Viola Davis: Unearthing the Power of Everyday Lives on the Global Stage

The Oscar-winning actress champions the profound significance of ordinary narratives in art and society.

In a world often captivated by the extraordinary, by the larger-than-life figures and pivotal historical events, there exists a parallel universe of stories – the lives of ordinary people. These are the narratives often overlooked, the quiet triumphs and enduring struggles that form the bedrock of human experience. Viola Davis, a titan of the acting world, has emerged as a passionate advocate for these often-unseen stories, urging a collective “exhumation” of the ordinary through the power of art.

Davis’s powerful pronouncements on this theme, particularly following her historic Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress in 2017 for her role in “Fences,” resonated far beyond the glittering confines of Hollywood. Her words serve as a compelling invitation to reconsider what constitutes a valuable narrative, challenging the prevailing focus on exceptionalism and advocating for a more inclusive and representative understanding of human achievement and suffering.

This article delves into the essence of Viola Davis’s call to “exhume the ordinary,” exploring its roots, dissecting its implications, and examining its potential to reshape how we perceive and celebrate the human condition. We will trace the origins of this sentiment, analyze its impact on the arts and broader cultural discourse, and consider its lasting significance.

Context & Background

Viola Davis’s journey to becoming a vocal advocate for the “ordinary” is deeply intertwined with her own life experiences and her profound understanding of the dramatic arts. Born into poverty in South Carolina, Davis’s early life was marked by struggle and resilience. Her upbringing, far from being a tale of privilege or innate talent destined for stardom, was one of overcoming significant adversity. This grounding in lived experience has undoubtedly informed her perspective on storytelling.

Her acclaimed performance in August Wilson’s seminal play “Fences” (and its subsequent film adaptation) provided a powerful platform for her message. The play itself is a deeply humanistic exploration of the African American experience in the mid-20th century, centering on the life of Troy Maxson, a former Negro league baseball player grappling with his past and the societal barriers he faces. Davis’s portrayal of Rose Maxson, Troy’s wife, is a masterclass in conveying the quiet strength, enduring love, and profound sacrifices of a woman whose contributions are often relegated to the background of her husband’s narrative.

The 2017 Academy Awards ceremony marked a pivotal moment. Davis, receiving the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, delivered a speech that transcended the typical Hollywood acceptance. She began by thanking the academy, but quickly pivoted to a broader, more philosophical reflection. She spoke about how the “story of the ordinary” was the greatest story ever told. She highlighted her own journey, referencing her upbringing and the dreams she harbored, but more importantly, she connected this to the universal human desire to be seen, to be valued, and to have one’s story acknowledged.

“I want to thank my mother, who is on her 81st birthday and she’s still standing,” Davis began, her voice thick with emotion. “And I want to thank my daughter, Genesis, who’s the center of my life. And I want to thank my husband, Julius, who is the greatest love of my life. And I want to thank August Wilson. He’s an extraordinary visionary. He showed us that our lives have value. He showed us that our stories have value.”

Davis’s reference to August Wilson is particularly significant. Wilson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, dedicated his career to chronicling the Black experience in America through a series of ten plays, each set in a different decade of the 20th century. His work, including “Fences,” “The Piano Lesson,” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” consistently centered on the lives of working-class Black individuals, exploring their dreams, their struggles, their resilience, and their humanity with unflinching honesty and profound empathy. Wilson’s commitment to portraying the “ordinary” Black experience was radical in its time, challenging the dominant narratives that often rendered Black lives invisible or caricatured.

The immediate aftermath of her win saw widespread praise for Davis’s speech. Critics lauded its authenticity and its powerful message about representation and the inherent dignity of every human life. However, the call to “exhume the ordinary” also invites deeper consideration of what it means for these stories to be recognized, valued, and preserved.

In-Depth Analysis

Viola Davis’s advocacy for “exhuming the ordinary” is not merely a poetic sentiment; it is a profound critique of societal and artistic priorities. It challenges the ingrained tendency to prioritize the exceptional, the monumental, and the overtly dramatic, often at the expense of the everyday realities that shape the vast majority of human existence.

The Hierarchy of Narratives: For centuries, storytelling has often gravitated towards figures who have made significant historical impacts, achieved extraordinary feats, or endured exceptional suffering. Kings, queens, warriors, revolutionaries, and those who have defied the odds in dramatic ways have traditionally occupied the central stage. While these stories are undoubtedly important, their dominance can inadvertently create a hierarchy of narrative value, implying that lives lived without such overt grandiosity are less worthy of attention, study, or artistic representation.

Davis’s call suggests that this hierarchy is fundamentally flawed. The “ordinary” life, lived with integrity, love, sacrifice, and quiet persistence, possesses an intrinsic value that is too often overlooked. It is in these everyday experiences that the true breadth and depth of the human spirit are often revealed. The struggles of a single mother to provide for her children, the dedication of a teacher to their students, the enduring love between a couple over decades, the simple acts of kindness that ripple through a community – these are the threads that weave the tapestry of human connection and meaning.

Art as a Mirror and a Catalyst: Davis posits that art, in its highest form, acts as both a mirror and a catalyst. As a mirror, it should reflect the totality of human experience, not just the most sensational or celebrated aspects. By turning the lens towards the ordinary, art can provide validation and recognition to those whose lives might otherwise remain unacknowledged. This act of seeing and being seen can be deeply empowering, fostering a sense of belonging and shared humanity.

As a catalyst, art that embraces the ordinary can ignite empathy and understanding. When audiences engage with stories of everyday people, they are invited to step into the shoes of others, to feel their joys and sorrows, and to recognize the commonalities that bind us. This empathetic engagement can, in turn, lead to greater social awareness, challenge prejudices, and inspire action towards a more just and compassionate world.

Challenging the “Great Man” Theory of History and Art: Davis’s perspective implicitly challenges the enduring “Great Man” theory, which tends to attribute historical progress and cultural advancements primarily to the actions of a few influential individuals. This theory often downplays the collective efforts, the silent contributions, and the foundational experiences of the broader population. By emphasizing the “ordinary,” Davis reminds us that history is not just made by presidents and generals, but by the countless individuals who built communities, raised families, and sustained societies through their daily lives.

Similarly, in the arts, a focus on the extraordinary can sometimes overshadow the work of those who craft nuanced portrayals of everyday life with profound skill. Davis’s own career, marked by her ability to imbue even seemingly simple characters with immense emotional depth and complexity, exemplifies the power of recognizing the artistry in depicting the ordinary.

The Political Dimension of Visibility: The act of exhuming the ordinary is inherently political. For marginalized communities, whose stories have historically been suppressed, distorted, or erased, the championing of everyday narratives is an act of reclamation and affirmation. When the lives of working-class people, people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other underrepresented groups are given prominence and treated with dignity in art and media, it challenges dominant power structures and promotes greater social equity. It asserts that these lives matter, that their experiences are valid, and that they deserve to be seen and heard.

Davis’s emphasis on the “ordinary” resonates particularly strongly with these communities, offering a counter-narrative to the often-limited ways in which they have been portrayed. Her call is an invitation to expand the definition of what constitutes a significant story, thereby expanding the potential for representation and inclusion in the cultural landscape.

The “Ordinary” as Extraordinary: Paradoxically, Davis’s call also suggests that the “ordinary” is, in fact, extraordinary. The sheer resilience required to navigate the challenges of daily life, the acts of love and sacrifice that often go unnoticed, the quiet determination to simply keep going – these are extraordinary feats in their own right. They are the essential elements that sustain humanity, and their portrayal in art can imbue them with the recognition they deserve.

Consider the artistic lineage that Davis’s call invokes. Think of writers like Alice Munro, whose short stories delve into the quiet complexities of rural Canadian life, or directors like Ken Loach, who consistently focus on the struggles and resilience of the working class. These artists, like Davis, understand that the profound drama of existence often unfolds in the most seemingly commonplace circumstances.

Pros and Cons

Viola Davis’s powerful call to “exhume the ordinary” carries significant benefits but also presents certain considerations and potential challenges:

Pros:

• Enhanced Representation and Inclusivity: The most significant benefit is the potential for broader and more authentic representation in art and media. By focusing on the ordinary, stories from marginalized communities and everyday individuals can gain prominence, fostering a more inclusive cultural landscape. This can lead to greater empathy and understanding across diverse groups.
• Validation and Empowerment: For individuals whose lives have historically been overlooked or undervalued, seeing their experiences reflected and celebrated in art can be incredibly validating and empowering. It affirms the inherent worth and significance of their lives.
• Deeper Human Connection: Narratives that delve into the shared experiences of ordinary people can foster stronger human connections. By highlighting universal themes of love, loss, struggle, and hope that are common to everyday lives, art can bridge divides and remind audiences of their shared humanity.
• Challenging Societal Prejudices: By showcasing the richness and complexity of ordinary lives, art can serve as a powerful tool to dismantle stereotypes and prejudices. When audiences are exposed to well-crafted stories of individuals from diverse backgrounds, it can challenge preconceived notions and foster a more nuanced understanding of different communities.
• Rediscovering the Profound in the Mundane: Davis’s call encourages a re-evaluation of what constitutes a compelling story. It suggests that profound truths and dramatic arcs can be found not just in exceptional circumstances, but in the subtle, everyday interactions and challenges that define most lives. This can lead to a richer and more varied artistic output.
• Artistic Innovation: A greater focus on the ordinary can spur artistic innovation. Creators may be encouraged to develop new forms and techniques to capture the nuances of everyday life, moving beyond established tropes and formulas that often prioritize the extraordinary.

Cons:

• Risk of Glorifying Mediocrity or Resignation: A potential pitfall is the risk of inadvertently glorifying or romanticizing lives characterized by hardship without also acknowledging the systemic issues that contribute to those hardships. There’s a delicate balance between celebrating resilience and ignoring the need for societal change. The focus should remain on the human spirit within the context of reality.
• Difficulty in Capturing Nuance: Depicting ordinary lives authentically requires immense skill and sensitivity. There is a risk that attempts to represent the ordinary could fall into cliché or superficial portrayal, failing to capture the true depth and complexity of lived experiences.
• Audience Engagement Challenges: While many appreciate nuanced storytelling, there is also a segment of the audience that is drawn to more sensational or overtly dramatic narratives. Art that focuses on the ordinary might, in some cases, struggle to achieve the same level of broad commercial appeal or immediate audience engagement if not executed with exceptional craft.
• The Need for Contextualization: Presenting ordinary lives without adequate context regarding the social, economic, or political forces that shape them can lead to incomplete or misleading representations. The “ordinary” is rarely truly divorced from broader societal structures.
• Potential for Misinterpretation of “Ordinary”: The term “ordinary” itself can be subjective and can sometimes be used to dismiss or devalue certain experiences. It is crucial that the intention behind “exhume the ordinary” is to elevate and validate, rather than to homogenize or diminish diverse individual realities.

Key Takeaways

• Art’s Role in Amplifying Underrepresented Narratives: Viola Davis champions art’s capacity to unearth and give voice to the experiences of everyday people, challenging the historical tendency to focus solely on the exceptional.
• The Inherent Value of Every Human Story: Her message asserts that all lives possess intrinsic value, and their stories – marked by struggle, resilience, love, and quiet perseverance – are as significant and worthy of recognition as those of prominent figures.
• Challenging Societal Hierarchies of Value: Davis’s call implicitly critiques the societal bias that often places greater importance on extraordinary achievements, advocating for a more equitable appreciation of the full spectrum of human experience.
• Empathy and Connection Through Shared Experience: By engaging with stories of ordinary lives, audiences can cultivate greater empathy and forge deeper human connections, recognizing shared vulnerabilities and triumphs across diverse backgrounds.
• The Political Power of Visibility: For marginalized communities, the celebration of ordinary lives is an act of reclamation, challenging dominant narratives and asserting their right to be seen, heard, and valued.
• “Ordinary” as a Source of the Extraordinary: The resilience, love, and sacrifices inherent in everyday existence are, in themselves, extraordinary acts that deserve artistic recognition and societal appreciation.

Future Outlook

Viola Davis’s passionate plea to “exhume the ordinary” arrives at a time when the global conversation around representation and storytelling is more robust than ever. The future outlook for this sentiment is promising, with several trends suggesting its continued influence:

The Digital Age and Democratization of Storytelling: The rise of digital platforms, social media, and independent filmmaking has significantly democratized the ability to create and share stories. This has opened doors for countless individuals to tell their own “ordinary” narratives, bypassing traditional gatekeepers and reaching audiences directly. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and personal blogs allow for raw, unfiltered glimpses into everyday lives, resonating with millions and demonstrating a clear appetite for authentic, relatable content.

Increased Demand for Authentic Content: Audiences, particularly younger generations, are increasingly seeking authentic and relatable content. They are often more discerning of overly polished or sensationalized narratives and are drawn to stories that feel genuine and reflect their own lived experiences or the experiences of those around them. This demand creates a fertile ground for artists and creators who prioritize the portrayal of the ordinary.

The Evolution of the Arts: The arts are continuously evolving to reflect societal shifts. As awareness of the importance of diverse perspectives grows, we can anticipate a continued push for more nuanced and inclusive storytelling in literature, film, theater, and visual arts. This will likely involve a greater emphasis on character development, subtle emotional arcs, and the exploration of the everyday challenges and joys that define human existence.

Academic and Critical Recognition: As the significance of everyday narratives becomes more apparent, academic institutions and critics are also likely to place greater emphasis on studying and celebrating works that delve into the ordinary. This can lead to a more robust theoretical framework and a broader understanding of the artistic merit found in such stories.

The Potential for Societal Impact: If the call to “exhume the ordinary” is heeded widely, it could have a profound societal impact. By fostering greater empathy and understanding, it can contribute to a more inclusive and compassionate society. It could also inspire individuals to recognize the value and significance in their own lives and communities, fostering a greater sense of collective worth.

However, challenges remain. The established media landscape still often favors sensationalism, and the economic realities of artistic production can sometimes push creators towards more commercially viable, broadly appealing (and often extraordinary) narratives. The ongoing struggle for equitable funding and distribution for artists who focus on the ordinary will be crucial.

Furthermore, the definition of “ordinary” itself needs careful consideration. It must be inclusive and avoid inadvertently marginalizing further those whose experiences might be considered extraordinary by some measures but are still deeply rooted in the everyday struggles of survival and dignity.

Ultimately, the future outlook hinges on a sustained commitment from creators, audiences, and cultural institutions to actively seek out, support, and celebrate the stories of everyday people. Viola Davis has provided a powerful impetus; the ongoing work lies in translating that impetus into tangible, lasting change in our cultural landscape.

Call to Action

Viola Davis’s powerful invitation to “exhume the ordinary” is not just a reflection on the power of art, but a call to action for us all. It encourages a conscious shift in how we perceive, value, and share stories in our daily lives and in the broader cultural sphere.

• Become a Conscious Consumer of Stories: Actively seek out and support films, books, plays, and other forms of art that delve into the lives of ordinary people. Look for creators who prioritize authenticity and nuance in their portrayal of everyday experiences. Engage critically with narratives that focus solely on the exceptional, asking yourselves what stories might be missing.
• Support Emerging and Underrepresented Artists: Many artists are dedicated to telling the stories of the ordinary, but may lack the resources or visibility to reach a wide audience. Consider supporting independent creators, community theater groups, and artists from diverse backgrounds who are committed to this vision.
• Share Your Own Stories and Those of Your Community: In the digital age, we all have the potential to be storytellers. Whether through personal essays, social media posts, podcasts, or local journalism, find ways to share the narratives of the people around you – your neighbors, your family, your colleagues. Document the quiet triumphs and persistent struggles that shape your community.
• Advocate for Inclusive Storytelling: Engage in conversations about representation in media and the arts. Encourage institutions, educational bodies, and media outlets to prioritize and showcase a wider range of human experiences, ensuring that the “ordinary” is given its rightful place.
• Practice Empathy in Everyday Interactions: Davis’s call extends beyond the arts; it’s a call to recognize the inherent value and complexity in every person we encounter. Listen actively, seek to understand different perspectives, and acknowledge the often-unseen narratives that shape the lives of those around us.
• Educate and Inspire Future Generations: Share the importance of diverse storytelling with younger generations. Encourage them to be curious about the lives of others, to appreciate the richness of everyday experience, and to understand that their own stories, however seemingly ordinary, have immense value.

By embracing these actions, we can collectively contribute to a cultural landscape that is more reflective, more empathetic, and more deeply resonant with the true breadth of the human experience. The work of exhuming the ordinary is ongoing, and it requires the participation of us all.