It feels like every time I look up, there’s a new category in an award ceremony/show. And I am telling you now…this has to stop.

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With all the new buzz around this topic, I feel stoked for the first time in a long time to give an unsolicited opinion. It’s finally time to address what I have been internalizing for far too long. We have to stop creating more awards. Not just any awards, but at places that already have the core categories. Award season is so frustrating for us artists and for us fans who enjoy the art being produced. For many reasons because a lot of people like to say many different things. But mainly because of the reasons we theorize behind these “new” awards. 

The thing is, personally, I wouldn’t mind if there were new categories. In fact, many times in the past, we had to add new categories. Not everything will fit in the already existing ones. And in life we need to progress, that’s the only way we can succeed. But I do feel that categories aren’t always made equal (nothing really is, but that’s not the point here). Which is more on the topic of regression. Adding to minimize. And many of them are made so that they can be used as cop outs for existing problems. Problems such as our own bias getting in the way of choosing the true winners in a category. 

No, because let’s talk about it. How many times do we say “_ got snubbed” “Deserved so much more” “_is so underrated in award season”. Does it get old? Does it truly get old?

I’m so tired of seeing this already. Especially when I see a winner announced and the first question of the public (and sometimes in my own mind) is “who?”. 

Look. We can’t know every person in each category. However, what I do know is this: A lot of times, we are being biased. WE pick things based on narratives. On things we feel will fit. Think of this as tropes. Tropes we’ve seen since high school:

I mean the list can go on. And the funny thing is these jokes create themselves. 

It’s not the categories that are the problem. Seriously. It’s the timing of them. When an artist is popping, trending or whatever we would call them “these days” and they don’t fit the standards you have for your definition of art… BOOM! Out of nowhere there’s a new category that’s here for us to see. The first thought in my mind is: “I wonder who will win in that category instead of the rightful one”.  And don’t go there. You think so too. When it’s not sticking to the kind of person you want to see in a category you think “well they could just win this one instead of this one”. It’s sad to see honestly because if there wasn’t a category for them, where would they go? Would they not win because of a limited bias you have?

For example, music. How is there so many different categories added once an artist from a different background comes around? Mind you, most likely they worked with the same kind of producers, they filmed a similar music video. And they probably collaborated with a person who had won in that category previously. If not, the comment sections are filled with comparisons. Life is nothing without one. 

You can’t deny the similarities to previous winners. Nothing was different, but their story. Now they cannot win in a category you were saving for the same mid artist with no substance. It’s okay to not win when you don’t do your best. And I hate to put this out there. Or even talk about art from an artist. But no tea, no shade, most of it isn’t even the work of some of these people. Just another cash grab and sometimes-it’s rare, but sometimes they admit it. Or you have to wait until they are in retirement or their next comeback comes. And it’s mad disappointing. 

The problem is there’s these huge award shows that are just not taking accountability. Not listening to the fandoms. Not listening even to its own members and diehard dedicated fanbases. Listen to your fans and viewers. We’re tired. We don’t want to see so many categories. You can barely air them all. And just keep it simple. If the person you want to win can’t, too bad. They were highlighted for being nominated in the first place. It’s okay. And maybe the next project they can win. We need to reshape our minds anyways. Sometimes it’s okay to lose. Being in these spaces was the dream in the first place. Now you’re there with worthy opponents. Take your win, nomination, or just your space there. Chill. And be grateful. Easier said than done, but we need to reshape how we think of a win and loss.  

And that goes for the fans too. Be happy your fav was considered. Be happy they are in this space and/or discourse. All of it brings visibility. Even the afterparties. Overall it goes back to the spaces that hold this. Be happy people are wanting your award. Be better and do better. Listen to us.

There’s no need to filter every single category to specifics because you want your image to win. What it’s really doing is making us not take it seriously. We all that are old enough to understand how media influences people. And why you want to create (and fully enforce) these narratives of what it takes and looks like to win in a category. Not only in the category, but in society, in career. In everything used to perceive someone. We’re not stupid. It’s just some of us are just going along. Some are impressionable. And some of us are just done with it. But it’s boring. All we do is wonder what is not being embodied due to lack of nomination or win. That’s the truth. And we need to work on that too.

And when someone does win in these super filtered specific categories. People just take it as a throw away. Like a discounted high fashion item collaboration. Basically “oh”. “You got that? Oh”. No no. Just think about it:

PERSON A: “Yeah I won a _”

PERSON B: “Really? Congratulations for what?”

PERSON A: “For the best person who wore a green dress with a neon orange tie while standing at a height of 8 feet with sequins heels in the genre of Afro beat, pop, fusion with the cinematic twist of horror inspired performance”

PERSON B: “Oh”. (As in you didn’t just win best performance)

And this is an exaggeration, but this is truly how it would go. People don’t take certain things seriously. And though we are grateful we are winning. It also sucks to not be recognized overall. Because the other nominees would be in those groups. In the rooms you are fighting so hard to be in. And they couldn’t win anyways in your specific category because they simply couldn’t, they can’t be qualified. Imagine a straight country singer (as in only stereotypical American country sound with no fusion) trying to win Best Italian death metal. They cannot. It’s just not going to work.

Most times it’s less detailed as in: America’s favorite pop singer. They simply cannot win in Rap. It’s not going to happen if their album’s sound and identity was just your typical throw away poppy sounding music. Simple as that. And the pop girlies who are also doing it, but might be a bit melanated will get RnB, Soul, Blues, or something else. And the girlie who has a more down to earth earthy aesthetic, but pop sound somehow got indie. Or a girlie with smudged makeup and instead of an acoustic guitar she replaced it with an electric one. Same pop formula btw and plays on all the popular music radios across the globe. Now she won best female rock album. And this can also be an argument of branding as this is a topic that is popular these days. Or someone who wasn’t from here, guarantee wins something that has to do with “global” or now more specific to their race or gender identity. It’s exhausting. What makes sense about appearance vs my art? Let’s talk about that another time though. We can add extra commentary there. 

And again. Any win can be a win. But also it’s exhausting to just win these. You don’t even consider them for the other categories. Which is wild. Even in other countries I see this. Instead they just put “American” instead of “Global”. What is good is good no matter the category. But we have to make sure to let people win without limitations due to our own bias. I am not saying that is what is happening, but the wins speak for themselves. And that commentary that follows.

So instead of just yapping…what are you gonna do about it? There’s not much I can do about this as I am not a part of the team that makes these things up. I do vote for things that I can if I feel my artists I want to support deserves it. And that’s another thing. I am diehard when I feel like it’s a hill I want to die on. I do not think everything we make we even love. And I have seen some artists (after the promotional period of course) say they didn’t even like the project they put out. Now me as a fan have to take the makeup remover and pat this clown makeup off. I will say this to you…I will not be made to be a fool okay? I have been there and done that. 

Here’s one thing. We are working on our own programs and projects. Maybe one day…our dedicated fans will see this and laugh knowing we did our big one! Of course it will take time and refinement, but you can always know we take comments into consideration. So stay tuned for some fun. In the meantime and with the award shows we have…let’s just have the conversation.

Written by: A.P.

Illustrated by A.P. & S.T.B.