The Oscar Boycott
- Thread starter Apathy
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JJ Husker
Donor
I guess nobody that was complaining is going to bother providing proof of how blacks or POC are underrepresented in Hollywood. Pretty backwards and ignorant to complain about something that apparently doesn't exist.
Watching the SAG (screen actors guild) awards tonight and it seems most of the awards are going to black people and black casts. After recent developements, it causes a person to wonder if they were in fact the best in their category or if this is make up call time. Either way, they are being nominated for and winning awards at a pace that far exceeds their prevalence in the population. I would like to be proven wrong on this, really, but I just am not seeing at all how POC are underrepresented here. Years ago? Yes, definitely. But over the last 20 years.......nope. Certainly nothing like how white guys are underrepresented in the NBA.
Watching the SAG (screen actors guild) awards tonight and it seems most of the awards are going to black people and black casts. After recent developements, it causes a person to wonder if they were in fact the best in their category or if this is make up call time. Either way, they are being nominated for and winning awards at a pace that far exceeds their prevalence in the population. I would like to be proven wrong on this, really, but I just am not seeing at all how POC are underrepresented here. Years ago? Yes, definitely. But over the last 20 years.......nope. Certainly nothing like how white guys are underrepresented in the NBA.
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JJ Husker
Donor
I would also think the numbers would show that Hispanics are underrepresented (probably rather significantly) in Hollywood. I'm just not seeing it with blacks though. Would really like one of these few people that were throwing a hissy fit earlier in this subject to come set me straight with some facts but it doesn't look like that is going to happen.
I have not seen Concussion yet. I do know that his "Oscar worthy" performance in Pursuit of Happiness was one of my least favorite films of his.
adc7236
New member
The Oscars are just pebble in the sand of much larger issue. Perhaps someday there will be a path to having a real discussion about diversity, racism, equality etc. However, I am not sure that is possible until those things are defined. You could ask five different people to define those things and get completely different answers because they view things through their own set of lenses. Over the many years, we have seen such things as affirmative action, mandated organizational diversity quotas in schools, the workplace, promotions etc. Diversity is great on many levels, but some of the paths chosen to get there have been part of the problem. Creating a different standard that is lower in many cases in the name of diversity causes division, and only fuels the problem, putting real discussions further from reach. Sure, it speeds up the process of diversifying, but in the end, is it good thing to have different standards? When things are specifically defined by race and not accomplishment only serve to create separation and not unity.
Many take a separatist view and claim it is in the name of equality which is sad.
As for the Oscars.....I am sure they will diversify the voting members for the future, but the same people will still cry foul, failing to see it is talent that should be recognized, not the skin color.
Many take a separatist view and claim it is in the name of equality which is sad.
As for the Oscars.....I am sure they will diversify the voting members for the future, but the same people will still cry foul, failing to see it is talent that should be recognized, not the skin color.
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zoogs
New member
A look back at a 1996 protest against lack of diversity at the Oscars.
So, it's been 20 years. Here's hoping more ground is made in the next 20. I think there will be; of course it's Hollywood itself where it starts.
So, it's been 20 years. Here's hoping more ground is made in the next 20. I think there will be; of course it's Hollywood itself where it starts.
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Red Dead Redemption
New member
Is that Cowboy Curtis on the cover of People?
Scratchtown
New member
Well. I'm upset.
I don't think pacific islanders are getting a fair enough shake. #boycottoscars
I don't think pacific islanders are getting a fair enough shake. #boycottoscars
JJ Husker
Donor
At this point in time I would accept anecdotal evidence that black people were slighted at this Oscar ceremony. Please someone post 1 or 2 black people that were more deserving of being nominated and/or winning than those who were. Really just 1 or 2, because IMO, I've never been so embarrassed for black America than I was tonight. They could not have thrown a bigger hissy fit over this Academy awards if they had tried. Literally embarrassed for them. I honestly cannot think of one example where a black person was more deserving this year. Please help me out. Or, are they supposed to get token nomination and token awards without really earning them. I'm confused. I assume I am in the wrong here because they made such a stinking big deal out of it. Please 1 or 2 legitimate examples......anyone.
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zoogs
New member
It's not about whether Straight Outta Compton is better than Brooklyn or whether Chi-raq is better than The Danish Girl. The problem is systemic:
(2016) http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/02/22/467665890/hollywood-has-a-major-diversity-problem-usc-study-finds
I can't paste the racial diversity chart from 2013, so I'll summarize:
Leading actors: 83% white, 75% male
Directors: 82% white, 94% male
Writers: 88% white, 87% male (An unsurprising consequence of which, by the way...)
Show creators, broadcast TV: 94% white, 71% male
Show creators, cable TV: 89% white, 77% male
Top studio CEOs/chairs: 94% white, 100% male
Oscar voters (2012): 94% white, 77% male
We are not -- and have never been -- living in a time where there is particularly great or even good representation of American voices in our entertainment media (this goes to songwriting, too, for example). It is changing and will continue to change, which is good. Recognition of the issue rather than dismissal is important. It is a change driver. I should mention, though, that pointing out diversity issues in Hollywood has been going on for decades -- and here we still are, for now.
(2016) http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/02/22/467665890/hollywood-has-a-major-diversity-problem-usc-study-finds
(2015) http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/02/28/389259335/diversity-sells-but-hollywood-remains-overwhelmingly-white-male
I can't paste the racial diversity chart from 2013, so I'll summarize:
Leading actors: 83% white, 75% male
Directors: 82% white, 94% male
Writers: 88% white, 87% male (An unsurprising consequence of which, by the way...)
Show creators, broadcast TV: 94% white, 71% male
Show creators, cable TV: 89% white, 77% male
Top studio CEOs/chairs: 94% white, 100% male
Oscar voters (2012): 94% white, 77% male
We are not -- and have never been -- living in a time where there is particularly great or even good representation of American voices in our entertainment media (this goes to songwriting, too, for example). It is changing and will continue to change, which is good. Recognition of the issue rather than dismissal is important. It is a change driver. I should mention, though, that pointing out diversity issues in Hollywood has been going on for decades -- and here we still are, for now.
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JJ Husker
Donor
I would agree with Moiraine, based on those demographics in the industry, women should be the ones that are upset.
Black people comprise 12.3% of our population. I will ask the question again, what percentages would be acceptable in the industry?
It is obvious that as a group they are underrepresented in the show creators, ceo's, and voters categories. No where near as lopsided as women but still those categories are out of whack. I just would like to know why they should be nominated for these awards in excess of what their prevalence in the population would suggest. Is a group that comprises 12.3% of the population supposed to garner 50% of the awards? Somebody tell me what the acceptable numbers would be.
And it should be as simple as Straight Outta Compton needing to be better than Brooklyn or Will Smith needing to be better than Leo in their respective roles. If the industry is not going to recognize the real best in all these categories then why even bother?
I thought one of the most telling clips was when Chris Rock was interviewing black people outside the theatre in Compton. None of them had heard of any of the nominated shows except they all knew about Straight Outta Compton. But they sure knew black people were being slighted. Really it was absurd.
Black people comprise 12.3% of our population. I will ask the question again, what percentages would be acceptable in the industry?
It is obvious that as a group they are underrepresented in the show creators, ceo's, and voters categories. No where near as lopsided as women but still those categories are out of whack. I just would like to know why they should be nominated for these awards in excess of what their prevalence in the population would suggest. Is a group that comprises 12.3% of the population supposed to garner 50% of the awards? Somebody tell me what the acceptable numbers would be.
And it should be as simple as Straight Outta Compton needing to be better than Brooklyn or Will Smith needing to be better than Leo in their respective roles. If the industry is not going to recognize the real best in all these categories then why even bother?
I thought one of the most telling clips was when Chris Rock was interviewing black people outside the theatre in Compton. None of them had heard of any of the nominated shows except they all knew about Straight Outta Compton. But they sure knew black people were being slighted. Really it was absurd.
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