Antonella Baccaro (photo by Carlo Furgeri Gilbert).
ho began to love Shonda Rhimes before even reading her story. Author and producer of some of the most viewed TV series, such as Grey’s Anatomy, How to get away with murder, Scandal, Inventing Anna And the acclaimed Bridgertonthis 53-year-old African-American woman from Chicago, single mother of three girls, two of whom were adopted and one born by surrogacy, is an exemplary compendium of modernity.
For Time is among the 100 most influential people in the world, per Forbes she is among the most powerful women and among the first self-made women in America, with assets of 250 million dollars.
But what struck me the most is Shondalandwhich is the global media group with which you produce award-winning podcasts and digital content, but above all it is the world of his ideas: a territory in which it dictates the rules, often in contradiction with those of the mainstream.
“Society is built so that women question their own worth from the moment they are born. I do not. I didn’t grow up like this,” she said. A concept that Rhimes doesn’t just wave: he implements it.
Thus, in his series women first of all do. They do without asking too many questions: it is so in love and in war, where they maneuver with extreme ease.
In this space I have already written about Bridgerton, I did it after watching the first series, complaining about the distortion of historical facts. At the time I was convinced, for example, that a nineteenth-century court could not be represented by inserting black characters: what would the new generations learn? What would have happened to the proper respect for those who fought for equal rights, if the efforts made had been canceled by a sweetened rereading?
I’m still convinced that turning reality upside down in very popular series is risky. But I understand Rhimes’ goal: rewrite history as it would have been if women had taken part as protagonists. Which is a beautiful experiment. But also a way of conveying a sense of familiarity with the power that we women still lack. After all Shonda does. Even in real life. His family is a hymn to women and their freedom.
Do you want to share emotions, memories, reflections with us? Write to us at [email protected]
All articles by Antonella Baccaro
iO Woman © REPRODUCTION RESERVED