#ThinkpieceSoRight | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

#ThinkpieceSoRight

Women dominated more than just the discussion at the Golden Globes

117
#ThinkpieceSoRight
A24 Studios

The parade of black dresses and strong women at the recent Golden Globes made abundantly clear the intended message -- Time’s Up! The campaign is a Hollywood-led response to workplace sexual harassment; but that night, sins of omission were at the conversation forefront as much as sins of commission. It’s not just about the end of mistreatment, it’s about the beginning of true inclusion. I recently wrote about how women have been historically cheated of their place in the arts and how that has basically been a huge fucking bummer for everybody. However, the idea of affirmative action or quota programs within the creative process is troublesome, to say the least.



Take Sasheer Zamata, a recent departure from “Saturday Night Live”. She joined the cast in 2014 after some backlash against SNL led producers to hold an audition exclusively for black women. The fact that this doesn’t make any sense for, say, Asian women, transgender adults over 40, bald Hispanic guys with a killer Dwayne Johnson impression, whatever, is beside the point. It was an inherently less competitive casting process than every other player on the show faced. The result? Zamata’s tenure on SNL was almost invisible. Constantly playing the “straight” role (when she was in sketches at all), she did not produce even a handful of recurring characters or memorable moments (her legacy - this one brilliant line in Black Jeopardy). And oh by the way, just a year after this totally Schruted attempt at progress, who came along but Leslie Jones -- a black woman who cut her teeth to make the show and has done nothing but thrive into fan favoritism ever since.



The #OscarsSoWhite controversy might also be examined. #HollywoodSoWhite? Absolutely. #CastingDirectors and #WritersSoWhite. Totally 100%. But the Oscars floor is on the opposite end of the sausage factory from where the code violations are happening. “Straight Outta Compton” was great, but it always was a summer blockbuster as opposed to an Oscar hopeful. And did anyone actually see “Concussion” with Will Smith? Michael B. Jordan starred in Rocky fucking 7 for god sakes. The fact is, a black actor nominee wasn’t there that year. When Lupita Nyong’o won two years before, and when Mahershala Ali won the year after, it wasn’t because the Academy put their white hoods in the closet and got their fucking heads on straight, and it wasn’t because it would be progressively swell for a person of color to win; it was only because those actors did incredible work. And that, not custom auditions or award season hashtag campaigns, is where it starts.



The Sasheer Zamata hiring and 2016 Oscars felt a bit shoulder-shruggingly awkward, a bit white guy shuffling some papers and saying “well, certainly something to take into consideration”. The Golden Globes on the other hand felt triumphant for women, a night with a clear mission and future. The cast of “Big Little Lies” looked just about as I-Am-Woman-Hear-Me-Roar badass cleaning up at the show as they did tag-team murdering Alexander Skarsgård in the show. Saoirse Ronan and Millie Bobby Brown were some of the most anticipated red carpet arrivals. “The Shape of Water” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”, both with female leads, emerged as Oscar favorites. On the whole, the many topical speeches -- like this one from Elizabeth Moss: "We no longer live in the blank white spaces at the edge of print. We no longer live in the gaps between the stories. We are the story in print, and we are writing the story ourselves." -- landed not because everyone is nice and inclusive these-a-days, but because female creators had a hell of a year. If studio heads at the top and us tweeting, review-reading, popcorn-eating fans are simply open to it, that will continue, from all marginalized groups. With simple open minds to dope entertainment there’ll be no need for affirmative action and the Oscars will be nothing but gold.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

178987
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

6170
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

451746
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22874
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments