The 75th Golden Globes

The Golden Globe Awards is the third most-watched show behind the Oscar and Grammy Awards. In 1943, a group of writers convened to form the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, or HFPA, which resulted in the first Golden Globe Awards. Held in January of 1944, the ceremony honored film-making achievements as of the previous year, 1943. This aspect of the Golden Globe Awards has persisted, seeing as each gathering continues to be held in January, honoring the achievements of the previous year. While this may be true, there have also been corrections made to this accolade, forming the system that is followed as of today.

 The shows previous accolades may have been without a host, but that began to change as of January 1995 when both John Larroquette and Janine Turner banded together in regards to the shows 52nd ceremony. From then on out, there were inconsistencies until the 68th show, when the appearance of a host became regularized. The most recent gathering, the 75th, included American comedian, Seth Meyers. The formal ceremony and dinner transmitted live from the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, January 7th. This ceremony, in particular, differed from those that came before it simply because the majority of the show’s nominees, both male, and female, wore black to correspond with a movement founded days before. Time’s Up opposes sexual misconduct. It was created in response to both the Weinstein effect and the viral two-word hashtag, “me too.” This hashtag began being used by social activist Tarana Burke, long before it became well known. Burke, along with many other activists, were present as stars wore black and white articles of clothing and Time’s Up pins to show solidarity with victims of sexual assault.         

Along with some other topics, sexual misconduct became a subject of discourse for those accepting their awards. Many women addressed the fact that both survivors and bystanders are in dire need of empowerment and encouragement to speak about these injustices. One woman in particular, Oprah Winfrey, brought the audience to their feet with her powerful speech discussing racial issues and press freedom. She thanked the women who felt brave enough to share their stories not only for themselves but other women in need of support.

Since the first Golden Globes, the ceremonies have significantly evolved. The originality of each gathering has not only spoken volumes about the shows current state but what it has in store for its viewers in the future.