There's no Ken without Barbie
+ I got to pick a theme for our new favourite word game so you have to go & play it!! 𓆩♡𓆪
Ok HUUUUUGE news for anyone that loves Wordle or Connections or any other fun online games (or even if you don’t usually.) A few months ago a newsy reader told me about a game they thought I’d enjoy called ‘Hang Five’ because it’s like a mix between Connections and Wordle. They were right - I played it, loved it, recommended it to my family, and now we sit and play it each morning (it’s super quick!).
The other day I put it up on the Close Friends story to say thank you to whoever told me about it, and to my surprise, later that day I received an email with the subject ‘Thanks from Hang Five!’ The email was from Arun, who along with Amy, built the game (and they’re based in New Zealand - who knew??) letting me know that someone had sent them my Instagram story and that if I wanted to pick a theme for an upcoming game I could. So naturally I DID! AND IT’S TODAY’S!
So - I want you all to go and play today’s Hang Five and then let me know what you think (but don’t spoil it in the comments!!) Also, if you loved the game, tell your friends xxxx
⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖ IN THE NEWS⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖
There’s no Ken without Barbie
Okay, I couldn't NOT write about this, considering I felt brave enough to venture back onto Instagram to see what you all thought about it and both posts I made got over 200k likes. Seems like something you care about, seems like I'm happy to oblige. The issue at hand is that for the 2024 Oscars, Greta Gerwig didn't get nominated for Best Director, Margot Robbie didn't get nominated for Best Actress (for playing the TITULAR role of Barbie), but Ryan Gosling got nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Ken. While America Ferrera was nominated for Best Supporting Actress (obsessed), the irony of a dude being celebrated over the two women who largely made this movie happen was not lost on anyone. Especially not the internet.
Barbie is a film about girlhood, for girlhood, celebrating girlhood. And yes, in the film, you also have Ken - but he’s ‘just Ken’ until he goes into the real world, discovers the power of the patriarchy, and realizes that he’s no longer ‘just Ken.’ No - in the real world, he can get by (maybe even succeed) within this system simply by living within it. Barbie, on the other hand, has the realization that it’s hard enough just to exist as a woman in the real world, let alone succeed in it. I could say something here about life imitating art, or art imitating life, but I’m sure you already get it: the Academy missed the point of the movie, or rather proved it, by making all their decisions from the Mojo Dojo Casa house.
Don’t worry though, Ryan Gosling feels the same, and gave this statement shortly after the announcement:
“I am extremely honored to be nominated by my colleagues alongside such remarkable artists in a year of so many great films. And I never thought I’d being saying this, but I’m also incredibly honored and proud that it’s for portraying a plastic doll named Ken.
But there is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no “Barbie” movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally-celebrated film.
No recognition would be possible for anyone on the film without their talent, grit and genius.
To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.
Against all odds with nothing but a couple of soulless, scantily clad, and thankfully crotchless dolls, they made us laugh, they broke our hearts, they pushed the culture and they made history. Their work should be recognized along with the other very deserving nominees.
Having said that, I am so happy for America Ferrera and the other incredible artists who contributed their talents to making this such a groundbreaking film.”
And here’s what America said (the actress, not the country, though I’m sure the country echoes her sentiments):
“I was incredibly disappointed that they weren’t nominated,” Ferrera says.
“Greta has done just about everything that a director could do to deserve it,” Ferrera explains. “Creating this world, and taking something that didn’t have inherent value to most people and making it a global phenomenon. It feels disappointing to not see her on that list.”
“What Margot achieved as an actress is truly unbelievable,” Ferrera says. “One of the things about Margot as an actress is how easy she makes everything look. And perhaps people got fooled into thinking that the work seems easy, but Margot is a magician as an actress in front of the screen, and it was one of the honors of my career to get to witness her pull off the amazing performance she did. She brings so much heart and humor and depth and joy and fun to the character. In my book, she’s a master.”
What do you think about this??? Should they have had to make these statements? Do you think that this overshadows the other brilliant actors/ directors in the categories? Keen to hear your thoughts in the comments or in the chat thread!
On another note: shout out Lily fucking Gladstone who just made history as the first Native American to be nominated for Best Actress!!!!
Gen Z Voters Say They Are Opting Out of the 2024 Election
“For the first time since he became eligible to vote, Elias, 26, isn’t going to cast a ballot for president in the next election. Lillian, 20, hasn’t decided whether she’s going to vote or not. Lia, 28, is going to leave the spot for “president” blank on her ballot. And Zach, 22, is having a hard time convincing some of his friends that their vote matters.”
Big eeek - especially after I wrote yesterday about 2024 being the world’s biggest year for democracy.
In other news:
Against every instinct:How doctors in Gaza persevere amid Israel attacks (Al Jazeera)
Just two northern white rhinos remain. The species’ first IVF pregnancy could save them from extinction (The Guardian)
Trump won New Hampshire (NBC)
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Books As Fast Fashion & Competitive Reading
A VERY ‘Shit You Should Read About’ inspired episode of Culture Vulture today - we discuss Booktok, the commodification of books, and why we feel like reading is a competition these days. You should listen!!!
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PS, if you wanna chat to me about anything I’ve written today, your latest crush, or if you just want a pen pal, reply to this email and we can be friends 𓆩♡𓆪
Not voting is incredibly stupid. I live in a country in which I can’t vote and it pains me daily. It’s so stupid to not realise that voting doesn’t just impact you and you could make a difference for the disenfranchised.
the fact that other zoomers may not be voting is actually terrifying and also didn't we have the largest young voter turnout last election? I have to wonder the demographic of people who might not care for voting (people who may not have to worry about their rights being affected by the results)