The Oscar Boycott

Yeah, I definitely agree about women in Hollywood. It's not a competition, though. Hollywood as an institution is not coming from a diverse place. It will get there, because it's trying and because people are demanding it to. But these things do take time and demanding. Otherwise we'll still be here in 2026, having the same conversation, with the same widespread desire to minimize the importance of the issue.

There hasn't been a movie theater in Compton city limits for decades, but of course, you might expect black people to see a movie like that in a much different light than white people. The same way you might expect an Oscar academy nearly 95% white to continually gloss over nominations and performances that aren't "traditionally" considered excellent in their very homogeneous circles.

This is the weight of institutional bias. And really, it's coming down from the top because it's still a world lacking in diversity from the content creator side and the nature of the opportunity in roles for others -- whether it's a black woman, Asian man, or LGBTQ -- is firmly "Work In Progress."

 
I still haven't seen anybody make a legitimate case that there is an issue. I'm not downplaying it. I'm denying it exists until somebody provides some indisputable proof that blacks are in fact underrepresented in Hollywood. They comprise about 12.5% of the population. What percentage of awards do they need to be nominated for and win if not 12.5%? If we're shooting for a higher percentage, please explain why.

And I don't want anyone to think I really care. I don't. I have a pretty high level of disdain for anything associated with Hollywood. Personally I don't think a collective group can get any more clueless than one comprised of Hollywood actors regardless their color. But this issue is really pushing my fair and just buttons. I really don't see it. 20+ years ago? Sure, but not in the last 20ish. It's a claim that should be able to be backed up with real numbers, not just touchy feely mumbo jumbo talk.

 
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So African-American are actually over-represented in Oscar wins?

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I did. It basically said "ignore what the statistics say, we're going to cherry-pick a few examples that do a better job of supporting our narrative."

 
Thanks for posting those zoogs, particularly the economist link. So far, that is best case I have seen made but, the case it makes is clearly that whites are over represented not that blacks are underrepresented. It is fairly obvious that Latinos and Asians and women have some legitimate complaints with the way Hollywood works. And I also find it a little disturbing that the top acting nominations have been so whitewashed these last 2 years. Although when looking at 20 possible acting nominations in any given year, it really could easily be out of whack with population demographics in a small sample of only 1 or 2 years. I just find it sort of strange that a group that really is not underrepresented is leading the lack of diversity charge. I can buy that the Academy awards are white heavy (and I understand why and how). But I still don't see where blacks should be up in arms. IMO there are about other 3 groups that should be leading the charge well before the black community throws anywhere near the hissy fit they have been. And I still think they would get catered to more by Hollywood if they were driving demand at the box office, but they aren't.

 
Thanks, JJ, appreciate the response. I guess the way I see it is there's really no need to pit poorly represented groups against one another. When I see the #OscarsSoWhite protest I don't see it as something done on behalf of the black community, or even the non-white community -- I see it as for everyone. 100% of America lives in a racially integrated society that could probably be a little better about it than it is. Prominent roles that are race/gender neutral that don't end up overwhelmingly white and male anyway, that has value for 100% of us. Better recognition and more stories centered around different cultural perspectives that aren't (for example) civil rights or slavery flicks, that has value for all of us. The numbers, particularly at the highest levels, point to possible root causes, but they aren't an end to the discussion, either.

[For example, Asian Americans are somewhat under 10% of the population. That's maybe enough to land a whole lot of your kungfu man, computer geek, pretty lady, and Ken Jeong roles -- but in the end, that's still tokenism. The Oscars are maybe not the best reflection of it, but it is one measure.]

As in society itself, there's both widespread recognition of the issues and considerable insistence to dismiss these as still extant issues in Hollywood. The anger is directed at the latter. Largely I think it's provoked good, layered discussion. It's good to see, no, that the industry is taking itself to task?

I don't follow new movies all that broadly, but here's a good op-ed written that looks at the 2015 snubs: http://www.vox.com/2015/1/6/7502631/oscars-white-people In closing,

On its face, none of this is "important," really. The winner of Best Picture will be forgotten by the vast majority of people a few weeks after the ceremony is over. But the film industry, which has so often dedicated itself to progressive causes, at least on a spokesperson level, is too often ruled by quiet artistic conservatism in what movies "should" look like.

We see it in the kinds of movies that are made, and we see it in the kinds of movies that win awards. And yet the world reflected in the Oscars looks little like the one outside our windows. It's time for that to change.
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I always find these discussions terribly amusing. Everyone wants to complain about the "horrible state of affairs" but nobody wants to be the one to actually do anything. THEY should have to change! Why? You're still giving them your money, going to the movies, giving movie-related websites clicks, and, for many of you, ultimately watching the Oscars (although ratings were at an 8-yer low....color me shocked!) If you're SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO upset, quit going to movies. I haven't been to a movie theater since 2013. If you care so much about perceived injustices, hit the industry where it hurts (hint: pocketbook).

...but I know not to expect any real effort to this degree from 98 percent of people complaining. It would be FAAAAAAAAAAR too much work, duh. It was like how nobody would stop watching professional basketball for a week when the Clippers owner got nabbed for his thought crime. THEY should have to change!

 
Creighton Duke said:
I always find these discussions terribly amusing. Everyone wants to complain about the "horrible state of affairs" but nobody wants to be the one to actually do anything. THEY should have to change! Why? You're still giving them your money, going to the movies, giving movie-related websites clicks, and, for many of you, ultimately watching the Oscars (although ratings were at an 8-yer low....color me shocked!) If you're SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO upset, quit going to movies. I haven't been to a movie theater since 2013. If you care so much about perceived injustices, hit the industry where it hurts (hint: pocketbook).

...but I know not to expect any real effort to this degree from 98 percent of people complaining. It would be FAAAAAAAAAAR too much work, duh. It was like how nobody would stop watching professional basketball for a week when the Clippers owner got nabbed for his thought crime. THEY should have to change!
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Not doing anything? I'll have you know that as soon as I found out about this I adjusted the brightness and contrast on my TV. Now all my shows feature people of color.

 
Heh. I enjoy movies. Some of them, anyway! I think I'd enjoy different ones, too.

Those in the industry that are speaking up and giving voice to things that traditionally have been voiceless -- quality of roles, diversity in industry, pay gap, and so on -- I'm glad for them. I think it's amusing that people think these voices need to be shouted down.

The status quo isn't terrible, but it's not fit to be worshipped, either. Whether you like it or ignore it, Hollywood is a not insignificant part of our shared culture. Social changes happen over time, and are driven by awareness, and even (sometimes) the expressing of opinions
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Creighton Duke said:
I always find these discussions terribly amusing. Everyone wants to complain about the "horrible state of affairs" but nobody wants to be the one to actually do anything. THEY should have to change! Why? You're still giving them your money, going to the movies, giving movie-related websites clicks, and, for many of you, ultimately watching the Oscars (although ratings were at an 8-yer low....color me shocked!) If you're SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO upset, quit going to movies. I haven't been to a movie theater since 2013. If you care so much about perceived injustices, hit the industry where it hurts (hint: pocketbook).

...but I know not to expect any real effort to this degree from 98 percent of people complaining. It would be FAAAAAAAAAAR too much work, duh. It was like how nobody would stop watching professional basketball for a week when the Clippers owner got nabbed for his thought crime. THEY should have to change!
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Talking about a subject matter is, in itself doing something about it. It's weird that you find it amusing, and also that you have the audacity to make claims about things you know not. How do you know that any individuals in here don't want to actually do anything and aren't changing their behaviors to reflect what they think should happen?

Personally, I make a conscious decision not to watch the Oscars or any major award shows, or give them traffic or attention. I avoid movies (not all) that whitewash roles or contribute to disturbing status quos. I make decisions like this all the time. I'm not SOOOOOOOOOO upset, and I am actually doing stuff about it. Where's the amusing part?

Coach Power'T said:
People with disabilities are under represented. #outrage
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Coach, do you ever post anything of substance anymore, or do you just chime in on other members' discussions attempting to make fun of everyone else? There is good, reasonable dialogue happening in here between zoogs and JJ, with good resources and links and points being made. You should take part and contribute to it.

zoogs said:
[For example, Asian Americans are somewhat under 10% of the population. That's maybe enough to land a whole lot of your kungfu man, computer geek, pretty lady, and Ken Jeong roles -- but in the end, that's still tokenism. The Oscars are maybe not the best reflection of it, but it is one measure.]
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This is a good point that I've failed to articulate but wanted to, because it's an important element that gets lost in any kind of statistic. If blacks or asians or mexicans or women or _______ are being cast at the same percentage of their demographic of the population, that's one thing, but if all of the 'default' roles and characters, not written for a specific ethnicity or gender, go to white males, and the minorities are still primarily being cast as drug lords, gangbangers, nerdy geeks, placeholder housewives or what have you, that's still a problem.

 
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