Paris: An upcoming exhibition titled “Disco – I’m Coming Out” will celebrate the vibrant disco scene of 1970s New York through Meryl Meisler’s photography, highlighting the genre’s cultural significance and the diversity it embraced amidst a backdrop of social change in America.

The vibrant world of disco in 1970s New York is set to be celebrated in an upcoming exhibition titled “Disco – I’m Coming Out” at the Philharmonie de Paris, running from February 14 to August 17. This showcase features the candid photographic works of Meryl Meisler, who stepped into the electrifying club scene of the era, capturing scenes filled with joy, diversity, and unforgettable music.

Meisler’s journey began on Valentine’s Day in 1977 at a nightclub, where she was exposed to a vastly different atmosphere from the rock nights she frequented at CBGB. Disco, a genre that emerged from the fusion of funk, soul, and pop, was creating a cultural amalgamation, bringing together the gay, Latino, and Black communities in a time marked by significant social change in America. The disco phenomenon not only reshaped music charts with iconic tracks from artists like Chic and Donna Summer but also provided a platform for unrestrained self-expression amidst the shadows of the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal.

Reflecting on her experiences, Meisler noted, “There were all kinds of people. People dressed as girl scouts, nuns, laborers, wore business suits – or even were completely naked.” She delved deeper into this vibrant world with her camera, capturing moments of connection, laughter, and dance. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Meisler particularly enjoyed the mixed parties, stating, “I liked nothing better than those where all communities mixed.”

In an effort to be respectful to her subjects, Meisler always sought permission before photographing, saying, “I wasn’t an intruder, a paparazzi, I was one of them.” This commitment to authentic representation parallels her admiration for the works of Brassaï, a photographer known for capturing nocturnal Paris.

Alongside the disco images, Meisler also documented her family life on Long Island, where her parents, descendants of impoverished Jewish immigrants, organised gatherings that included an eclectic mix of venues. These photographs, featuring her family’s social events, were exhibited in 2022 and portrayed a similar spirit of celebration as that found in Manhattan nightclubs.

However, the disco era was not meant to last. The onset of the AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s significantly affected New York’s marginalized communities, dampening the earlier exuberance. “We didn’t feel like dancing anymore,” Meisler remarked, as the atmosphere shifted dramatically during that decade.

In the years that followed, Meisler transitioned to teaching in Bushwick, Brooklyn, where she took a starkly different set of photographs reflecting life in a working-class neighbourhood. It was not until the mid-2010s that she rediscovered her disco negatives, leading to the publication of her book “A Tale of Two Cities: Disco Era Bushwick,” juxtaposing the carefree disco moments with the more subdued everyday realities of Brooklyn life.

Though Meisler, who is now 74, had previously abstained from alcohol, her experiences surrounding the 2016 presidential election prompted a change, though she has since refrained once more. Even so, her passion for nightlife has never waned, as she continues to frequent various New York establishments, inspired to see younger generations engaging with the history she embodies.

The lasting impact of disco culture has also been captured in cinematic terms, such as Whit Stillman’s 1998 film “The Last Days of Disco,” which highlights the beginnings of the cultural phenomenon as it began to wane. The film encapsulates sentiments about disco’s enduring place in collective memory, with one character declaring, “Disco will never be over. It will always live on in our minds and hearts.”

The upcoming exhibition at the Philharmonie de Paris stands to revive and celebrate the vibrant essence of the disco era, showcasing not only the music and the dances that defined a generation but also the social dynamics that flourished within the club scene.

Source: Noah Wire Services