Oh... The Academy Awards Will Be Interesting To Watch This Year... #OscarsSoWhite...

[WillyT]

#OscarsSoWhite perfectly encapsulates our rage
This is the first time all 20 acting nominees have been white since 1998
Joanna Rothkopf - Salon
Thursday, Jan 15, 2015 01:10 PM PST

<snip>

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the body responsible for nominating and voting on the Oscars, is not known for being especially sensitive about issues of race and general diversity — and the nominees for the 87th Annual Academy Awards are no exception. Every acting nominee is white for the first time since 1998, while no women were nominated for their work as directors, screenwriters and cinematographers. Perhaps most jarring was the snub of David Oyewolo and Ava DuVernay for their work as star and director, respectively, of the critically acclaimed “Selma.”

Fortunately, we have the Internet. Twitter user @ReignofApril is credited with starting the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, which perfectly encapsulates our outrage. Here are some of the best:

<snip>

More: http://www.salon.com/2015/01/15/oscarssowhite_perfectly_encapsulates_our_rage/

My Fave:

#OscarsSoWhite they let a grand jury decide the nominations,

[hollysmom]

1. why not #Oscarssomale as well?

[zappaman]

3. Exactly.

I guess SELMA directed itself?

[oberliner]

9. All the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress nominees are female

None of them are non-white.

[hollysmom]

34. you know, they don't have a lot of choice in these cases, but

but if they could they would probably nominate men dressed in drag. hee. Tyler Perry - it's for you.

ETA - how silly, I just realized that can't happen, Tyler Perry is black. Do we have to go back to Jerry Lewis? or maybe back to some like it hot.

[Ykcutnek]

2. There's a lot of talented black actors out there.

Hollywood needs more David Simon types to utilize them for good projects.

[TM99]

4. So for almost 20 years

there have been nominees that were black, but this year there weren't, and it is a HUGE deal?

The internet has not made us smarter. It has just given us a million reasons to be outraged on a daily basis! We, the sheeple, of the United States of iPod are led around by our emotions.

[oberliner]

10. Have you seen Selma?

If so, what did you think of the acting?

[bigwillq]

15. I would have given a nod to David Oyelowo

Not sure if I would have given a nod to anyone else from the Selma cast.

I do think Ava DuVernay should have been nominated for Best Director.

I agree with the choice for Best Picture; it was outstanding.

[TM99]

16. I did.

The film definitely overall deserves the nomination it got. The acting was good but I am not surprised the actor and actress were not individually chosen. It has happened quite a few times like that.

[840high]

30. Did we forget the movie that

won last year? Perhaps this year there simply was more talent competing.

[TM99]

39. I did not, and I agree.

I think this is just SJW poutrage over something of true insignificance. I think there are plenty of racial issues of greater import to be focusing attention on. But that is just me.

[Travis_0004]

5. What black actors were snubbed?

I dont think we should nominate somebody just to get a black actor nominated, so who deserved the nomination but didnt get it?

[WillyT]

7. It's All Over The Inter-Webs...

Link: http://www.salon.com/2015/01/16/the_oscars_white_guy_backlash_why_academy_voters_retreated_to_their_comfort_zone/

Link: http://www.salon.com/2015/01/15/%E2%80%9Cselma%E2%80%99s_snub_amazon%E2%80%99s_%E2%80%9Cpoint_of_honor%E2%80%9D_and_hollywood%E2%80%99s_white_savior_problem/

Link: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/15/the-whitest-oscars-since-1998-why-the-selma-snubs-matter.html

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/15/whitest-oscars_n_6466052.html

The rest: https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&biw=1024&bih=618&tbm=nws&q=academy+awards+black&oq=academy+awards+black&gs_l=serp.12...12578.16489.0.18835.6.6.0.0.0.0.218.739.4j0j2.6.0.msedr...0...1c.1.61.serp..5.1.216.AW1JMtvndhs

[butterfly77]

6. They have always been white..

Maybe with a chocolate drop

[MicaelS]

8. This is so ironic, cosidering how Hollywood is portrayed as a hotbed..

Of unrestrained Liberalism in the MSM. And how many members of the Academy talk the talk of Liberalism in public, but obviously don't walk the walk in private.

Edit: OTOH..this explains a lot:

which is more than 90 percent white and about three-quarters male, with a median age around 63

[oberliner]

11. Hollywood is that

They skew very liberal for the most part.

[alp227]

21. If Hollywood is so left wing explain the big investments in military films.

Like this year's American Sniper. Or Transformers and the sequels. The superhero movies. And every "Twilight" book (the Twilight author is a Mormon, and Twilight series has a religiously conservative message it is said) was adapted into film and made a $#!tload of money. Those are all films that appeal to Republican voters. In contrast you've got movies like "Wolf of Wall Street" and "The Butler" that appeal more to Democratic voters. "Elysium" is said to have a social justice message, too.

Contrary to what hacks like Rob Schneider, Gary Oldman, or anyone hired by Breitbart's "Big Hollywood" will tell ya, there's no conspiracy to persecute right wingers out of Hollywood. I mean, Clint Eastwood was a Republican in his golden years in the industry (he voted for Eisenhower in '52 and endorsed Nixon both times). Nowadays he's registered with the Libertarian Party. But he continues on as Hollywood's "elder statesman" nowadays...because he knows his craft!

Furthermore, the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, etc. are all self-celebrations of their respective industries. Can anyone seriously argue those awards are given based on objective merit not nepotism/cronyism/you-name-it-ism? Groups like the American Film Institute and Paley Center for Media really know what they're talking about.

[branford]

22. Huh?

Are you actually claiming that Democratic voters do not go to see superhero movies, the Transformers or Twilight franchises or even American sniper? That's simply ludicrous. Moreover, the studios produce movies they believe people want to watch in order to earn a profit. They might not suit you or me, but we do not represent all demographics. I would also note that Republicans and conservatives make up a substantial portion of the population, enjoy films, and their money is as good as anyone else.

More importantly, Hollywood is left wing because those involved in the industry privately support liberal interests and candidates with their time, effort and money. Without their financial contributions, celebrity, political support and fundraising assistance, the Democratic Party would be well and truly screwed.

[alp227]

25. Actually...not! I'm merely politically analyzing the themes of such movies.

I don't like it when people on DU or other boards spin a whole new cloth out of my postings!

Anyway, do superhero movies not often have conservative themes? And of course, Republicans represent a lot of the moviegoing population. But because of the "liberal Hollywood" mantra, Republicans are more likely to "boycott" Hollywood (or pirate films online instead).

[branford]

26. What evidence do you have that Republicans are more likely to pirate films?

Claiming that superhero movies, no less mindless pubescent drivel such as the Transformers or Twilight franchises, represent only conservative themes is also, at best, very debatable.

Regardless, as I stated in my post, Hollywood is liberal, because those in the industry overwhelmingly support Democratic and liberal causes and candidates with their time, money and celebrity. It wouldn't matter if every movie produced positively portrayed conservatives. "Hollywood" is most definitely an important, and very liberal, Democratic constituency.

[ND-Dem]

12. nobody even from 'selma' was nominated?

[WillyT]

13. Nope...

Oh... the song was.

And they were black...

[JCMach1]

14. How about #oscarsobad

Once again the academy has nominated some stinkers...

[Boreal]

17. I don't understand why

anyone gives a flying fuck about Hollywood. People are dying in wars all over the world and getting murdered by cops here at home. I detest this celebrity obsessed culture.

[WillyT]

18. I Hear Ya... And Basically Agree... But...

People are dying in wars all over the world and getting murdered by cops here at home.

Sometimes we need a break/diversion... to enable us to keep going.

Otherwise we turn into a puddle.

[Boreal]

20. lol

I can go with that.

From what I understand about the Oscars, they are very much political and who you know.

[tblue]

27. I know that's true. It doesn't mean Selma isn't outstanding.

It is. I don't think it was snubbed as much as forgotten, for whatever that distinction might be worth.

There are plenty of Oscars given to the wrong people, imho, every year. Selma is a great movie (except the part about LBJ and the wiretapping). I highly highly recommend it. If you want to support it, go see it and tell your friends to go!

[chillfactor]

29. there are much better uses of your time....

then watch award shows..get absorb in a good book for example..award shows giving itself away to the politics of Hollywood..what a waste of time they are..........

[KinMd]

19. It will still get a big rating number on TV

the people who say they won't watch it, for the most part, wouldn't watch it anyway

[WillyT]

23. Oh Yeah It Will... Can You Imagine The Buzz Right Now ???

Can you imagine the damage control, the writers for the hosts, the protests, the embarrassment...

Like I said... can't wait to watch this one.

[okaawhatever]

24. Newer Contributions: #OscarsSoWhite They could walk down the middle of the street in Ferguson

and live.
#OscarsSoWhite The red carpet will be replaced with a white sheet (I hope people understand the reference)
#OscarsSoWhite The Republicans will let them vote without ID
#OscarsSoWhite They've never been stopped or frisked by the NYPD

#OscarsSoWhite They wear shirts that say I CAN Breathe
#OscarsSoWhite No Kardashian Would Sleep With Them
#OscarsSoWhite It turns its back on Bill DeBlasio

#OscarsSoWhite Apparently White Is The New Black

[chillfactor]

28. never watch the stupid award shows...

I have better things to do with my time............

[840high]

32. Yes. One of the

least important things to focus on.

[davidn3600]

35. Here's the issue with the Academy

6,000 voting members...
-94% are white.
-77% are male.
-86% are over age 50.

The Academy members are not representative of America, nor does it represent the population of movie-goers.

But the Academy is only a symptom of the problem in Hollywood.

[Kablooie]

36. At least most of them are liberal.

And I'll bet quite a few of them are here on DU.

[jmowreader]

37. I wonder...

How much of the snub this year comes from the nine nominations and three awards 12 Years a Slave got last year?

[JI7]

38. i haven't watched in years, there are too many award shows