Arts & Culture
The Oscars: The Same Old Story Arts and Culture editor Delphie Bond explores how far the Oscars have come in ensuring diversity among its nominees. When I picture the Oscars, I gawp at golden gowns stroking the rouge carpet at the feet of stars. I see the black and white vertical lines of directors’ suits. When I picture the Oscars, I see red, gold and white. Red carpets, gold awards and white skin. Opulence and whiteness; the perfect closing scene. However, of course, this is not an accurate reflection of the face of film in the world. This is just the image we are fed. The Oscars, which has once again, received a multitude of criticism for the lack of black winners this year, disturbingly doesn‘t seem ready to depart from this white narrative. In 2015, the #OscarsSoWhite campaign surfaced on Twitter, with the aim to force Hollywood to ‘rethink how it tells black people’s stories‘. The campaign, which was not without momentum, pushed forward the right for black people to be rewarded in telling their stories through the screen. However, with only 5 black nominations this year, a decrease from last year’s 15 nominations, it would seem black communities are still being massively overlooked in the cinematic universe.
One voice which spoke out against the crowd, however, in a somewhat controversial collection of speeches over the award season was Joaquin Phoenix (Joker). In what Vox described as a ‘’sprawling sociopolitical epic’’, Phoenix used his acceptance speeches to address the blatant inequalities so often silenced in Hollywood; the exact inequalities which place him on the winning pedestal, and others voiceless. Speaking at the Oscars, Phoenix stated:
We’re talking about the fight against the belief that one nation, one people, one race, one gender or one species has the right to dominate, control and use and exploit another with impunity.
credit: etcanada.com
In my opinion, the Joker actor needn‘t be applauded for speaking on behalf of those who are silenced in the industry, it was merely the right thing to do. His speech was good, and morally sufficient, however why is it that Phoenix had to articulate these issues? Why is it his voice that pierces through the crowds whilst others remain hushed? Shouldn’t we all be good and moral? Shouldn‘t we all be striving for equality? It is then, however, that we come to many obvious realisations: Trump is president, America was founded upon inequality and Western society is still riddled with injustice. Collectively the film industry has a duty to do better. However, more importantly, we individuals need to raise our expectations and crucify complacency. The ‘film star‘ is not a fixed, dark-haired, white woman, neither is the ‘director’ an alabaster male. Just as film is fluid and flexible, so are the people who create them, act in them and make them.
Delphie Bond
credit: Golden Cosmos
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