Skip texted me he wasn’t sure about watching the Oscars this year, and I had to agree. Both of us weren’t really aware of the nominees, had seen even fewer of the movies, and after two years of weaning ourselves off cinema thanks to COVID, we weren’t as obsessed as we once were. To poorly paraphrase Edith Wharton, the world we knew had crumbled and rebuilt itself without us even noticing.
That said, when Serena and Venus Williams introduced Beyonce for a visually-stunning performance of her Oscar-nominated song, I perked up, paid attention, and settled in for a surprisingly enjoyable Academy Awards event. The usual notifications from JoAnn on her favorite dresses came in – an annual tradition – and I marveled at some stunning use of color in this year’s ensembles.
Overall though, the weight and import of such events has been diminished. There is just too much happening in our real lives, and in the world at large, to be as concerned and invested as I once believed myself to be. That sort of interest feels somewhat silly, and very far away.
That doesn’t mean I can’t and didn’t enjoy it. I felt the frisson of seeing our superstars decked out and giddy with the excitement of their night. Feasting my eyes upon the various frocks and ensembles still inspired and delighted my senses. Thrilling at the colors of those who went bold, and winking at the edgier choices by the likes of Timothée Chalamet and Kristen Stewart, it was a return to glamour in a whole new world.
{UPDATE: Right after this post was written, Chris Rock made a G.I. Jane joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith’s hair, and Will Smith walked up on stage and smacked him. He then said, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth.” So it seems that this year even the Oscars had to be traumatizing. Enjoyable return to glamour? Not quite. If there was one place I thought someone would be completely assured and safe in NOT getting hit, it would have been live on stage at the Academy Awards. And as triggering as this was for me to see, I’m not going to comment on it one way or another. This blog was never intended for a deep exploration of anything other than myself.}
Back to Blog
