Hollywood fails to respond to the new expressions audiences crave
This year’s Oscar nominations have sparked heated conversations and debates across social media platforms, as audiences around the world express their dissatisfaction with the selection of works, directors, and actors. The lack of nominations for Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie for their movie “Barbie” has particularly ignited a firestorm of criticism and discussion. Their snub has brought the film into the limelight, raising questions about the inability of Hollywood to meet the demands of contemporary audiences for new expressions and experiences.
“Barbie” has been touted as the frontrunner for the Best Picture category, with many asserting that the movie has been wrongfully overlooked. The film’s early elimination from the nominations has made it the most talked about topic, overshadowing the remaining Best Picture candidates. The movie’s inability to secure nominations has highlighted the conservative aesthetic mechanism prevalent in the industry, exacerbating the gap between the audience and the wider real world.
In addition to “Barbie,” the Oscar nominations for Best Director also revealed mainstream cinema’s lag behind contemporary drama and literature. Works by male directors such as Christopher Nolan and Martin Scorsese have failed to push the boundaries of film language expression, creating an impression that existing techniques have reached a critical point. “Oppenheimer” and “Killers of the Flower Moon,” though hailed as traditional masterpieces, have been criticized for their old-fashioned expressions and inability to break free from the predominant white male perspective.
In contrast, “Barbie” has broken traditional barriers and boundaries, despite its alleged shortcomings in artistic quality. The film’s ability to deconstruct heavy issues related to gender politics, while providing entertainment and a platform for audience engagement, has been praised for its ability to create a meaningful impact. Similarly, the work of female directors such as Justine Trier, director of “The Fall,” has shown the potential for new and innovative expressions in cinema, challenging the existing film language dominated by white men in Hollywood.
The absence of female creators in the Oscar nominations, particularly in the Best Director category, reflects the industry’s failure to embrace and promote diverse voices and perspectives. As audiences continue to demand new expressions and experiences, it remains to be seen whether Hollywood will rise to the occasion and respond to the evolving needs of contemporary viewers.