Last night, the 72nd Golden Globes ceremony aired
to honor the best of television and film from the 2014 season, as decided by
the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Though traditionally a night of indulgence
and fanfare, this year the Globes included touches of social
and political consciousness, as winners acknowledged both contemporary and
historic social movements.
Speeches referenced the attack on Charlie Hedbo in France, censorship from North Korea, and the growing opportunity for women in media. Of the most memorable moments of the evening, Common's speech for Best Original Song centered on the solidarity he experienced while working on Selma.
The speeches underscored a more prominent shift in the
Hollywood paradigm- the recognition of television as the purveyor of
diverse and inclusive programming. Shows that feature diverse casts and
subject matters ranging from a pregnant virgin, incarceration, and a
transgender parent, like Jane the Virgin,
Orange is the New Black, and Transparent all were honored Sunday
evening over more traditional programming.
A reason for this shift may be the decline of network cable
shows and rise of alternative streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon. In
the absence of large, often constraining corporate governing bodies that are
reluctant to change, Netflix and Amazon have created content that is
founded upon showcasing diverse and untold stories. Transparent,
the Amazon original series that follows
a family with a transgender father, claimed two globes, one for Best TV Series
and one for Best Actor.
After winning, Tambor. a cisgender man, delivered a heartfelt speech where he referenced the evolving climate around gender identity and thanked
the transgender community for the opportunity to be "a part of the change."
What did you think of
last night’s winners? Have you noticed a shift in television storytelling? Why is
diverse and inclusive storytelling important? Do you seek out television and
films that include diverse perspectives? Though significant advances have been made, there is still a long way to go especially in terms of employing diverse actors for diverse stories. How do we work to make media more inclusive and more representative of those who watch it?
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