This past weekend we tucked into the sofa with dinner and
Oscar. It’s my favorite time of year, awards season!
Only, something seems different now. When I was younger,
awards shows were the thing to watch.
To talk about at work the next day. To obsess over for weeks leading up to the
air date. Salivating to see what the ladies would wear, who would win best
picture or album of the year.
And then, there seemed to be a collective flip of the switch
in the eyes of the public.
Suddenly it wasn’t cool to care about movie, pop stars,
athletes anymore. Winning an award or trophy just proved the person in question
had sold out. Got too big for their britches or something. Commercial success
and celebrity weren’t revered. Weren’t something to strive toward. They were
put on blast. As were the things said star vocalized when they won said award.
Don’t forget to thank the voting body. Ugh, his stupid
speech went on forever. Please, she didn’t deserve that award. Just shut up and
dance for us, monkey. Throw the ball. Pretend to be in love for the camera.
Oh, but don’t do it like that.
It’s even worse if the star in question happened to use
their acceptance speech as a way to further a message. Any message. Be perfect.
Be what everyone wants or doesn’t want you to be.
Just don’t do it like that.
At some point the collective decided that entertainers weren’t
people with thoughts, feelings, a life outside of their job. That it was okay
for the rest of us to have opinions, support causes, speak out about or against
anything we want, but the moment a star did the same they were an overpaid
moron who should keep their mouths shut unless they were delivering lines.
Um, I get it that stars make the big bucks but there are
plenty of professions that produce a host of rich, visible people and I don’t
see daily flogging of them for speaking their mind, supporting a charity, whatever.
Using their platform to reach a wide audience.
So I can’t help but ask, why do we marginalize awards shows
and the people involved?
I’m seriously asking that question because I’m an
entertainer of a sort and as of yet I haven’t been told by a random stranger on
the internet to keep my fat mouth shut because of my personal opinion that they don’t agree with. Operative word, yet.
But, then, I’m basically a nobody so I’m still entitled to
an opinion. Right? Isn’t that the only way to know you have really arrived
these days anyway? When the world clamors to be involved in everything you do
but rejects everything you say?
As far as I’m concerned, entertainment is the thing that
keeps us enjoying a tiny speck of sanity in a world filled with chaos. Escape. That’s
why I listen to music, watch movies, sports. Why I write fiction. So maybe
someone out there who feels like me can get a minute or two of diversion from
the cruel reality by reading something I wrote.
But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be able to say things
other than what my work is about. Does it?
True, like I said, I’m not a big known entertainer so I
guess I can’t really speak to what that means. But I know for 100% fact that, no
matter how widely my name is known (or not), I will never please all the
people. I won’t intentionally belittle anyone, marginalize anyone, but there’s
no doubt someone out there could take offense to something I believe when I say/write
it out loud.
And then that’s where the public will focus their flame
thrower.
Belittling. Begrudging. Judging. Trying to take away my
voice.
Movie stars are people, CEOs are people, athletes are
people, artists are people. And this country affords all of us equal
opportunity to speak our minds. Some people hate that other people have a voice
so they use their own to tear the first person down. Aren't we all entitled to
a moment of escape?
I believe the answer is yes. I better. Otherwise, I picked
the wrong career.
I have aspirations to reach a larger audience with my work,
and fully support other weirdos like me who strive for the same thing. Which is
why I love watching awards shows, whether for sports, music, movies. Those people
worked their fricking asses off to reach that level. And I don’t see anything
wrong with them having an opinion in addition to a trophy.
Seriously, who cares? I don’t agree with everything a celebrity
type says, align with all of their messages, but definitely don’t begrudge them
using their voice.
Their voice.
The one thing they stayed true to that got them to where
they are is the very thing we seem to crucify them for having once they get
there.
Well, I don’t care what the public at large has to say about
awards shows. I’ll watch and be super excited about all of the outfits,
performances, displays of personal opinions because I refuse to be an
entertainer who tears down other entertainers just because they reached a
higher level of success than me.
And, if I get what I really dream of, one day I might even
join some of them, walking in a fancy dress on a red carpet. Of course, I’m
only a writer. It’s unlikely anyone will even notice me on that carpet. Nobody talks
about writers.
Right?
• • • • • • • • • • •
In addition to this drivel I also write books, both fiction and non-fiction.
Learn more on my author page.
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