Unlike Thelonious Ellison, Laura Karpman wants to be recognized for her acclaimed composition. The composer, who was previously a lecturer at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, recently earned her first Oscar nomination for scoring “American Fiction.” Recognized in four other categories by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the comedy-drama follows a disgruntled novelist who finds unlikely success after publishing a satire on the tropes associated with African American literature.