begun reshaping Hollywood through a necessary and sometimes messy process. That means that more
often than not, covering the entertainment industry is anything but light-hearted in 2020.
As an example, here’s what’s dominated most of my culture reporting over the past couple of weeks:
Harvey Weinstein’s conviction on third-degree rape and sexual assault charges in New York
City
His impending sentencing on 11 March
The French César Awards ceremony, during which Roman Polanski won the Best Director
award – as protestors gathered outside the venue, reminding the public that Polanski was
charged with raping a 13-year-old girl in 1977 (Polanski pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual
intercourse with a minor but fled the US before his sentencing. He remains wanted in the
country)
French actor Adèle Haenel, who walked out of the Césars ceremony early, deeming
Polanski’s win a “shame”
Woody Allen’s upcoming memoir, described by Dylan Farrow — the daughter who has
accused him of molesting her when she was a child (an allegation Allen denies) — as “yet
another example of the profound privilege that power, money, and notoriety affords”.Culture journalism has always been about casting a critical eye on the entertainment industry – be it
through reviews, comment pieces, or adroitly written profiles. But this part of the job has seemed
heightened lately. We’re having to look behind the curtain and examine not only our cultural output, but
also the conditions in which it’s created.
Is a given film, TV show, book, or album the result of an exploitative industry that keeps the same people in
positions of power without any checks and balances, or does it help bring more equality, more diversity, and
more fairness to a professional environment that has so sorely lacked it for so long? Who do we want to
platform? Which issues do we shine a spotlight on? Who do we want to hear from?
Here’s what I know for sure: culture journalism is a powerful tool. #MeToo is a movement we must do
justice. It might mean brushing up on our legal knowledge, standing outside courthouses in the early hours
of the morning, and asking uncomfortable questions, but it’s necessary. And there’s nothing light-hearted
about that.
Yours,
Clémence Michallon
US culture writer