Borkowski Media Trends: Barbie Oscar 'snub', Klopp says Stop & More

PLUS Taylor Swift vs Deepfakes | Netflix Rugby Doc Flop

Come on Barbie, let’s go party?

It’s everyone’s favourite season…awards! This week saw the announcement of the nominees for the 96th Academy Awards and two ‘snubs’ sent the internet and media into overdrive.

Many had expected Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig to be nominated for best actress and best director respectively for Barbie, the highest grossing film of 2023. However, while Barbie did receive a nomination for best picture, of the cast, only America Ferrera and Ryan Gosling secured nominations; Ferrera for best supporting female actor and Gosling for best supporting male actor.

The reaction led to many saying that the decision to include Gosling but exclude Gerwig and Robbie demonstrated the entire point of the film; that is the patriarchy is still alive and well. Even former Secretary of State and Presidential Nominee, Hilary Clinton weighed into the debate on X.

Ryan Gosling then added to his voice to the furore, releasing a statement saying that “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.”

The debate then moved to focus on white feminism and questioning why we were focusing on Robbie and Gerwig and not celebrating America Ferrera, who is of Latin American descent.

All the while, you had the Academy staying silent on the issue and other influential people providing another perspective, including View host and Academy Award winner, Whoopi Goldberg: “Not everybody gets a prize, and it is subjective. Movies are subjective. The movies you love may not be loved by the people who are voting.”

The debate reveals the tightrope the Academy has been trying to walk since the Oscar so White scandal in 2015. The dilemma in front of the Academy, and the wider cultural sector, is how to be as inclusive as possible, while still maintaining an artistic cache.

The Academy has made active efforts to include more women and more nominees from diverse ethnic backgrounds. This year there are people of colour nominated in every acting category and following the omission of any female filmmakers in the category of best director last year, Anatomy of a Fall’s Justine Triet received her nod.

Perhaps the lesson from this narrative is that of course the sector must make efforts to be inclusive but also acknowledge that at times, it won’t be possible to please everyone. 

Klopp says Stop

Liverpool faces a poignant moment as Jurgen Klopp, the architect of the club's recent era of success, prepares to step down as manager at the end of the season. His tenure marked by winning the Champions League, Premier League, domestic cups, and Club World Cup, cements his status as an icon. His exit is an irreplaceable loss for the club and the city.

Klopp's abilities extend beyond the pitch; he is a communication maestro, mastering the art of 'pitch perfect PR'. He blends passion with a relatable, unscripted authenticity that resonates deeply with fans.

The timing of Klopp's decision is intriguing. Liverpool are thriving, leading the league, competing in the latter stages of the Europa League, and recently reaching the Carabao Cup final (of course, he'll see this season out). Despite this, Klopp's announcement comes during the long-term challenges of replacing key players like Mo Salah and Virgil Van Dijk and maintaining the success of the current team, which is a massive challenge. It's a testament to his self-awareness, recognising that rebuilding this team is one step too far and ultimately threatens to jeopardise his legacy.

This departure underscores the often-ignored mental and physical demands placed on football managers. His heartfelt address, hinting at a lack of energy after close to a decade of relentless competition, offers a candid look into the pressures at football's highest echelons.

His strategy in managing this announcement is a prime example of effective public relations. Klopp's timing allows him to control this episode effectively and deliver his message with clarity and heart. This approach guards his legacy and expertly upholds his stature as on of the greats.

A swift response from Taylor’s fans

Taylor Swift is facing a distressing situation as AI-generated deepfake nudes of her flood the internet. Despite efforts to suspend the initial account on X (formerly Twitter), the images persist, revealing the challenges tech companies face in combating such abuse. And it is abuse.

Luckily for Swift, her army of fans mobilised and flooded socials with positive content of the star to dilute the deepfakes. #ProtectTaylorSwift began trending in an almost immediate response to the circulation of the images and fans relentlessly reported accounts sharing them.

We previously looked at the parasocial nature of fandom amid Taylor’s fan’s objections to her dating controversial musician Matty Healy, which many think led to the end of the relationship. This situation is the flipside of the same coin, but both highlight the power of fandom.

The fact that these images focus on Swift’s connection to Kansas City Chiefs adds a sinister layer, weaponising her personal life against her. Allegations of Swift exploiting her relationship with Travis Kelce for publicity (ironic given her status and the attention she has brought to the team) collide with the use of the Chiefs' theme in AI-generated deepfakes. Perpetrators, knowingly or not, reinforce misogynistic tropes that undermine a woman's agency and achievements.

Swift’s deepfake scandal serves as a reminder that what we see on our screens may not always reflect reality. The intersection of technology and misinformation poses a significant threat, and the implications extend beyond the realm of celebrity. In the context of upcoming elections, the risk of fabricated content aiming to manipulate public opinion looms large. Deepfakes, if unchecked, could be used to spread false narratives, influence political discourse, and undermine the integrity of democratic processes.

It is imperative to approach online content, especially during election seasons, with a healthy dose of scepticism. Verifying information and cultivating media literacy are essential in an era where digital manipulation can distort truth. As we witness the protective effect of Swift's fandom against the images, it prompts a broader conversation about the role of vigilant citizenry in safeguarding the authenticity of information.

Netflix’s Six Nations: Full Contact makes Rugby look out of touch

Rugby has been a professional sport for nearly thirty years but has struggled in recent times to expand and commercialise into a truly global phenomenon.

Following the success of F1: Drive to Survive and Welcome to Wrexham in bringing unfashionable sports to international (particularly American) audiences, there were high hopes that a Netflix documentary about Europe’s premiere international rugby competition the Six Nations Championship would finally help the sport break through the glass ceiling of global appeal.

Alas the reviews have been brutal, the Guardian describing it as ‘desperately dated’ and the Telegraph saying it should be ‘kicked into touch’.

The success of the aforementioned documentaries was their ability to explain their subject matter without being patronising or turning into an infomercial, but then also both articulate and illustrate what makes them thrilling to its fans.

There’s an argument that ‘Full Contact’ fails on both counts.

Casual viewers will still be bamboozled by the laws, scoring system, format of the competition, and even the skills required for rugby, which is in turn crucial to emotionally engaging with the drama and tension of the matches themselves. It assumes a level of knowledge that could be a bridge too far for a casual viewer while also failing to play to its strengths.

Rugby has a litany of PR issues; it’s insular, considered elitist by many, structured to cling to a feudal caste system, prone to kneejerk gimmicks, and has a brain injury scandal that could rival the NFL’s brewing. A Netflix documentary was a chance to reset the narrative and show off an explosively physical, tactically complex sport that creates knife-edge drama and is the arena for some of the world’s most unique athletes.

If Full Contact has failed to bottle that magic in a heavily promoted Netflix documentary then it’s unlikely to find a better avenue to break out of its niche.