narratives that move us forward
Hi my friends,
‘Tis the season, ‘Awards Season’ that is…on the heels of the Golden Globes, the Grammys, BAFTAs and just a few weeks out from the SAG awards and the Oscars; Hollywood’s industry titans take center stage once again.
When you look beyond all of the ‘over the top’ celebratory madness - there is a silver lining. The spotlight is rapidly shifting from the ‘who’ to the ‘why.’
From questioning decision makers and holding them accountable, to social uproars about who is NOT represented; the award ceremony stages have become platforms for industry-wide activists to promote issues that bring audiences to tears and garner rally cries.
Media is a reflection of society, and throughout history, the industry has become a snapshot of the times. It serves as a social time-capsule; shining a spotlight on what we find relevant and then amplifying it to the rest of the world. Whether a horror film, a folk song, or a documentary series, these are the stories and characters that bring important themes to the front of our social consciousness.
Given my line of work, I love this microscope. Think the ‘Me Too’ movement. Women have been dealing with these issues since – always – but it wasn’t until Hollywood pushed the topic forward that it became a cultural focus.
Despite what we think of the industry, it has power. The power to direct audiences’ attention to the communities and causes readily overlooked - and that matters. Did you know the series Will & Grace is thought of as a major catalyst to passing same-sex marriage laws in the US? The first prime time sitcom to star openly gay leads, the characters put a face to the LGBT+ movement.
One of my favorite moments in recent Hollywood history is when the Indie film Moonlight, the story of a black, queer protagonist, won Best Picture over the favored quintessential romance La La Land. It was even accidentally announced incorrectly by Beatty and Dunaway! Now I know some would say not much has changed since that moment, but the message from the Academy was clear: America is ready for new stories.
As the ‘why’ becomes the new center-stage - we, the audience, can use this as an opportunity to learn, understand and connect to one-another. And at the very least these stories become helpful tools for discourse during such a hyper-polarized time.
Call me crazy, but I think we need to officially launch a new award category. We need to celebrate the narratives that are shifting hearts and minds and the people who are doing the most to move us all forward. It’s high time that we recognize the artists, producers and executives who create stories that inspire action and a legacy of impact.
The Move Forward Award…Academy - are you listening? ;)
Natalie
what the FRIDAY!
Rihanna at the Superbowl. Once again, she showed up and changed the game. Not sure why everyone was freaking out about her crotch grab and baby bump? Maybe it’s because she owned the stage like no female performer of the half-time show has in history and people don’t know what to do with it.
Can you remember the last time you saw a half-time show that didn’t involve a female performer at the height of celebrity being over-the-top sexualized?
Not Ri Ri. She gave us something else to focus on. Her talent. Her command of the stage. Her voice. That RED-hot coat! An awesome nod to the infamous Andre Leon Tally, former Vogue editor-at-large and fashion icon.
Giving off of an air of -- I am here because I rock, and I don’t need to give you any other part of myself to prove that; she gracefully walked the blurry line that comes with being a woman center stage.
This New Yorker piece put it well- ‘Rihanna is perhaps the only pop star so relaxed and unencumbered by expectations that she could turn such a high-stakes occasion into a cool and casual jaunt. Her halftime show last night was as muted and stripped down as a Super Bowl performance can be: There were no high-profile guest stars, no garish set pieces or dramatic costume changes…even the pregnancy was treated with a light touch.”
And to think that only three years ago in response to the NFL’s treatment of Colin Kaepernick, it was reported in Vogue that ‘Rihanna couldn’t dare’ perform at the Super Bowl. But now that the league has partnered with Jay’Z’s Roc Nation to amplify initiatives around economic advancement, police-community relations, and criminal justice reform; she felt it was ‘important to representation’ to perform. And we’re glad that she did.
Should we be surprised that all the media cared to report was crotch grabs and baby bumps?
In the spirit of celebrating Rihanna as the dynamic trailblazer she is, we’re going to highlight a few things that aren’t being talked about right now. Like the fact she is the first Barbadian, the first billionaire, and yes, the first pregnant woman to perform the Superbowl half-time show.
She’s a self-made billionaire entrepreneur, an industry-disrupter, an activist, a savvy businesswoman and a dedicated philanthropist. We haven’t seen anything this week about how she founded the Clara Lionel Foundation which focuses on climate justice and committed $15M to organizations on the front lines declaring ‘climate disasters do not impact all communities equally.’
Thank you Rihanna for using your platform to move the Superbowl show forward.
something cool
Fashion Week is here. And we love that diversity and sustainability have become hot topics on the runway.
If you are still running around Milan this week, check out the showcase of 12 emerging BIPOC 'designers to know' at MODES with Afro Fashion Association.
One to keep an eye on is Eileen Akbaraly from Madagascar, founder and designer of Made For A Woman. Employing over 350 Malagasy artisans, she is quickly attracting interest as the industry’s go-to for sustainable, plastic -free raphia production. Her capsule collection with Chloé will debut this Spring, and we can’t wait to see it.
