By Leslie Albrecht
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER WEST SIDE — One man's disco is another man's artistic incubator.
That's the idea behind "Nightlife: An Oral History of NYC Club Culture," a Thursday event at the Museum of Arts and Design that explores the role of nightlife in shaping culture.
While night clubs are considered by some to be dens of dancing and drugging, they're also one of the few places where people of different walks of life come together in a positive environment, said Director of Public Programs Jake Yuzna.
"Even in those stratospheres in New York that separate people, everyone comes together for a party," Yuzna said.
The discussion will feature nightlife notables Michael Alig, known as "King of the Club Kids," Joey Arias, Ladyfag, and Village Voice columnist Michael Musto.
Mixing creative people together in a setting where they feel free to have fun sometimes fosters artistic innovation, Yuzna said.
One example is vogueing, the performance dance pioneered by gay men, a marginalized group that ended up wielding enormous cultural influence, Yuzna said.
"You look at the '80s, and you had people like Keith Haring hanging out with Basquiat, and Basquiat would be DJing, then Grace Jones would show up, then Madonna would be there," Yuzna said.
The nightlife lecture is part of the Museum of Arts and Design's Vibrant Space series, which examines "environments of cultural production."
Tickets are $8 for non-members and $6 for museum members, and Nunzo promises a "special surprise" for attendees.
Nightlife: An Oral History of NYC Club Culture is at 7 p.m., March 17, at the Museum of Arts and Design, 2 Columbus Circle.
