Actors can be shallow and self-serving ... but so can the rest of us
Television coverage of awards ceremonies is the visual embodiment of Gore Vidal’s line about how it’s not enough to succeed, others must fail. Photograph: Getty Images
It makes the announcement of the winner cruelly pleasurable. Because it’s not about the reaction of the new champion – that’s predictable – but how the losers deal with it. Television coverage of awards ceremonies is the visual embodiment of Gore Vidal’s line about how it’s not enough to succeed, others must fail. And those who fail must grin and feign delight as convincingly as possible: as if they didn’t really want to win the award for themselves at all.
Pity about them, you might say. These are privileged, wealthy people. Going to awards ceremonies is part of the deal. It keeps the profile up. And even getting nominated for prizes has professional benefits. Yet it might also lead you to infer that the fame, the money, the fans and the chance to do interesting work to the best of their ability isn’t enough for them. There have to be awards as well.
But perhaps most significant is the deep human yearning for validation and applause. People love winning awards. It’s why hotels and conference centres are constantly booked out to host them. It’s also why Ireland doesn’t have a national comedy awards event. The comedians are far too busy hosting all the other ones.awards where myself and a former colleague bonded over our disdain for the frippery of the occasion. Awards, we agreed, are meaningless. We’re not here for that.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Seán Moncrieff: If I get ambushed by loneliness, it’s never when I’m by myselfAs the comfort of community dwindles, all we might be left with is a cold place of struggling individuals, all competing with each other
Read more »
Seán Moncrieff's Unflappable Demeanor and Unexpected Moments of ExasperationThis article explores the unique style of Seán Moncrieff, the host of Newstalk's weekday show. While known for his calm and affable approach to discussing a wide range of topics, it highlights moments where his composure is shaken, such as when confronted with a listener's complaint about unwashed crockery.
Read more »
Seán Moncrieff: Is Gen Z the most cynically manipulated generation in history?Why the lavish flattery, the constant churn of evidence-free articles, about a cohort of people who haven’t done anything yet?
Read more »
Seán Moncrieff: Why do most Americans still believe the US to be the Greatest Nation on Earth?You’d wonder if Donald Trump’s childlike depiction of geopolitics helps ordinary Americans, or infantilises them
Read more »
Seán Moncrieff: There’s a reason why Ireland hasn’t produced a Donald Trump or a Nigel Farage yetThe far right in Ireland is run by the charismatically challenged. If someone capable of stringing a sentence together emerges, that political calculus will change quickly
Read more »
Seán Moran: Hurling may regard the FRC as an irrelevance but history suggests otherwiseFootball has had most of the problems but its solutions have often been universal
Read more »