gadfly - noun - an annoying person, especially one who provokes others into action by criticism. (Google)
Unfortunately, there are times when I can be a gadfly, but gladly, I am not alone since these are provocative times that frequently fall to criticism. Take "annoying" out of the definition, though, and the rest is not bad. If criticism, a negative, can propel people into positive action, then it's all good. Allow me a bit of space to do just that.
Last night, some of us (perhaps you included) stayed up to watch the Oscars on ABC television. For the past few years, the presentation has motivated many a gadfly to criticize it, mainly because the show has diminished in scope, digressing from truly entertaining to barely watchable. Did the content seem to be lacking in organization and purpose to you? Was it just mediocre because the cinematic nominees this year were as lackluster and self-possessed as most of the acceptance speeches? To tell you the truth, I was so bored with the ceremony that I took to doodling, and my daughter 2700 miles away in L.A., whom I was texting, took to cooking. Was anyone else other than the mothers of those involved paying attention?
Truthfully, because the Oscars are no longer creative as a whole–years ago, there were once motifs and themes to be had–I only stay up late enough to see the "In Memoriam" segment because of morbid curiosity: I want to see how many noteworthy individuals connected with the industry have passed. Usually there are a few surprises. Often someone whom I thought had died years ago comes up on the list as someone who has passed recently. Sadly, I was not surprised this year with anything other than a grieving John Travolta, who introduced the reel of lost Hollywood talent. I assumed that his tears were related to the loss of his Grease co-star Olivia Newton- John; however, since her photo and death date were somehow stricken from the records, his emotional outpouring lacked a clear connection unless he had known and had worked with everyone mentioned. I have no idea.
Of course, there is always an actor in the mix who should have won, but who winds up being slighted, which gives the gadfly additional fuel to stay in flight complaining. This year it was Austin Butler, Elvis in the film Elvis who comes off as more titillating and talented than Elvis himself, which is no small feat. According to insiders, Brendon Fraser received the honors for Best Actor because the voting members of the Academy love a comeback. Well, to that I say, because of Butler's magnificence at portraying the King on screen, long deceased Elvis saw yet another comeback, bigger and better than he had had in 1968. (I know because I was actually alive back then.) So why didn't the Academy recognize Butler's vicarious return as Elvis? You had my vote, Austin, although I am a member of the wrong academy.
Gadfly or not, I must offer this suggestion to the producers of the Oscars: You should find some truly innovative writers to weave and stitch together future remnants so that there is cohesion when it comes to the content of their three-hour variety show. And you members of the Academy need to reward actors who perform believably the most demanding roles, no matter what their age, race, culture, religion, etc. The high-school popularity contest should have left the Kodak building a long time ago, perhaps along with the real Elvis, who was most likely never there anyway :).
Power to the gadflies out there who change the status quo favorably.
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