Cate Blanchett Advocates for a Return to Private Award Shows, Citing Loss of Intimacy and Public Scrutiny
Cate Blanchett, the acclaimed actress with two Oscars and a string of other accolades to her name, is advocating for a significant shift in the way award shows are presented, or rather, not presented. In a candid discussion on the "Las Culturistas With Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang" podcast, Blanchett articulated her growing concerns about the increasingly public and scrutinized nature of these events, suggesting a return to the pre-television era when award ceremonies were intimate gatherings focused on celebrating the art of filmmaking without the intense glare of public consumption.
Blanchett’s perspective stems from a broader unease with the erosion of privacy in the digital age. She lamented the pervasive presence of smartphones and the constant threat of being recorded, noting how it limits the spaces where individuals, particularly those in the public eye, can truly be themselves. This sentiment resonated deeply with her memories of attending dance parties in Sydney during the late 1980s for Mardi Gras, events she described as spaces of pure presence, collective enjoyment, and a liberating lack of judgment or documentation. The absence of recording devices fostered a sense of community and freedom, allowing attendees to let loose and connect authentically.
This longing for genuine connection and unfiltered experience is at the heart of Blanchett’s call for a reinvention of the award show format. She pointed to the current trend on TikTok, where lip readers analyze celebrity conversations at award shows, as a particularly egregious example of the intrusive scrutiny that plagues these events. The hosts of "Las Culturistas," Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, concurred, highlighting how the trend has led some celebrities to physically shield their mouths while speaking on the red carpet, a clear indication of the anxiety and self-consciousness that the constant public gaze can induce.
“I mean, I say, I know it’s blasphemy, go back to the day when it wasn’t televised,” Blanchett declared, advocating for a return to a time when the focus was on celebrating the industry’s achievements behind closed doors. She emphasized the need for the film community to "gather together and celebrate what it is that we do, without it having to have any public-facing." She believes the industry is at a crucial "pivot point," and whether the change could bring exciting new developments or a depressing decline depends on the way forward.
Blanchett’s proposal echoes the format of the very first Academy Awards in 1929, a discreet affair held before the advent of television broadcasting. While the Oscars became a televised spectacle in 1953, drawing in audiences worldwide, Blanchett suggests revisiting a model that prioritizes genuine connection and celebration over public spectacle.
While she acknowledges the allure of the fashion and the general excitement surrounding the awards, she believes these aspects can still exist even if the ceremony itself is not televised. "I mean, the fashion is great, and all of that stuff. We’ll find out in the end who won or who didn’t win," she stated. "But it would be so nice that that happened behind closed doors. [It would be] absolutely a very different evening."
Blanchett clarified that she is not against award shows in principle, emphasizing the importance of celebrating the hard work and artistry of those in the film industry. However, she expressed concern that the current system can lead to "getting sick of" the nominated films, even though they are all exceptional works. This saturation, she believes, dilutes the appreciation for the films and performances that deserve to be celebrated. "You want to celebrate them, but you can get sick of those films because they all get whittled down, as they must. I don’t want to get sick of any of those films because they’re brilliant," she explained.
This is not the first time Blanchett has voiced her concerns about the dynamics of award shows. In 2023, upon receiving the Critics Choice Award for Best Actress in a Drama for her performance in "Tar," she used her acceptance speech to critique the award show system as a "patriarchal pyramid" where individuals are pitted against each other in a televised competition. She described the whole affair as "a televised horse race," and instead advocated for acknowledging the collective achievements of women in the industry. "Because can I tell you, every single woman – whether it’s television, film, advertising, tampon commercials, whatever – you’re all out there doing amazing work that is inspiring me continually," she said.
Blanchett’s passionate advocacy for a more intimate and less public award show format highlights a growing concern about the impact of constant surveillance and public scrutiny on the creative process and the human experience. By suggesting a return to the pre-television era, she challenges the industry to prioritize genuine celebration and connection over the spectacle of public consumption, ultimately aiming to foster a more supportive and less competitive environment for artists to thrive. Her words have sparked a debate about the future of award shows and the importance of creating spaces where artists can feel free to express themselves without fear of judgment or exploitation. The question remains whether the industry will heed her call and consider a return to a more private and intimate model.
