The Oscar nominations are once again leaving behind a trail of conflicting opinions, and this time, heated debate. In 8 nominations, including best film, Barbie, the 2023 pop phenomenon was one of the list’s big winners. But the success was short-lived: the main absences from the list were director Greta Gerwig and lead actress Margot Robbie. Which caused a heated discussion on social networks and the specialized press.
Is this machismo on the part of the voting guilds of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences? Much worse: historical neglect of a cultural icon? Questions are raised by a dismal script that seems to diminish the work not only of the women, but also of a large number of actors and talent behind the camera. Debate over what motivated those responsible for the major victoryThe lack of universally recognizable categories leads to a more complex issue. Can we talk about inexcusable discrimination against the creators or production team of Barbie?
It is not so easy. At least it is not an analysis that can be done from a single point of view. Our team analyzed what happened and leave you with the conclusions about what became an inconvenient element when analyzing the impact of the Oscars. Is this a complex extreme of disdain for works that fall outside the boundaries of genres considered traditional? What a set of questions leaves behind can be critical. understand what can be seen on stage next March 10, during the awards ceremony.
More than masculinity I despise ‘Barbie’
Discussion about whether it is possible Barbie became a victim of mainstream Hollywood masculinity, includes some complex elements. First, there is the question of how much the absence of Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig from the list of nominees demonstrates misogyny. At the very least, discrimination in the work of both on the basis of gender. This may impact the way different award categories are selected. According to this reasoning, Barbie He was left without recognition for his direction and leading actress due to the inconsequential disregard for the actors’ work and the talent behind the camera.
Secondly, it is immediately assumed that the absence Barbie Because the film became a feminist proclamation with satirical overtones. According to the most angry voices, which even include former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and actor Ryan Gosling: Uncomfortable forgetfulness is associated with the so-called hard line of the Academy.. Namely: one that is supported by white North American voters more interested in traditional cinema than narrative experimentation.
But it’s not that simple. In fact, this year’s shortlist shows that the various electoral guilds take their work to ensure diversity and openness to new candidates very seriously. The best case scenario is to open up the spectrum to both women and rationalized groups in various categories. And there really is a woman in the Best Director category. Justine Trieu, talent to shock Anatomy of a fall, is on the list of nominees. He also acts as a screenwriter. Greta Gerwig herself is not missing from the list of favorites. Along with her husband Noah Baumbach, she was selected to compete for Best Adapted Film Screenplay. Barbie.
Confusion at the Oscars
The big complaint seems to be fact-specific. It was Greta Gerwig’s film that was considered one of the best of the year, not the work of its director. Which indicates possible discrimination. This is true? In fact, this is not the first time that a film has been named among the best films of the year rather than the work of its director. In 2021 Dune Denis Villeneuve, achieved 10 nominations, including Best Picture. But no recognition to his director.
The situation demonstrates the difference between the voting guilds choosing nominees. When choosing the best film, all members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have the opportunity to express their opinions. It is not the case that the best address only votes for a specific union related to the field. So wonderful sensitivity and point of view The controversial productions are completely different.
So, is there masculinity and misogyny in Greta Gerwig’s absence? The answer is no. Or at least not directly related to the topic Barbie and its consequences for the cultural product it has now become.
Why is Ryan Gosling yes, but Margot Robbie no?
However, widespread dissatisfaction with Margot Robbie’s absence from the Best Actress category stems from the fact that her male co-star Ryan Gosling was recognized by the Academy. There is nothing strange about this: dozens of times the supporting actor, not the main character, has been nominated for an Oscar. This only praises the work of someone who manages to make a small character memorable. And there’s no denying that Gosling did it with Ken. He radically changed the concept of this doll with commendable grace and effort. An extraordinary overview of masculinity from humor.
But that doesn’t make criticism of the Academy any less legitimate. It is still paradigmatic that in a film with such a message as Barbie His work was given more importance than hers. And perhaps this is where the structural machismo in the Oscars and those old-fashioned academics lies. After all, always, and not only in the movies, Women were required to achieve a much higher level of skill than men. stand out.
In the case of Barbie, it cannot be said that Robbie’s work is bad. In fact, this is unusual. Just like Gosling. But the fact is that, in fact, she was judged by much more stringent criteria than he was. This is Margot Robbie, we know she is a good actress and besides, physically she is the prototype Barbie. People felt that for him to give such a brilliant performance as what he is delivering was “meant to happen.” Unfortunately, this is not surprising, as it should have been. The translator has already started from this point. Therefore, despite the countless layers of depth he brings to the deconstruction of the character, his scope and significance are much more limited than his in the eyes of society.
Academic Problem or Social Problem?
What else could Robbie have done to make his work as well received as Gosling’s? It’s okay because they were both successful. But how the criteria and starting points by which they are assessed are not the same, one had an Oscar nomination and the other didn’t. In this case it does not appear that there was any cruelty towards his work or previous prejudice against him. Barbie. This is something deeper that, fortunately, society is gradually correcting. But this is also a situation that shows that there is still room for improvement.
Likewise, the path that the Academy has to travel with its preconceived ideas regarding certain productions is also long. The recent efforts to be open to new perspectives are commendable.. But when filmmakers like Oliver Stone compiled a catalog Barbie “ridiculous” before it was even released, and after seeing it, it’s clear that there’s still a lot that needs to change within the organization.
The director apologized a few days ago and assured that after watching his opinion had changed and he assessed it positively. But, like him, many other scientists approached her with preliminary unjustified suspicion. For Western society as a whole, the film may not have been ahead of its time. Some even claim that it comes out late and that its themes are already outdated and outdated. But, of course, it seems like it happened too early for the Oscars.
Source: Hiper Textual
