shade v. phr. to take a superior attitude; to criticize, demean, or insult; to diss or derogate. Editorial Note: This term has is most often associated with Black English, but it is also said to be used among gay and cross-dressing performers and club-goers. Etymological Note: Probably related to shade, v., which means “to defeat, to outdo” and dates to at least as early as 1925 and also to the far more common put in/throw in the shade with the same meaning. A mild form of the term was popularized during the late 1980s and early 1990s when the much-hyped dance and peformance style of “voguing” came to widespread attention. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)"
-snip-
I believe that the drag verb "throwing shade" and the drag noun "shade" have their source or at least were influenced by the common African American Vernacular English term "being shady". A person who is "shady" or who is "acting shady" (a person who is shady") is "no good", amd can't be trusted.
****
ADDED May 10, 2015 - An example of "Shade":
From http://www.reddit.com/r/rupaulsdragrace/comments/35fo0i/will_they_ever_have_reunions_of_past_seasons/ "Will they ever have reunions of past seasons?" (all comments from May 9, 2015)
Jambeard#TeamSasha:
"I was thinking today, wouldn't be interesting if they had reunions with girls from past seasons?"
**
preposey
"I don't think Logo could make room in their busy schedule.
**
cookiemonsta11111
Shade.
-snip-
Preposey's comment is shade because it's considered to be a well known fact that most of the programming on the Logo television network is repeats of a few old sitcoms. Therefore, Logo doesn't have "a busy schedule".
cookiemonsta11111 recognized (gave recognition to) preposey's oblique (indirect, cleverly crafted) shady (snarky) comment by writing the word "Shade".
****
ADDED April 28, 2016- Explanation of Non-Verbal Shade
From http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/277511/what-is-the-correct-usage-of-throwing-shade
"Two other Google Books matches focus on the gay African American subculture from which "throw shade" in its modern sense seems to have arisen. Both articles are well worth reading at fuller length if you're interested in the subject. From Tricia Rose, "An Interview with Willi Ninja," in Microphone Fiends: Youth Music an Youth Culture (1994):
Tricia Rose, "An Interview with Willi Ninja," in Microphone Fiends: Youth Music an Youth Culture (1994):
R: Before we go, define “throw shade" for me.
N: [Laughter] Shade is basically a nonverbal response to verbal or nonverbal abuse. Shade is about using certain mannerisms in battle. If you said something nasty to me, I would just turn to you, and give you a look like: "Bitch please, you're not even worth my time, go on." All with a facial expression and body posture, that's throwing shade. If I want to be a little extra nasty I might throw in a little cough, but not so loud, just a little bit like: "You're making me choke."...
And from E. Patrick Johnson, "SNAP! Culture: a Different Way of Reading" in Text and Performance Quarterly 15(2) (1995), reprinted in Performance: Media and Technology (2003):
The nonverbal counterpart to reading is called "throwing shade." To throw shade is to ignore a person altogether, even if the person is in immediate proximity. If a shade thrower wishes to acknowledge the presence of the third party, he or she might roll his or her eyes and neck while poking out his or her lips. People throw shade if they do not like a particular person or if that person has dissed them in the past. The effect of throwing shade in this manner is also a type of dissing, because it is considered disrespectful not to acknowledge someone's presence. In the playful mode, however, a person may throw shade at a person with whom he or she is a best friend."
-snip-
If I correctly understand that article, it is saying that originally Black and Latino drag queens used "throwing shade" to mean giving non-verbal put downs. However, their use of the term "shade" (and other folks' use of that term) changed over time to what Dorian Corey said was making a "more artfully executed, more dependent on constructing a veiled (or not-so-veiled) insult rather than relying on obvious crudities and innuendo. Throwing shade requires wielding your words like a rapier rather than a cudgel." [quote from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/parisisburningrhowe_a0b315.htm ‘Paris Is Burning’ (R), By Desson Howe
Washington Post Staff Writer, August 09, 1991]
****
WHAT "NO TEA NO SHADE" MEANS
From http://www.realitynation.com/tv-shows/rupauls-drag-race/drag-queen-lingo-dictionary/23856/#_is=1p3t37yfyodshywg1vwh3pbgmh
"No T, No Shade — No disrespect. According to RuPaul herself via Twitter: “No T No Shade = I’m not trying to come for you or offend you, but this is what its really like.”
**
From http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=No%20Tea%20No%20Shade
"No Tea No Shade
A phrase meaning:
I'm not trying to come for you or offend you, but this is what its really like.
A phrase you add at the beginning or the end of a sentence that can be seen as negative to somebody, but its not supposed to be, and just stating the obvious.
Ex. 1 - Girl! No Tea No Shade, but you need to fix your hair.
Ex. 2 - Girl please! I can't get with some one I'm not attracted to, No Tea No Shade!
by <3qaadir 12="" 2009="" p="" september="">**From http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120510161850AAa6f98
What does no tea no shade mean from RuPaul show?
Neil answered 2011
"As you wrote, it is 'no tea no shade'.
It is used at the beginning of a sentence and means, "I'm not trying to offend you..." and then they go right ahead and offend you."
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO : Welcome To Reading and Shade 101
Will Howard, Published on Jan 6, 2014
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am here today to give you lessons in reading and throwing shade, along with history and tips. This is Reading and Shade 101! Class is in session!
Credits: Music "Throwing Shade" - Shaun Bentley
Movie Clips: "Paris Is Burning"
For more references on reading and throwing shade, check these YouTube Videos and Accounts out:
Got To Be Real Parody (LaBelleOfTheBall2)
Hater's Mansion (Phabian Mitchell)
The Legends Panel (ithl123)
Take Care everyone!!!
-snip-
Excerpts from that video:
"Reading (v) to insult
(looking for a flaw and then making it bigger)"...
“If you can’t read, stay out of the library.” [Don’t attempt to give a person an insult if you don’t know how to read]...
"Shade – (n) a subtle insult in the form of a question/statement.
Basically I’m insulting you, but at the same time I’m not.
Throwing shade (v) – the act of shading.
Two ways that you can throw shade
1. Non-verbal (for instance, give a side eye, look a person up and down, flip their hair to insult someone elses’ hair)
2. Verbal:
Example:
First person -"Hey you looked good in that movie I seen last night.
Second person- Movie? What movie? I was never in no movie. What movie could you be talking about?
First person – Planet of the Apes.
Tips:
1. Be creative [Throwing shade is a art form, a skill, a mindset]
2. Have the right poise [look confident and relaxed. The last thing you want to look like is intimidated]
3. Tone and Expression (Delivery is EVERYTHING)
...Don’t forget, “reading is fundamental”."
-snip-
"Reading Is Fundamental" is the name of a widely known in the USA reading (books) readiness program.
-snip-
Added September 23, 2019:
Comment from I. Vee, 2014
"See, I don't like your definition of reading. Reading is more than just insulting someone. It's insulting them directly, but artfully, using comparisons, metaphor, and rhetoric to support your insult. And then shade is really the art of indirect reading; it's insulting someone, minus the insult.
Here, look at this example:
Insulting someone: "You're fat, and you're ugly."
Reading someone: "Gurl, you've gained so much weight you should be shopping in Jared's old closet! And what are you doing outside with that busted face, hasn't Animal Control caught your ass yet?"
Shading someone: "You know, I saw that blouse you're wearing in the window of Lane Bryant and KNEW it would work for you, good eye! And how's that plastic surgeon of yours doing, have you been making your appointments?"
****
BONUS: RuPaul's Drag Race: Reading is Fundamental - Season 4 - LogoTV
Logo TV, Published on Sep 11, 2013
-snip-
Explanation of Sharon Needle's read on Dida Ritz, and African American contestant:
inasexymood, 2013
"I was inspired by your knees." lmaoooooooooooooooooo!
Reply
Dadacomero, 2014
"l didn't get it ? can u explain it ,please?
(l'm italian)"
Reply
inasexymood, 2014
"+Dadacomero Sharon is saying her spooky 'gray' drag aesthetic was inspired by Dida's ashy knees (dry skin, especially around knees and elbows, tend to look grayish, 'ashy'. Everyone can have it, but on darker skin it's more obvious). Exquisite read."
Reply
Dadacomero, 2014
"loooooooooooooooooool
X'D thank u!"
-snip-
Additional comments from that video's viewer comment thread:
Taose HunHan, 2013
"Phi Phi can dish it but she can't take it. She was THE WORST and how rude of her to say that Sharon was weak when all she did was call people names. Shade is about insulting without being to obvious or in your face Phi Phi."
**
Anthony DeVeaux, 2014
"There's a difference between reading and offending people, Phi Phi. Take notes."
**
Chris Horn, 2013
"Why is it that the girls who throw the most shade throughout the competition (Tati, Phi Phi, Roxxxy) are always the ones who 1) Are crap at the reading mini-challenge and 2) Always make a narky comment when their "enemy" reads them?
I mean the nerve of Phi Phi saying "That was a weak one" when all of her reads were pathetic and tryhard."
**
OrangeXenon54, 2013
"No offense to Latrice, who I LOVEEEEEEEEEE, but Sharon obv won that one, especially when he turned Phi Phi's joke on her during his time."
**
Tony Lewis Williams, 2013
"Sharon, I love how you rocked the Party City!" "That's where I got your Lady Gaga wig!" LIVE FOR SHARON! xD"
**
timemonkey, 2013
"You know a queen is crap at reading when the person they're trying to read reads them better with their own material."
**
WaterElementall, 2013
"Everyone was reading except phi phi. Reading isn't trying to embarrass the person. Everyone else was HILARIOUS and in no hostile way what so ever. I love it! "
**
Frederica Bimble, 2013
"I like Latrice's laugh when Dida says, 'you don't have to rock the prison yard look anymore'."
****
BONUS 2: March 7, 2014
Here's a comment from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Zt8Z5B8Eo "RuPaul's Drag Race - Dragged to the Dark Side - LogoTV" about throwing shade and Gia, a contestant from Season 6:
Misterms Reason, 2014
..."Gia does not understand the foundation of throwing shade and just uses cliches like a parrot with zero understanding . A ladyboy mincing around a room being rude is no more throwing shade, than Susan Boyle in a bikini is being a Sports Illustrated model. Shade is a form of satire a word Gia clearly does not understand as it possess more than 2 letters. Now that is shade,"
****
ADDITION: May 18, 2015
"No T. No Shade., No Pink Lemonade." is a variant form of "No T. No Shade". That saying was created or popularized by Jasmine, a contestant on Season 7 of "Ru Paul's Drag Race". The "pink lemonade" portion of that saying probably has no other meaning but providing an aesthetically pleasing rhyming extention to the "No t. No shade" words.
****
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