What Emma Stone’s Snafu Does For The Validity of White Feminism
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Actress Emma Stone is back in the bosom of controversy — which she has managed to evade since her last snafu that involved playing a character in a really bad movie — who was partially Asian.
Stone had the honor of presenting the Oscar for best director at Sunday’s ceremony — and with the assistance of a climate that is immersed in the #MeToo and Time’s Up movement — Stone proceeded to introduce the category with the reminder that only one woman — Lady Bird director Greta Gerwig — managed to snag an entry in what has traditionally been — an exclusively male-dominated category.
“These four men and Greta Gerwig created their own masterpieces this year.”
Stone was obviously inspired by actress Natalie Portman — who took advantage of the heightened atmosphere that encouraged those attending this past Golden Globes to dress in black — by calling out the all-male nominees in the very same category of her successor at the Oscars.
“And here are the all-male nominees.”
Incidentally — Portman is also accused of embodying a role in her latest film — Annihilation — that was meant to be played by an actress of Asian descent — a fact that she claims she was unaware of — when the casting process was underway. Despite her apologetic stance during the press tour — it’s quite hard to believe that based on Portman’s experience behind-the-camera — including producing credits — she was completely oblivious about the background of the main character in the project of her choosing.
In the case of Emma Stone — the Oscar-winner’s misstep while presenting one of the anticipated awards of the night was rooted in the realization that the best director nominees included two men of color — Jordan Peele — who directed Get Out and The Shape of Water’s — Guillermo Del Toro — both of whom have never won an Oscar — even though Del Toro has had the honor of previous nominations.
Stone’s attempt at wittily calling out the establishment for shutting out women was meant to be inspiring and brave — but like so many in her station — she woefully missed the mark — due to the validity of White feminism and how it blinds White women from the task of covering all their basis.
