We have all seen the iconic performances, the jaw-dropping moments that turn into famous memes and the emotional speeches after career breakthroughs. From the Academy and Tony Awards to the MTV Video Music Awards and The Grammys, award shows became a catalyst for significant events occurring in the 21st century. Even a red-carpet moment of Jennifer Lopez wearing a Green Versace Dress at the 42nd Grammys led to the creation of Google Images. But are award shows still as influential as they were in their golden days?
Since the start of these shows in the early 1900s, these ceremonies have not only become artists’ career highlights but transformed into yearly events where people come together for their shared love of entertainment and media. Over time it has become a hub for people to bond over the past years’ new music, TV shows and films that have been trending for months.
They even leave a mark in childhood. “I used to watch them a lot and I was excited when one of my favorite artists would get a Grammy,” Zayde Felipe, a Richland student, said. But that nostalgic feeling can also fade in time.
“Over the years I have watched them. Mostly, it started off as like Hispanic or Latin award shows. But now as the years have come, I don’t really like to watch them just because personally I feel like they’re rigged,” said Johanna Mandujano, another Richland student.
While these shows become culturally significant moments, the feeling that once was a widely celebrated event just doesn’t hit the same level anymore. One explanation could be the rise of social media replacing what once was a shared moment in pop culture.
“I think just watching or hearing the results of something, like little clips, is better because with award shows, I don’t like sitting through the whole thing,” Mandujano said. Lower retention rates become a contributing factor. “I barely watch TV and I don’t have time to see what’s going on so when I wonder who won I just go on my phone,” Felipe said.
New headlines cycle every day on our phones, pop culture or not. You scroll once, and suddenly your social media feed can be covered with several topics in just a few seconds. With news circulating so quickly, why sit through hours of a ceremony when you can just do a simple search on your phone?
Award ceremonies, which are often talked about for months before they happen, quickly dissolve into a single headline recapping a show that people didn’t know was happening.
This could lead to negative impacts in the way people view new music, TV shows and films in general. If the annual celebration of entertainment fails to be enjoyed by the public, why remain? The answer is simple. These forms of media have contributed to fandoms being created, underground artists getting recognition and trends being shaped that impact generations, especially younger ones.
We cannot expect these ceremonies to remain the same over time, and that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Social media’s strong capacity to distribute information should be a quality that creates more engagement with award shows, instead of taking it away. While the future of award shows remains uncertain, one thing is clear: the ability of even just having a space for art to be celebrated, even if for just a moment, is a powerful trait and that is something that is very hard to take away from society.
