Summary
Dorian Corey explains the meaning of the term "shade," which is part of "reading" – or exaggerating someone's flaws out loud. Shade is a more subtle form of reading because, according to Corey, "I don't have to tell you [you're ugly] because you already know."
Another important term for the balls is "vogueing," which Willi Ninja explains originated from "shade." Instead of fighting one another, queens would vogue (dance), and whoever did it best was "throwing the best shade."
The name comes from the magazine Vogue, because some of the staples of the dance are high-fashion, couture modeling poses. Some vogueing can even include elements of gymnastics.
Willi Ninja says he aspires to take vogueing to "every corner of the world," not just "Paris is Burning," the name of a 1986 ball hosted by Paris Dupree.
In a category called "opulence," performers compete to "live and look as well as a white person."
Octavia Saint Laurent, another performer, says she aspires to be like Paulina Porizkova, the famous supermodel.
Footage shows Willi Ninja teaching young aspiring female models in New York how to walk the catwalk.
Analysis
Dorian Corey's explanation of "shade" and "reading" has become one of the more famous quotes from Paris is Burning, as she provides a history and etymology lesson for viewers that ultimately shows how queer communities have truly developed their own culture (and with it, their own language).
An important point that Corey makes about reading is that, if it were to occur between straight and gay people, it would actually be an example of a slur. By contrast, when it happens among members of the same community, it is closer to an art form: because the people "throwing shade" share in their queerness, the notion of insulting someone for being queer becomes irrelevant. Instead, the best "readers" are those who can find a flaw in someone's dress, behavior, or general appearance and exaggerate it for all to see.
The film ultimately suggests that "reading" and "shade," though avenues for insult, are considered standard practice within the queer community as a means of both friendly competition and as a respite from the discrimination that broader society traditionally lodges at them.
The film's portrayal of Willi Ninja and Octavia Saint Laurent helps showcase the depth and aspirations that many ball performers have beyond the world of the ball. Willi Ninja, a self-taught dance instructor, is also a master voguer (which, when the documentary was filmed, had not yet hit mainstream culture). He is also a teacher for cisgender women aspiring to be models, and footage shows him teaching a group of young women how to appropriately walk a runway. Similarly, Octavia Saint Laurent dreams of transcending ball competitions and becoming a supermodel.
Both Willi and Octavia represent the confidence, hope, and acceptance that ball culture fosters, as their success within the ball circuit inspires them to consider how their talents compare in mainstream society. Later on, viewers will see that Willi Ninja became relatively famous once the phenomenon of vogueing gained traction (notably through the release of Madonna's 1990 single, "Vogue").
