I'm a sucker for award shows: the red carpet looks, Jimmy Fallon's unfunny musical numbers that they keep letting him do, finding out if my opinions are shared by the Hollywood big wigs. My hype and the hype of faceless internet trolls keep the Golden Globes relevant for weeks after the aired event (lucky for procrastination-prone bloggers like me). Donald Glover gave a shout-out to the song "Bad and Boujee" by Migos during his acceptance speech, pushing it to the number one spot on Billboard's Top 100. Meryl Streep caused a political upheaval for slamming Trump's shameful behavior. Say what you will about the film industry's entrenched crony-system, the fact that these award shows get people talking and expose cinematic and cultural excellence and diversity to the masses is enough to prove its benefit. The Golden Globes' widespread popularity facilitates communication and connection, especially given Hollywood's recent efforts to include underrepresented groups such as transgender people (with shows like Transparent) and the black community (with shows like Black-ish, Insecure and Atlanta). Given the huge audience, the award is a perfect platform for putting the spotlight on controversy.
Utilizing this space, Meryl Streep did us all a favor and spoke to the bright orange elephant in the room. She encouraged journalists and entertainers to take action in supporting the arts and freedom of expression. Unsurpisingly, Donald Trump received her verbal subtweet and responded, of course, on Twitter, attacking Streep's career as an actress.
Streep's rallying cry was well-received by a large portion of surveyed attendees. “This is what Hollywood kind of should be,” Insecure's Issa Rae said to The New York Times. “She’s surpassed strictly being a performance artist and now is an artist of social change." According to The Los Angeles Times, Mr. Robot's Rami Malek said “In a weird way, she’s our president.” But not everyone was as enthusiastic; several nervous Hollywood heads questioned her bold move, finding the award show an inappropriate forum. No one, however, should have been surprised by Streep: the film and entertainment industry has long been considered a sturdy fortress of liberalism. In the past, during times of political distress, popular entertainers have used their award acceptance speeches as an opportunity to speak about the political climate. Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Sally Field all gave forceful and often lengthy narratives responding to current events.
Streep carries on a grand tradition of outspokenness among Hollywood elite while motivating young journalists and entertainers. During a time in which free speech is simultaneously ubiquitous and shunned, a positive and inclusive guiding voice is crucial. As Streep suggested, this can be accomplished through art and entertainment. Possible next steps: let lead actresses gain ten pounds.
Utilizing this space, Meryl Streep did us all a favor and spoke to the bright orange elephant in the room. She encouraged journalists and entertainers to take action in supporting the arts and freedom of expression. Unsurpisingly, Donald Trump received her verbal subtweet and responded, of course, on Twitter, attacking Streep's career as an actress.
Streep's rallying cry was well-received by a large portion of surveyed attendees. “This is what Hollywood kind of should be,” Insecure's Issa Rae said to The New York Times. “She’s surpassed strictly being a performance artist and now is an artist of social change." According to The Los Angeles Times, Mr. Robot's Rami Malek said “In a weird way, she’s our president.” But not everyone was as enthusiastic; several nervous Hollywood heads questioned her bold move, finding the award show an inappropriate forum. No one, however, should have been surprised by Streep: the film and entertainment industry has long been considered a sturdy fortress of liberalism. In the past, during times of political distress, popular entertainers have used their award acceptance speeches as an opportunity to speak about the political climate. Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Sally Field all gave forceful and often lengthy narratives responding to current events.
Streep carries on a grand tradition of outspokenness among Hollywood elite while motivating young journalists and entertainers. During a time in which free speech is simultaneously ubiquitous and shunned, a positive and inclusive guiding voice is crucial. As Streep suggested, this can be accomplished through art and entertainment. Possible next steps: let lead actresses gain ten pounds.