The Art World

February 2000

From Broadway to the best-seller lists, the May episode of IN THE LIFE spotlights the diverse contributions of gays and lesbians in the art world, including interviews with Hairspray writer/director John Waters and acclaimed author E. Lynn Harris. IN THE LIFE is the TV newsmagazine of record on gay and lesbian America.

 

Hosted by Frank DeCaro, best known for his stint as the "Movie Maven" on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the May episode of ITL showcases the following segments.

See other episodes in the 12th Season

The Making of "Hairspray"

ITL goes behind-the-scenes of Hairspray and follows its journey from cult film to Tony Award-winning production. ITL talks to the gay dream team behind the show, including John Waters, co-composers and life partners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and actor Harvey Fierstein.

A Novel Pioneer

Best-selling author E. Lynn Harris quit a lucrative job to publish his first novel, Invisible Life. His books, which he first sold out of the trunk of his car, have been lauded for shattering stereotypes about black gay men and derided by some gay critics for their sympathy towards closeted gay characters.

D.I.Y.

Young post-riot "grrrls" have swept the underground music scene with their feminist politics, seizing control of their music and their careers by publishing fanzines and creating their own record labels. ITL sits down with a few lesbian rockers who have taken "do-it-yourself" to a whole new level.

Mooshka

When San Francisco artist Kevin Cata's AIDS medications changed, he didn't want to simply discard the unused drugs. So Cata, who refers to himself as Mooshka, crafted the pills into powerful artwork that fused his gay identity and his Pueblo Indian roots.

Women In Art

The contributions of lesbian artists have largely been ignored by mainstream art historians. ITL meets lesbian artist Harmony Hammond, the author of Lesbian Art in America, and three artists profiled in her book to find out how lesbians are reclaiming their place in art history

Chutney Popcorn

ITL looks at Nisha Ganatra's Chutney Popcorn, one of many indie films sparking a new wave of gay cinema focusing on the lives of people of color. Chutney Popcorn engages its audience with the life of an East Indian lesbian trying to win the approval of her family.