Introducing the Inaugural Zelda Awards
2020 is almost over. We hope you have some time to wind down and practice radical self-care before we ring in the new year. This week we’re bringing you our very first Zelda Awards! We’re highlighting some of our favourite content of the year to celebrate and tide you over until 2021 (FINALLY).
The Zelda™ is made from organic, sustainable and recycled materials.
But first, a little about the history of the Zelda Awards...
The Zelda Awards are named for our illustrious mascot, Ms. Zelda the Dragon. Zelda grew up in a matriarchal socialist dragon community, ravaged by human violence. Ever since, she has dedicated her life to shattering stereotypes around dragon representation.
Zelda has long embraced the symbolic nature of fire, burning down toxic systems to rebuild a society more like the one she grew up in. One which values and cares for the wellbeing of all of its peoples, regardless of race, gender, class, sexuality or ability. As a progressive anti-heroine champion and key advocate, we offer these very prestigious awards in her honour.
Stay tuned for a more comprehensive biography of this iconic dragon activist in 2021.
Zelda in her study, circa 1895. Photographer unknown.
Without further ado, here are your winners for the 2020 Zelda Awards (and yes they are mostly 4 way-ties).
Favourite Anti-Heroine Movies of the Year
Ashna's picks: An American Pickle, Swallow, Lucky Grandma, The Invisible Man.
Hayley's picks: Okay first a tiny bit of context. I'm a big movie buff (not to brag, but I even have a Master's in Film Studies), but this year was tough. So many amazing movies by such diverse directors came out, and yet all I could do was watch comforting old movies and television shows. So I've broken my picks up into the movies I loved this year, and the ones I can't wait to watch once I have the mental capacity for emotion again!
Favourite 2020 flicks: Birds of Prey, The Old Guard, The Invisible Man, Blow the Man Down.
Movies on my watch-list: Small Axe Anthology, Promising Young Woman, Nomadland, Relic, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, First Cow, Da 5 Bloods, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Kindred, His House, Shirley, Babyteeth, She Dies Tomorrow, Wolfwalkers, Minari, I’m Your Woman, Sound of Metal, The Assistant, Cuties.
Favourite Anti-Heroine Directors of the Year
Ashna's picks: Ava DuVernay, Beri Shalmashi, Nadine Labaki, Hayao Miyazaki.
Hayley's picks: Steve McQueen, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Kelly Reichardt, Cathy Yan.
Favourite Anti-Heroine Television of the Year
Ashna's picks: In true millennial fashion, this year I binged a lot of 90s throwbacks like Dawson's Creek, Sister Sister, and Friends. My 2020 picks are Never Have I Ever and The Crown (clarification: just the season with Princess Di).
Hayley's picks: While I watched fewer movies than usual this year, I made up for it with the amount of television I consumed. It was hard to narrow down my favourites, but they are as follows: I Hate Suzie, I Will Destroy You, High Fidelity, Never Have I Ever, Infinity Train, Dark. Seriously could write essays on all of them.
Favourite Anti-Heroine Albums of the Year
Ashna's picks: No stand-out albums for me this year. Sorry!
Hayley's picks: Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers and Women in Music Part III by Haim.
Favourite Anti-Heroine Songs of the Year
We had so many that we decided to make you a playlist instead. As many songs to dance to as to cry to.
Favourite Anti-Heroine Social Media of the Year
Ashna's picks: Public Citizen's Twitter page and Toronto-based comedian Salma Hindy’s #ComedyMondays & #TherapyThursdays on Instagram. One minute I'm unlearning childhood trauma, the other I'm crying with laughter. She's that good.
Hayley's picks: Black Socialists in America's Twitter page and Ziwe Fumudoh's Instagram live show.
Favourite Anti-Heroine Podcasts of the Year
Ashna's picks: The Highly Sensitive Person Podcast and Nice White Parents.
Hayley's picks: Had to take a break from true crime and mainly just listened to The Bechdel Cast and Switchblade Sisters this year.
Favourite Anti-Heroine Reads of the Year
Ashna's picks: My attention span this year.. non-existent. Needless to say, I had trouble finishing every book I started. The exception was All About Love from Bell Hooks. I actually read it twice.
A digital piece that will stick with me forever is The day that never happened. I also loved this Op-Art on skin hunger in the time of Covid.
Hayley's picks: After nearly three years spent reading (often quite deperessing) news articles all day, I only just got back into reading for pleasure this fall! Not from this year but very much enjoyed: The Idiot by Elif Batuman, Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado (especially "The Green Ribbon") and Trust Exercise by Susan Choi.
Some digital pieces I loved this year were this New York Times profile on AOC, this really thoughtful essay from Emily Ratajkowski and this beautiful profile on Sohla El Waylly.
Notable Real Life Anti-Heroines this Year
Ashna's picks: Jody Wilson-Raybould, The Chicks, Ayanna Pressley, Dashni Morad, Kai Cheng Thom.
Hayley's picks: FKA Twigs, Stacey Abrams, Rihanna, Dolly Parton, Sohla El Waylly, Marielle Heller.
Favourite Anti-Heroine Moments of the Year
Ashna's picks: When AOC called out Ted Yoho, fuck that guy!
Hayley's picks: When Trump lost.
Favourite Anti-Heroine Self-Care Practices of the Year
Ashna's pick: Drawing on procreate and downing those massive 8-pack cinnamon rolls from Costco.
Hayley's pick: Binge-watching something comforting and painting water colours.
We hope you enjoyed the inaugural Zelda Awards! What are we missing? Send us your recommendations and we will share them in the new year.
Sending everyone warm—fiery in fact—wishes as we end out this never-ending year.
Ashna & Hayley