BAFTA Awards: Beyond 'Easy Piety' and a Crisis of Authenticity

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Thursday, March 12th 2026 at 1:22 GMT by The New Yorker
      Locales: UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE

The BAFTA Awards: Beyond the Surface of 'Easy Piety' and the Future of Awards Shows

The recent BAFTA Awards, held on Sunday, served as a familiar spectacle - a showcase of industry talent interwoven with pronouncements of inclusivity and diversity. However, this year's ceremony felt...different. Less celebratory, more defensive. While many outlets lauded the BAFTAs for outpacing the Academy Awards in representation, a closer examination reveals a troubling trend: what critic Parul Shah aptly terms "easy piety." This isn't about malice or active opposition to progress, but rather the seductive danger of appearing to champion important causes without genuinely engaging with their complexities.

Awards shows, by their very nature, are prime breeding grounds for this phenomenon. Originally intended to recognize artistic merit, they've increasingly become platforms for public relations and carefully constructed narratives. The stories highlighted aren't necessarily the most groundbreaking or challenging, but those most easily packaged for mass consumption - tales designed to elicit emotional responses and garner applause, often at the expense of genuine substance. The BAFTA's opening monologue, with its explicit comparison to the Oscars' diversity record, exemplified this; it wasn't a celebration of achievement, but a preemptive strike against criticism.

This isn't a new issue, but the rise of "performative activism" has amplified it significantly. It's no longer sufficient to believe in progressive values; one must actively demonstrate them. While accountability is crucial, this pressure often results in frantic, superficial gestures aimed at satisfying a perceived moral imperative. The focus shifts from meaningful change to optics, fostering an environment where narratives are simplistic, reductive, and ultimately, disingenuous. Think of the carefully curated montage of diverse nominees, or the frequent speeches emphasizing representation - while valuable, these moments feel increasingly like check-box exercises rather than genuine commitments.

The danger lies not in outright opposition to progressive ideals, but in an overinvestment in presenting an image of progressiveness. This creates a self-satisfied complacency, effectively obscuring the difficult, ongoing work of dismantling systemic inequalities. It's a comfortable illusion - a veneer of virtue signaling that prevents genuine introspection and hinders meaningful progress. The BAFTA's, and awards shows generally, are becoming echo chambers, reinforcing existing narratives instead of challenging them. The emphasis is on feeling good about the progress made, rather than honestly assessing the work still to be done.

But where does this leave the future of awards shows? Is the solution to abandon attempts at social commentary altogether? Absolutely not. However, a fundamental shift in approach is required. The emphasis needs to move away from self-congratulation and towards genuine dialogue. This means acknowledging shortcomings, amplifying marginalized voices not just for optics but for substantive engagement, and celebrating stories that are uncomfortable, challenging, and demand critical thinking. It requires actively seeking out narratives that disrupt the status quo, even if they aren't easily marketable.

One potential avenue for change lies in expanding the criteria for "excellence" beyond purely artistic achievements. Could awards be given for innovation in representation, for challenging harmful stereotypes, or for projects that actively contribute to social good? This wouldn't necessarily mean lowering artistic standards, but rather broadening the definition of what constitutes valuable storytelling. Furthermore, greater transparency in the nomination and voting processes is essential to address concerns of bias and ensure that diverse perspectives are truly represented.

The BAFTA's, and other awards organizations, must recognize that genuine progress is messy, uncomfortable, and often requires admitting fault. "Easy piety" offers a temporary balm, a superficial sense of moral righteousness, but ultimately it's a barrier to lasting change. The future of awards shows depends on their willingness to move beyond performance and embrace the complexities of the world we live in. It requires a willingness to be vulnerable, to be challenged, and to truly listen - not just to the applause, but to the voices that deserve to be heard.