Madison Moore (PHD) is a DJ, speaker, party promoter and author concerned with Black queer social spaces and feminism.
How art and beauty is created during adversity.
Black Queer Frequency: Refusing the norms of society in a space, land that allows you to do this.
FABULOUS
What does it mean to be radically yourself?
Madison has written a book called ‘Fabulous; The rise of the beautiful eccentric’
He talks about certain spaces such as nightclubs, the street, shops—style politics
QUESTION: What are your thoughts on Voguing becoming internationally known, how much does Madonnas song play into this?
ANSWER: Everybody loves black-queer culture but not everyone loves black-queers.
Fabulousness is not about money, corporations. It is about making society see you when they intend not too. Going over the top so you are elevated and not discarded.
Madison has become obsessed with TikTok, he understands that there is algorithmic oppression on the site as well.
‘Renounce yourself..or suffer the penalty of being suppressed; do not appear if you do not want to disappear’ (Michel Foucault, The History of Sexuality)
THE CLUB
Paradise Garage is now a luxiours apartment, one of the most expensive areas in New York.
The party is about a moment of suspension. Feeling a rigorous sensation in the body, a pulsating tip-to-toe…the dance, however, is not an escape, it is a punctuation. It is about claiming an instant of time and something that can be mine completely. Though at times I share it with others, as we are all our own orbiting
Q: It’s interesting to see the student requests mainly the one regarding clubs being social spaces for a range of activities considering how much the ‘idea’ of the club has changed. Do you feel that in order for clubs to evolve the focus should move away from the ‘club’ as a corporation but back to the ‘party’.
I’m sure I’m only echoing the thoughts of the other ‘participants’ involved in Madisons lecture. This was easily the best lecture I have ever attended, not only because the subject matter was up my street but because of the engaging, fun way Madison expressed his love for music and party culture. Many speakers, lectures, teachers etc should really take a leaf out of Madison’s book on how to push the boundaries in education and generating passion for a subject.
Madison’ focus is primarily on marginalised groups of society that utilise avert tactics to fight back against prejudice. Be it through fashion, dancing, hosting parties, vougeing etc, Madison argues that ‘fabulousness’ is a an armour, a way to protect but also to be heard. Forcing the homophobes, racist’, sexist’ to really see these people. I also loved the fact Madison talked a little bit about the Paradise Garage, a mythical nightclub that was really at the forefront of promoting LGBTQ+ ideals long before a lot of other corporations cottoned on to the changing times. Anyone who is interested in party culture or DJ culture should know about the Garage ( in my opinion). Without Larry Levan the ‘career DJ would not exist. Simple.