Monday, May 22, 2023

Celebrating 30 Years of 'Glennda and Camille Do Downtown' at the National Gallery of Art

Washington, DC is gearing up for a groundbreaking event at the National Gallery of Art (NGA) on June 24th. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the NGA will showcase the iconic short documentary, "Glennda and Camille Do Downtown," featuring feminist provocateur Camille Paglia and renowned drag queen journalist Glennda Orgasm (Glenn Belverio). Alongside this captivating film, the event will also feature other remarkable works from the Glenn Belverio Archive, providing a unique glimpse into the vibrant worlds of feminism, drag culture, and LGBTQ+ history.

Originally released in 1993, "Glennda and Camille Do Downtown" takes viewers on an exhilarating journey through the bustling streets of downtown New York City. Paglia and Orgasm fearlessly delve into topics such as the feminist and gay mainstream, the significance of pornography, the Stonewall Rebellion, and the intricate tapestry of gay male sexual culture. The 29-minute documentary reaches its pinnacle when the duo unexpectedly encounters Women Against Pornography (WAC) protesters at the corner of 8th Street and 6th Ave. The chance confrontation spirals into a captivating clash of ideologies, as Camille and Glennda challenge the protestors' puritanical stance while defending their pro-art, pro-sex, and pro-pornography perspectives.

"Glennda and Camille Do Downtown" captures a pivotal moment in the feminist movement of the 1990s, where third-wave feminist figures like Susan Faludi and Naomi Wolf faced resistance due to Camille Paglia's unapologetically pro-sex, pro-fashion, pro-sex worker, pro-porn, and pro-drag viewpoints. Paglia, an influential radical voice and critic in mainstream media culture, solidified her presence with the publication of her bestselling book, "Sexual Personae," in 1990.

In 1993, the documentary was edited down to a condensed 15-minute version and transferred to 16mm film. This shorter cut premiered at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in 1994, ultimately winning the coveted first prize for Best Short Documentary at the Chicago Underground Film Festival.

Accompanying "Glennda and Camille Do Downtown" at the National Gallery on June 24th are two additional videos from the talented Glenn Belverio. These works, which Belverio directed and co-produced for his Manhattan Public Access TV show, "The Brenda and Glennda Show," add further depth to the evening's program.

One of the featured videos, "Equal Rights for Unborn Drag Queens," is a satirical masterpiece born from Belverio's collaboration with Duncan Elliott, also known as Brenda Sexual. This hilarious short film brilliantly satirizes right-wing Christianity, anti-abortion zealots, and even takes a jab at Pat Robertson's "The 700 Club." Notably, it also pays homage to an unconventional feminist figure: Pat Robertson's former co-host, Sheila Walsh, who departed due to her distinctive approach to Christianity.

The second video on the bill is Belverio's 1992 creation, "On the Campaign Trail with Joan Jett Blakk." In this captivating piece, Glennda Orgasm joins forces with the first and only Black drag queen to run for the presidency of the United States, Joan Jett Blakk. Together, they conduct interviews outside the Democratic National Convention in New York City, capturing the electrifying and contentious atmosphere of '90s American politics.

Following the screening, Glenn Belverio himself will take the stage for an engaging interview conducted by NGA Film Programmer Joanna Raczynska. The audience will also have the opportunity to participate in a stimulating Q&A session, offering a chance to delve deeper into the creative process behind these remarkable works.