Sylvia Jeffreys: 'He's just Oscar, and Barbie doesn't need him'

Spare a thought for the person who is employed to monitor the social media mentions of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, because today they would presumably have to report to their boss on the mountain of memes and fierce one-liners centred on "snubgate".

Awkward!

In what could be described as an act of self-sabotage, the academy denied Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie Oscar nominations in the Best Director and Best Actress categories for their groundbreaking roles in the Barbie movie.

READ MORE: Whoopi Goldberg defends Oscar 'snubs'

The self-sabotage part comes into play when you consider their decision to nominate Ryan Gosling for his role as Ken, but not the women who made the movie possible.

As many on the internet have pointed out, this is literally the feminist plot of the film, and this is why so many fans were left in a pink-hot rage over Gerwig's and Robbie's omissions.

There are some who will argue Barbie was merely a popular popcorn flick that appealed to the nostalgia-hungry masses, and therefore not deserving of prestigious Oscar nominations.

But that argument undermines the clever nuances in the screenplay and script, and the deeply layered performance by Robbie who gave life to a doll with emotion, power, vulnerability, and moral fortitude.

READ MORE: Why Ryan Gosling hasn't walked a red carpet with his partner in years

It's often said that if someone is good at their job, they make it look easy. This is the case for Margot Robbie, who was seemingly born to play Barbie. 

But the talent required to pull off a role that entirely reframes the doll and society at large shouldn't be underestimated.  

Gerwig, meantime, has smashed records. Performances may be subjective but box office dollars are not and no film directed by a woman has ever raked in more bucks than Barbie. 

Gerwig's subversive cultural statements were deftly delivered with her trademark edge, sharp humour and perfect Matchbox Twenty references, all of which made this film an international success.

That said, none of this should take away from Gosling's nomination. His performance was more than Kenough to deserve the recognition.

His journey through unrequited love to practising-patriarchy to discovering self-worth could not have been more entertaining. But even he was quick to point out that the Academy got it wrong.

Here is his statement:

"I am extremely honoured to be nominated by my colleagues alongside such remarkable artists in a year of so many great films. And I never thought l'd being saying this, but I'm also incredibly honoured and proud that it's for portraying a plastic doll named Ken.

But there is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no Barbie movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally-celebrated film.

No recognition would be possible for anyone on the film without their talent, grit and genius.

To say that I'm disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.

Against all odds with nothing but a couple of soulless, scantily clad, and thankfully crotchless dolls, they made us laugh, they broke our hearts, they pushed the culture and they made history. Their work should be recognized along with the other very deserving nominees.

Having said that, I am so happy for America Ferrera and the other incredible artists who contributed their talents to making this such a groundbreaking film."

If he wins the Oscar, just imagine the beach… I MEAN SPEECH… he will give.

Anyway, before we begin seeing this all as a sure sign of the gender equality movement taking another sad step down the ladder, I want you to ponder this:

Would Barbie really want an Oscar?

Another inanimate crotchless man is surely the last thing she needs. This one may be dipped in gold, but Barbie's a billion-dollar success story. She doesn't need the fancy doorstop.

Secondly, she flipped the script on gender roles and made the female population feel seen in a delightfully entertaining, yet searingly moving way. If the academy doesn't get that, she doesn't need their recognition. She's already made an impact where it counts.  

After all, he's just Oscar. It's Barbie's World, and he's living in it.