Equality & Arts

I just can't keep quiet. Recently here in Spain, the Goyas (which are basically Spain's equivalent to the Oscar's) were celebrated with glamour, elegance and supposedly the best of what the seventh art has to offer in Spain. As is normal, there was also an honorary statue being given in honor of the life-long achievements of a certain actress, Ana Belén. I've never seen her work nor have I followed her career so I can't vouch for her in terms of her interpretations.

She proceeded to read her very well written acceptance speech, which at moments might have been a little awkward to hear for the mostly male dominated industry, in where she elegantly and eloquently expressed her gratitude. She also expressed the importance of professionalism, studies and how important it is for any actor or actress to keep looking for new experiences, new masters and to never stop evolving and developing.

But; ay, there's the rub, to steal a phrase from the best. Afterwards, everybody's complaining about the length of the speech. And when I say everybody, I mean everybody. Twittertrolls and their likes on Facebook are among the common, but when they even do a skit on her on commercial radio that's when I start to have a funny feeling about things.

My question is the following, why are we, in 2017, still afraid of intelligent and independent women who are not scared to voice their own opinion? Women who are successful, elegant and proud? I ask this because apparently no Twittertrolls (or likes their of) remember last year's honorary recipient Antonio Banderas.

His speech was first and foremost mainly cut into two, because before anyone gave the mic to Banderas, of course, the person presenting him with the award, Pedro Almodóvar, found a way to, not only take up a lot of time, but also to talk about himself and his own career first. Double the speech, double "the fun" and probably double the length, but most probably about half as intellectually stimulating than Ana Belén's this year. But did he get any shit shoveled his way? Of course not. And why not? Could it be because he's a man?

I guess the fight for equality, truly, still has a long way to go.

Don't be a stranger! Loves