“Vulnerable” Barbie: Margot Robbed
March 6, 2024
Writer: Mia Bronstein
Editor: Chloe Cardello
“I have very intense feelings of joy or sadness. I used to not like that so much because I was worried it was girly, and I wanted to be more stoic.” - Greta Gerwig
This past year, the world experienced a pervasive and rampant pandemic: the pink pandemic. The Barbie movie consumed the entertainment, retail, and digital industries. Leading the charge were two influential female figures, Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, who are both notable for prior work, creating the Barbie buzz to be as exciting as ever. Yet, despite Gerwig and Robbie both receiving international acclaim for their roles as director, star, and producer, respectively, neither were Oscar-nominated for their individual achievements. I could reiterate the rightful rage of feminists and movie enthusiasts everywhere, but to me, Robbie’s reaction was most impressive. Rather than slam her male co-star Ryan Gosling’s nomination, or plead the case for her own, she chose to publicly direct her disappointment at Gerwig’s lack of a nomination. Since the event, hundreds of articles have pledged support and respect for Robbie’s humble yet eloquent message.
I too was disappointed in the outcome of the nomination slate, but more so in the media’s reaction. Women, especially those with as much publicity and prestige as Robbie, are often praised for their ability to accept a loss, as if losing is not a natural part of life. Female fragility among the celebrity sphere is immediately reversed when women voice their opinion (but not too loud, to be considered nasty). Rather, women should be acknowledged for taking the courageous step to be vulnerable.
Losing is part of life. I find that in my own life, I either have unfathomably unfortunate luck, or things tend to not go my way. As I have grown older, I realized that losing, most of the time, is out of our control. The outcomes we experience are based on the decisions and influence of others. “Everything happens for a reason,” so we learn from each loss and accept the fates that are not in our control. However, emotions and how we react are entirely within our control. Vulnerability and the power to exhibit how we feel on the inside are the most challenging. Every action and emotion we express comes with the fear of criticism, only further exacerbated in the digital realm.
Actors receive praise and golden accolades for their ability to fake vulnerability or channel it from past experiences and emotions. It is their job description, to be fair. But on a global scale scattered throughout the media, evoking real vulnerability is rarely praised or acknowledged. The internet minimizes the ability to evoke and display real emotion and in an attempt to, they are rarely appreciated and rather criticized.
As I develop my skills as a director, I quickly learned that actors are to be directed in a scene on how to evoke a specific emotion and make the audience feel something. But what sets an actress or public figure apart from an icon is real emotion–the vulnerability that cannot be taught or practiced. “Margot Robbie Breaks Silence on Oscar Snub,” CBS News details. No, Robbie isn’t “breaking a national silence,” but is encouraging us to be open and vulnerable as we accept our own losses. After all, not everything can always be pink and perfect.
