The 93rd Academy Awards ceremony: Racial politics and other problems
The Academy Awards ceremony Sunday night was distinctive both because it occurred in the midst of a catastrophic pandemic, which was barely mentioned, and because organizers made every effort to see to it—fortunately not always successfully—that race and gender dominated the affair from beginning to end. The latter element of the broadcast in particular left a distinctly unpleasant taste in one’s mouth. At the same time, a number of worthy or intriguing performances and films were also honored.
Nomadland
The American media now almost universally agrees that the success or failure of the annual event is directly tied to the number of black, female and Asian award-winners. This has created a deplorable, debased atmosphere. Artistic quality or social significance hardly merits a reference. In so far as academy voters resist the de facto race and gender quota system (soon to be codified), they are subject to sharp criticism and censure. More on this issue below.