The outrage and discourse surrounding Barbie following the unveiling of this year’s Oscar nominations has sparked intriguing conversations dominating most corners of cyberspace.
You may be someone inhabiting a space on the internet far away from the dilly-dallying of the rest. Even then, chances are you’ve heard of it. And if you have, then you’d know that the arguments dismissing the Academy’s decisions have inevitably and unfortunately detracted from the triumphs that matter and the losses that (should) matter a bit more.
Related: Fans Cry Foul Over America Ferrera’s Oscar Nomination For ‘Barbie’ Role
It all began when expectant audiences witnessed the absence of leading actress Margot Robbie in the Best Actress in a Leading Role category for the 96th Academy Awards. Likewise, helmer Greta Gerwig, whose colossal blockbuster broke records for an impressive box-office feat, was unaccounted for in the Best Directing category.
In taking to social media platforms, rhetoric voiced by those against the verdict aimed to echo its alleged unfairness. Nevertheless, some of the arguments surrounding the discourse at their core pose some flaws, and claiming Robbie and Gerwig’s omission in their respective categories is a slight against feminism may eclipse the films that have upheld feminist values but whose achievements will go unheeded amid social media’s mass disapproval.
Discourse Around Barbie‘s Oscar Snub Leaves Other Feminist Triumphs Unnoticed
The aftermath of the 2024 Oscar nominations infuriated thousands of Barbie fans. The ironic fact that Ryan Gosling was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role added to some people’s dissatisfaction. A few were even voicing their shock at America Ferrera‘s Oscar recognition.
Although fans aren’t wrong in feeling Robbie and Gerwig deserved more, it’s a dangerous line to tip-toe when a basis of comparison is established. In the spots occupied in the Best Actress category, we see performances by women who’ve delivered excellence, some in narratives that also, if not explicitly, encapsulate feminist subtext. Here, history was made by Lily Gladstone, who became the first Native American woman to be nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards.
Unfortunately, the contemporary conversation surrounding Barbie has substantially eclipsed the historical one, dominating print and media outlets. The noise surrounding the two Hollywood personalities’ snub has detracted from other feminist triumphs this year.
Related: Barbie Co-Star Joins to Bash Oscars After Snubbing Greta Gerwig
Numerous critics commended Anatomy of a Fall for having a compelling feminist undertone. Yet, not being marketed as explicitly feminist has deterred some netizens from acknowledging the implications of its numerous nominations at the 2024 Oscars.
Its victories, both through Sandra Hüller’s Best Actress and Justine Triet’s impressive Best Directing nomination, should have been addressed as a feminist triumph. However, the reality is far more unpleasant.
Many doubting their inclusion haven’t even seen the gripping French legal drama. Similarly, fans questioning Emma Stone‘s Poor Things nomination shows how commercial, uber-popular blockbusters often redirect focus from feminist narratives that aren’t spoon-fed to audiences (which is somewhat understandable, but in poor taste when used as an argument to diminish others’ victories). Thus, failing to see why Hüller and Stone’s spots in the Oscars line-up could make sense above Robbie’s.
That’s not to say the latter lacks spectacular talent. It comes down to subjectivity, narrative quality, and performance quality. Not all that is commercially successful is “Oscar-worthy” (which, again, is a debate of its own).
It Not Only Disregards The Wins, It Also Overshadows The Losses
If the discussion concerns highlighting Oscar-worthy movies and performances overlooked by the Academy, it should also revolve around Greta Lee (Past Lives) and Fantasia Barrino (The Color Purple). Alas, the same energy and the exact vigor haven’t been observed on social media when it comes to netizens pleading a case in their favor.
Similarly, many directors have been ‘snubbed’ by the Oscars besides Greta Gerwig.
Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, Ridley Scott, and so many more have worked on several endeavors that shifted the cultural landscape in the past but failed to land recognition for their respective works. Legends like Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese have only won once or twice in the Best Director category despite boasting a filmography of mostly masterpieces.
And if we were to address the international trailblazers whose directorial efforts revolutionized the film scene many times, we would never run out of names to mention.
Related: Barbie’ Loses Nomination To ‘Oppenheimer’ in A Category That Makes No Sense
In this sense, contrasting Gerwig’s (and Robbie’s) absence of nominations with those announced this year ignores the subjectivity inherent in these award ceremonies. Plus, batting for Barbie to echo the mass disapproval of the Best Actress and Best Directing nominations ‘failing feminism’ diminishes the triumphs other feminist films have enjoyed.
Although not representative of a desirable quotient—as evidenced by how only eight women have ever received a Best Director nomination at the Oscars (and that’s only one example)—these are female achievements nonetheless and can go blatantly unnoticed under the current frenzy.
Is it then the responsibility of the ceremony to broaden its scope of celebration? Of course, the Academy must always strive to improve on that. It’s this sentiment that better encapsulates the arguments in Barbie‘s favor.
Nevertheless, fans must remember that, unlike other initiatives, Barbie has eight Oscar nominations—proving that the team effort behind the project hasn’t been utterly disregarded or gone unacknowledged. Robbie got her due in the Best Picture nomination as the producer, and Gerwig earned it from the Best Adapted Screenplay nomination.
Therefore, while some fans’ feelings are justified, the sensationalism surrounding the discourse must quieten down.
