A night at the oscars: The healers, the mirrors, and the creators

 Alright, I’ll say it: Last night’s 94th Academy Awards was a mess. All of it was just… weird. And I’m historically pretty good with weird. But there was The Moment that changed the energy of the entire night.

Naturally, our attention has been drawn to the Will Smith and Chris Rock debacle. There was so much weird there it’s hard to know where to begin.

I have rewritten this post about 8 times, but at the end of the day, while I had big feelings about the idea I had of the Oscars and of Will Smith in my head, I am not going to speak on the deeper nuances of the situation. Why? Because it’s not really my business, is it? I wasn’t there. I don’t know these people. I can make snap judgments, but what good does that do? However they choose to resolve this as family (as P. Diddy so aptly said), it will bring lessons for everyone involved.

Something I have noticed in the world of celebritydom is that there are three types of artists: The first are healers. They are open to discussing issues of the day while embracing and adjusting their definitions of love and family, and are doing their best to just do good in the world. I might call these types of artists lightworkers, making their statements in a way that reaches the most people and allows room for conversation and growth through peace.

There is a second type: a mirror. They work with a deep awareness of the darkness, the cringe, and the rude — and find a way to make it light. They have to laugh because they want to cry, and often point out things that are pushed under the rug. Sometimes it’s sensationalism, and sometimes it’s reflecting back to the world what they don’t want to look at. This results in something that is (often) funny and (almost always) crass. There are people who need that energy to see and fuel change in themselves.

The thing about being famous is that there is always an insane amount of energy you must be willing to take on and transmute. That’s why being a celebrity is so difficult on mental health. Under the scrutiny of the public eye you will take on both positive and negative energy. Will Smith said exactly this in his Best Actor acceptance speech, about being able to handle the disrespect and becoming a vessel of love. There was a lot of wisdom in that speech, but it was marred forever by what he chose to do in front of a million viewers. In the world of cancel culture, there will likely be no turning back from that.

I don’t blame any person for being exactly what they feel called to be right now. There is no light without the dark, but the dark must be acknowledged or it will take over. Denzel said it: “At your highest moment, be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you.” Sometimes we make exactly the choice we need to make in the moment, and our best lessons come from these types of decisions, good and bad, light and dark, for healing and mirroring.

So, all that said… what about that third type of creator I mentioned?

This is the type of artist who creates because they simply want to build something completely new. They are both the healer and the mirror. They make Ars Gratia Artis, or Art for Art’s Sake, as is the Latin slogan on the MGM logo. They will tell a story that is close to their heart and let it be what it is.

We have a chance to build whatever universe we want through our stories, our actions, and our words. We must love one another through all of our flaws. If we can allow everyone to be exactly as they are, we will thrive together, because everyone is exactly what they’re meant to be.

Don’t let fear of what other people might say get to you. Know that everything you choose is valuable, carrying with it lessons or blessings. And maybe one day, we’ll be able to release the identities and just be. Just love. And don’t let your hard times keep you from growing, from creating, and from just doing your best.

In the end, pop culture does have a huge effect on the way we think about the world, and the events surrounding it will alter how we interact with each other and how we move forward. So I’d like to end this little post, not on the Slap of the Century, but with an image of Lady Gaga with Liza Minnelli when they announced Best Picture that night, as CODA made Oscars history.

I want to echo Lady Gaga’s repeated phrase, “I got you.” Because whatever you choose to create in your life, I’ve got your back. Remember… we’re all just here to walk each other home. Let’s do what we can to make it easier, eh?