Jane Campion has by most accounts, including mine, one of the best films of the last year in Power of the Dog, a film on Netflix that provides a stunning look at the West and ranching. It is beautiful, detailed, and the performances are fantastic. In my book, my two favorite films of the year are easily Power of the Dog and CODA. While not in consideration by many for best feature film, King Richard, the story of Richard William, father of Serena and Venus Williams, has continued to be very successful for Will Smith’s performance but also for the compelling story. Well, successful for everyone except for Jane Campion. As she accepted her award, she had to point out that Venus and Serena do not compete against men, as she does.
It is true, directors and artists are considered different and there are no divisions based on gender. However, what is completely dismissed by Jane Campion is that Venus and Serena faced immense structural racism, which is detailed in the film but is also just self-evident in real life. Access to good tennis courts, training facilities, and tournaments? Typically that is the ground of wealthy white youth, daughters of people with country club access, and a head start. This single sentence sums up the problem that Serena faces, from The Guardian: “As a black woman and one of the most prominent sports figures in the world, no athlete receives more consistent abuse than Williams. ”
While Campion can bemoan the fact that Serena and Venus Williams "don’t have to compete against men,” in truth, the sisters have had to compete against societal expectations from the very beginning. Serena Williams has pointed to the structural racism that has existed her entire career.
White women tennis players made significant money and became fashion icons quickly, and none of them have the 23 championship titles that Serena holds.
Jane Campion took one of the best films of the year and turned her award into a way to dismiss the accomplishments of other women and demean the Williams sisters. Some of their obstacles were about training, work, and effort. Some of the hurdles involved racism. Some hurdles were about their looks. How many athletes are picked apart by white athletes for the way they look and talk—in The New York Times?
Jane, accept your award. It will always say Jane Campion won this award season. but for quite a few people, Campion instantly became Karen after her speech.