I have now watched the clip from the Academy Awards, I’m Just Ken, multiple times. It does not fail to make me smile. Although I was born in California, I was back in Canada with a new name and a new nationality before I turned a year old. I have held onto the Canadian Born Abroad status and worn it like a badge of honour for my entire life. Growing up in Canada was punctuated with annual trips to visit my American family in Los Angeles. Family dynamics amplified the differentiation between the Canada emphasis on community and the American emphasis on individualism. On first viewing of Ryan Goslings’ Academy Award performance, his Canadian roots were front and centre and have evoked a tremendous sense of Canadian pride.
Ryan Gosling was amazing in bringing depth to his role as Ken and reinvigorating a conversation about patriarchy. He had every right to celebrate his individual achievement. Certainly, it would be supported by the patriarchy which is obviously alive and well in Hollywood. But his Academy Awards performance had nothing to do with individualism and everything to do with community building. He took the opportunity to lift up others around him and celebrate their achievements in the midst of an inspired performance.
Starting by putting the hat on his sister’s head, he continued to shine the spotlight on others to make them important and proceed with a totally inclusive performance. Mark Ronson on the bass, Andrew Wyatt on piano, Wolfgang Van Halen and Slash were all front and centre and it was a tribute to their musical talent. Going back into the audience to let Margo Robbie, director Greta Gerwig, and America Ferrera sing, celebrated their role in stimulating conversation around what is to be female through a doll that has been largely dissed by feminists like myself for decades. Holding the mic up to Emma Stone and engaging in playful banter with Emily Blunt about Barbenheimer, incorporating Simi Liu and Ncuti Gatwa and the other 62 dancers was amazing. After the fact acknowledging the “notes” from his daughters were thoughtful gestures to lift up those around him. And he has guaranteed I will never mix up Mandy Moore actress with Mandy Moore choreographer again. Well done, Ryan Gosling. You’ve not only done us proud but demonstrated that “together we’re better.”
Inquire2Empower 