There's nothing more out of touch than the Oscars and here’s the proof
I know some people will find this entire criticism a naggy, tedious buzzkill. What about gold men, celebration and acceptance speeches? WHAT ABOUT THE GOWNS?!
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Your support makes all the difference.The Oscars used to be fun. Designer dresses, beautiful people, staying up late and guessing who'd win.
But now? The event feels so culturally out of step, it’s woeful. It’s sexist, unrepresentative of its industry and offensive in its grandeur. In short, there is nothing creepier than the Academy Awards.
The latest evidence of its shuddering uncoolness is the revelation attendees will receive goody bags worth $200,000 each. Commentators have gone wild over the titbit that female guests are set to be gifted “arousers” (AKA vibrators) and that vampire breast lifts are up for grabs.
While you can see why it's all pretty amusing and have to acknowledge it reflects the absurdity of the event, it also leaves a nasty taste in ones mouth. The super-rich are receiving crazily extravagant presents at a time when we’re facing the biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War and half of the world's wealth is owned by the one percent.
But then, there have been signals that the Oscars is becoming a massive embarrassment for a long time. Obviously, this year’s realisation has been accelerated thanks to the fact there’s not a single black nominee (#OscarsSoWhite).
However, there have been more subtle hints in recent years too. Most notably Reese Witherspoon slamming the sexist red carpet questions directed at women and spearheading the #AskHerMore campaign on Instagram.
Meanwhile, Seth McFarlane’s hosting skits in 2013 sort of made it feel like feminism had never happened (but then if you’re the Oscars, it sort of hasn’t).
Add to this the vicious “worst dressed” shaming of female attendees, celebrities boycotting the event, and a general air of formulaic cringe and you have a spectacle that’s more gawky than glamorous.
It also raises the question, are award ceremonies such as this still relevant if millennials are arguably more influenced by IMDB and YouTubers than the Academy’s take on what’s worthy.
Now I know some people will find this entire criticism a naggy, tedious buzzkill. Change the Oscars? Call the whole thing off? What about gold men and celebration and acceptance speeches? WHAT ABOUT THE GOWNS?!
I get it - this level of sanctimony is a bore. But when institutions stop being representative of the culture they exist in, we have to demand change. Evolution must kick in.
Without acknowledgement of the bigger picture and a growing sensitivity toward current events - the Oscars will become a relic. Something that’s kitsch rather than cool. It could be great again, it could be fun. As for this year’s event? It lost me at vampire breast lift.
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