Oh my gosh. Yes. Nancy Davis Kho wrote something similar in her most recent newsletter--not about the Golden Globes, but about some other enjoyable activity that people were all up in arms about people enjoying during "these times." I am pumping my fist along with both of you, Liz - because it is LITERALLY ALWAYS "these times". Americans being more tuned-in to a tragedy, for whatever reason, doesn't make it any more or less tragic than the ones we don't notice or pay attention to. Art matters. Beauty heals. Comedy helps people survive darkness. In all of "these times."
It pisses me off the way some people- a lot of them frankly - love to disparage Hollywood. If they want to spend their days mired down in the perpetual sadness pit known as the news, sure. Let it fly. I’m on the train with you , Liz. I need art and story in my life.
Liz, you know I'm a big fan of you and your writing. And I agree with everything you said in this post. But, "lighten up, Francis" is from Stripes. Not Pee Wee. It's spoken by Sergeant Hulka after Francis "Psycho" Sawyer tells the whole platoon that he'll kill anyone who touches him or his stuff. I'm not usually the guy who does this sort of thing, but as a person whose children hate every one of the movies he holds dear, I can't let this slide. Now, if you want to talk Pee Wee quotes, "Is this something you can share with the rest of us, Amazing Larry?!?" is always a crowd pleaser.
I'm a proud mama of a kid with a BFA degree who makes a living in the world of performing arts. 🎭 The arts of all kinds, especially theater and music, are the center of my world.
Sari, of course! It's one of my very favorite reads! I know how much work goes into it, and I hope even a few of my readers discover all the wonderful advice and inspiration.
Yes, indeed! While I don't personally watch the award shows, I'm always grateful we have the arts, entertainment, and celebrations to provide the balm and the respite from the horrible things that surround us. As well as, for the movies and works of art that shine a light on those horrible things, out of time, under a spotlight, and in a small dose. Thanks, Liz.
Lovely! This is the first time i really paid attention to the golden globes, and I’m so happy that cast members from succession and the best won. My two favorite shows this year by far. Art for arts sake always.
I don't have an issue with people that enjoy awards shows. I don't love them because A. Ridiculous swag bags with items that often add up to more money than I'll see in ten years of working, but mostly B. Dude. Where are the award shows for fire fighters, cops, social workers, teachers, [insert public service sector of your choice here]. It just makes absolutely no sense to me that actors make so much money for essentially playing pretend. My opera singer cousin was rather upset with me today when I made the "playing pretend" comment to her, and let me know in no uncertain terms that it is so much more than playing pretend. Okay, but I really feel that amount of money and that level of gift giving should maybe go to a nurse who, you know, worked the entire pandemic reusing PPE because of shortages, who held someone's hand while they were terrified, things of that nature. I have Hollywood issues. The exception to this is Bon Jovi. Those guys deserve every bit of money they ever made and I love them and they are the exception to every rule. 🤣
Wow. Okay, first, as a social worker, I would TOTALLY watch that award show and also ask if I could be on the voting committee. The Bon Jovi comment was a joke...goodness. And I started my comment by stating I have no problem with people that enjoy awards shows. I...me...the person writing this comment...feel that it's not the greatest thing, and I feel like people who do the jobs I mentioned earlier should make just as big bucks. Pretty sure I wasn't bashing anyone. Just stating my opinion.
Just saying thanks for the work you do, Amanda. I don't think performers (of all kinds) hear that enough. It means a lot to ME. And like I said in my original post, I know last year was a bitch for the entire industry. Hoping you have a 2024 filled with successes of all kinds.
My mom is a teacher. My daughter is an acting major. They both work exceptionally hard, and do work that is meaningful.
There’s room to celebrate all kinds of people in this world without having to put down anyone else; there’s not a finite amount of goodwill in the universe.
Really beautiful perspective, Liz. I didn't watch the globes (mostly because I live in a childcare bubble some days and forgot!) but I have experienced these feelings and thoughts a thousand times during Covid, George Floyd's death, the war in Ukraine, now Isreal, Palestine, Gaza....There has been suffering forever, we are only just more aware of it now as media is so immediate and constant. As an empath. I can easily get swallowed whole by the grief and have lost months and even years of my life, my joy, my connection to my kids, my writing life, and parts of my career to that kind of grief during covid times. This perspective might have helped me then so I applaud the risk that it is to say this, now. This, especially:
"I’m sorry we live in a world that can so easily steal our happiness. I spend my life trying to make it a better one, best I can. So then, maybe you can understand my personal perspective, which is that when I feel sad about the world, losing myself in grief too long does nothing of value for me. Losing myself in great stories, however — it’s a balm. I need it. Even the greatest activists rest. They restore. They find moments of joy."
I am not a TV person, and it's my instinct to take myself and the world too seriously, and I can relate to both sides of this. But last night my kids begged me to plop on the cough with them and watch Is It Cake, a gimmicky, (frankly wasteful) food show they love that would normally make me cringe. But as my 8-year-old son's hand felll on my leg, as I watched him draped over his sister, and their heads tip toward each other in rest, I felt the love and connection with each other as we mutually cheered for the sweet underdog of the show. We lost two young boys in our community this week to a tragic car crash and there's been a lot of sadness, here. And it would have been so easy to demand my kids to get up and write letters of condolence, or spin my wheels all night obsessing over what to do to help the families. But in that small moment, what my kid's little hearts needed was to feel safe and connected to me. To know, at least for that moment, they could let the sadness go.
"These times", as others have said, are always in big or small ways. We have to stay tapped into our joy, and art and love and laughter along with grief and empathy and action--to be whole.
Sarah, thank you for sharing so much of your life with us here. Tragedies that hit that close to home are more than painful, they're reminders of how many people experience them every single day, and we never even know about them. All we can do is stay in the loop best we can, write the condolence letters, and show up for the people who need us -- in the world and on the couch. (That show sounds hilarious from the name alone; I need to check it out! And I'm glad you all had that moment together.)
Your last line really hit me by the way. And yes. Let's allow ourselves to be our whole selves.
Oh my gosh. Yes. Nancy Davis Kho wrote something similar in her most recent newsletter--not about the Golden Globes, but about some other enjoyable activity that people were all up in arms about people enjoying during "these times." I am pumping my fist along with both of you, Liz - because it is LITERALLY ALWAYS "these times". Americans being more tuned-in to a tragedy, for whatever reason, doesn't make it any more or less tragic than the ones we don't notice or pay attention to. Art matters. Beauty heals. Comedy helps people survive darkness. In all of "these times."
I am going to look for that, thank you. And yes, it is always “these times.” Which, as I said, sucks.
Just forwarded it to your email because unfortch I don't think she's on Substack (yet.) Loved both your takes. GMTA and all that :)
I am 100 percent with you on this.
It pisses me off the way some people- a lot of them frankly - love to disparage Hollywood. If they want to spend their days mired down in the perpetual sadness pit known as the news, sure. Let it fly. I’m on the train with you , Liz. I need art and story in my life.
I never see people getting attacked for talking about NCAA brackets or Super Bowl predictions
Re my comment on this post: my rant includes sports figures.
You KNOW I love this.
Thanks for always being a light maker
Back atcha, Sunshine.
"Lighten up, Francis" is from Stripes I'M SORRY I'M SORRY.
But yes I agree with your general principle here. Let people have some fun!
Corrected! The first time I published and then walked away for a couple hours ha ha thank you.
Liz, you know I'm a big fan of you and your writing. And I agree with everything you said in this post. But, "lighten up, Francis" is from Stripes. Not Pee Wee. It's spoken by Sergeant Hulka after Francis "Psycho" Sawyer tells the whole platoon that he'll kill anyone who touches him or his stuff. I'm not usually the guy who does this sort of thing, but as a person whose children hate every one of the movies he holds dear, I can't let this slide. Now, if you want to talk Pee Wee quotes, "Is this something you can share with the rest of us, Amazing Larry?!?" is always a crowd pleaser.
It’s changed, and thank you!
I feel all of this in my SOUL!
I'm a proud mama of a kid with a BFA degree who makes a living in the world of performing arts. 🎭 The arts of all kinds, especially theater and music, are the center of my world.
(also... "I'm not a strong swimmer..." 😂)
Thanks in advance to your kid for bringing us all something really important!
Preach. ❤️
I am in agreement with you. We need Art especially at times like these. It is good for our souls to see the beauty alongside the emotion in life.
Amen
Liz, thank you! For “getting” what I’m doing with Oldster, and spreading the word here. 😘
Sari, of course! It's one of my very favorite reads! I know how much work goes into it, and I hope even a few of my readers discover all the wonderful advice and inspiration.
That you love Oldster means so much to me. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Yes, indeed! While I don't personally watch the award shows, I'm always grateful we have the arts, entertainment, and celebrations to provide the balm and the respite from the horrible things that surround us. As well as, for the movies and works of art that shine a light on those horrible things, out of time, under a spotlight, and in a small dose. Thanks, Liz.
Thank YOU for being one of those creators of beautiful art! ✨
Yes! I love tv and movies and pretty dresses - so sue me! I really miss Twitter on these occasions but I had fun following your threads.
Thanks Beth! I'm with you on missing Twitter. ("Back in my day...we Tweeted and we had fun, and no one hassled us! No, I'm not making this up!")
Lovely! This is the first time i really paid attention to the golden globes, and I’m so happy that cast members from succession and the best won. My two favorite shows this year by far. Art for arts sake always.
I don't have an issue with people that enjoy awards shows. I don't love them because A. Ridiculous swag bags with items that often add up to more money than I'll see in ten years of working, but mostly B. Dude. Where are the award shows for fire fighters, cops, social workers, teachers, [insert public service sector of your choice here]. It just makes absolutely no sense to me that actors make so much money for essentially playing pretend. My opera singer cousin was rather upset with me today when I made the "playing pretend" comment to her, and let me know in no uncertain terms that it is so much more than playing pretend. Okay, but I really feel that amount of money and that level of gift giving should maybe go to a nurse who, you know, worked the entire pandemic reusing PPE because of shortages, who held someone's hand while they were terrified, things of that nature. I have Hollywood issues. The exception to this is Bon Jovi. Those guys deserve every bit of money they ever made and I love them and they are the exception to every rule. 🤣
Wow. Okay, first, as a social worker, I would TOTALLY watch that award show and also ask if I could be on the voting committee. The Bon Jovi comment was a joke...goodness. And I started my comment by stating I have no problem with people that enjoy awards shows. I...me...the person writing this comment...feel that it's not the greatest thing, and I feel like people who do the jobs I mentioned earlier should make just as big bucks. Pretty sure I wasn't bashing anyone. Just stating my opinion.
Just saying thanks for the work you do, Amanda. I don't think performers (of all kinds) hear that enough. It means a lot to ME. And like I said in my original post, I know last year was a bitch for the entire industry. Hoping you have a 2024 filled with successes of all kinds.
My mom is a teacher. My daughter is an acting major. They both work exceptionally hard, and do work that is meaningful.
There’s room to celebrate all kinds of people in this world without having to put down anyone else; there’s not a finite amount of goodwill in the universe.
Really beautiful perspective, Liz. I didn't watch the globes (mostly because I live in a childcare bubble some days and forgot!) but I have experienced these feelings and thoughts a thousand times during Covid, George Floyd's death, the war in Ukraine, now Isreal, Palestine, Gaza....There has been suffering forever, we are only just more aware of it now as media is so immediate and constant. As an empath. I can easily get swallowed whole by the grief and have lost months and even years of my life, my joy, my connection to my kids, my writing life, and parts of my career to that kind of grief during covid times. This perspective might have helped me then so I applaud the risk that it is to say this, now. This, especially:
"I’m sorry we live in a world that can so easily steal our happiness. I spend my life trying to make it a better one, best I can. So then, maybe you can understand my personal perspective, which is that when I feel sad about the world, losing myself in grief too long does nothing of value for me. Losing myself in great stories, however — it’s a balm. I need it. Even the greatest activists rest. They restore. They find moments of joy."
I am not a TV person, and it's my instinct to take myself and the world too seriously, and I can relate to both sides of this. But last night my kids begged me to plop on the cough with them and watch Is It Cake, a gimmicky, (frankly wasteful) food show they love that would normally make me cringe. But as my 8-year-old son's hand felll on my leg, as I watched him draped over his sister, and their heads tip toward each other in rest, I felt the love and connection with each other as we mutually cheered for the sweet underdog of the show. We lost two young boys in our community this week to a tragic car crash and there's been a lot of sadness, here. And it would have been so easy to demand my kids to get up and write letters of condolence, or spin my wheels all night obsessing over what to do to help the families. But in that small moment, what my kid's little hearts needed was to feel safe and connected to me. To know, at least for that moment, they could let the sadness go.
"These times", as others have said, are always in big or small ways. We have to stay tapped into our joy, and art and love and laughter along with grief and empathy and action--to be whole.
Sarah, thank you for sharing so much of your life with us here. Tragedies that hit that close to home are more than painful, they're reminders of how many people experience them every single day, and we never even know about them. All we can do is stay in the loop best we can, write the condolence letters, and show up for the people who need us -- in the world and on the couch. (That show sounds hilarious from the name alone; I need to check it out! And I'm glad you all had that moment together.)
Your last line really hit me by the way. And yes. Let's allow ourselves to be our whole selves.