“Greatness” in Mainstream Media

Acting is an art form that has the power to move the masses — should we be consuming it more seriously?

By: Sofia Toledo

Credit: AP News

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History can be traced, not just through credited accounts or detailed facts, but through art that stands to tell the story. For centuries, the stage has been a conduit for people to express the good, the bad, and the ugly about human nature. 

It acts as a mirror that catches the public’s gaze, while the actors work to keep people captivated by the ideas being reflected right back at each invested face. The time and commitment that actors put into giving a genuine and impactful performance is something that many neglect to think about.

Timothée Chalamet, in his acceptance speech for an Outstanding Performance at the 2025 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards, does a tasteful job reminding the public of the hard work that often goes into each role. He won for playing the part of Bob Dylan in the movie A Complete Unknown — a biopic dedicated to exploring the life of this revolutionary American artist during his climb to fame in the 1960s.

This begs the question, should the audience be putting in a similar level of effort or dedication when consuming these performances?

There is more to Hollywood than the allure of gossip, scandal, and affluence. The multi-billion dollar film industry gives way for creative ventures and different perspectives to reach the masses. 

Still, it seems the common expectation is that books are the media people learn from; that they exclusively carry with them a certain degree of wisdom or relevant messages. 

There is a craft involved in literature that is widely recognized and appreciated among the general public, but movies and TV shows are not immediately perceived in the same way. 

Of course they are vastly enjoyed and celebrated with award shows and box office successes, but how often is film regarded by the public as being ‘eye-opening’ or worth deeper consideration? Further, how regularly are actors commended for their work’s ability to successfully get the audience to think? 

A Complete Unknown is a movie that strives to get the audience to consider the life of an artist who, in support of the Civil Rights Movement and anti-war protests of the time, bravely sought out artistic freedom. In his acceptance speech, Chalamet states that “this was five and a half years of my life, I poured everything I had into playing this incomparable artist Mr. Bob Dylan, a true American hero.” 

The lessons present throughout history continue to be passed on in the stories that get told today. The artistic labor that goes behind not just the script, but the cinematography and acting on screen, is critical to inducing an audience reaction.

These reactions are what get individuals to think, feel, and dream about the ideas being laid out in front of them, and more people should consider assessing the impact of the performances they sit down to watch.

Chalamet goes on to claim, “I know we’re in a subjective business, but the truth is I'm really in pursuit of greatness.” He relates this greatness back to other iconic performers and amazing figures in sports by shouting out Daniel Day-Lewis, Marlon Brando, Viola Davis, Micheal Jordan, and Micheal Phelps.

These are all groundbreaking figures in their field that got there by pushing the boundaries of what many thought was possible. These stories are told with immense discipline and dedication, but is the public always open to receiving them with an equal level of curiosity?

Some found the aspirational claims in Chalamet’s speech narcissistic and over-dramatic. This backlash may stem from how, generally, many do not consider mainstream media productions or popular film scenes to be inherently didactic. Nights at the movies tend to be booked leisurely with a large bucket of popcorn in mind, but this approachability is what makes cinema all the more powerful. 

We can trace this appeal all the way back to Shakespeare’s plays that make a point to speak to the masses about love, loss, death, and guilt. People want to watch great performances and do so in the hopes of walking away feeling something vivid. 

These feelings are naturally thought-provoking, and push audiences to consider their stance on different events, situations, morals, or decisions. Each performance will also, inevitably, have something to say surrounding the circumstances and the climate in which it was made. 

If we want to look back at American politics quite literally taking center stage, then just consider Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible. This Cold War era piece uses a story about the Salem Witch Trials to protest against McCarthyism, censorship, and unjust persecutions during the Red Scare. 

It continues to be performed for audiences today both live and through on-screen adaptations — I got to catch a showing at the Gainesville Community Playhouse last fall. It is able to push people to assess their thoughts on oppressive government action. 

Fast-forwarding to the present day, the show Severance streaming on Apple TV, which is currently releasing its second season, does a brilliant job at addressing relevant issues dealing with personal identity in a corporate world.

Each meticulous choice regarding the set design and how the scenes are shot, combined with dedicated and eerily convincing performances from the cast, works together to leave the audience with important questions. “Greatness” in the media through these performances is necessary in order to create a resounding impact that audiences can’t ignore.

They are made to think about their own feelings concerning issues that span from worker’s rights, the age-old nature versus nurture question, and even ethical problems that deal with human cloning. It is these great performances that are capable of pushing people to feel things they have not personally experienced and to consider issues that may not be on the forefront of their minds. 

Public perception is inevitably at the heart of this work, so being recognized is obviously going to be a sought after certification for these actors to know they are on the right track. Timothée Chalamet closes out his speech stating that the award is “...a little more fuel, it’s a little more ammo to keep going.” 

As actors continue to push their own boundaries, us viewers should think a little more about what we stand to gain from these on-screen stories. Basically, everyone needs to get on Letterboxd.

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Sofia Toledo is a second-year double majoring in Microbiology and English at the University of Florida. She is an online writer for Rowdy, the substantive director for UN-Habitat at IMUNA’s NHSMUN, and is a research assistant at the Emerging Pathogens Institute. Sofia loves watching and discussing movies with friends, particularly sci-fi, dystopian, and horror genres.