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| http://theodysseyonline.com/winthrop/oscarsaresowhite/279392 |
I definitely agree with the general public: it is unfortunate that in this day and age, there aren't a substantial amount of black actors and actresses nominated in the 20 acting categories, but at the same time, I agree with Viola Davis. You can't put all the blame on the Oscars; it is the industry itself. An industry where African-American, Black, Hispanic, Asian, Indian and other minority actors aren't given enough prominent, influential and significant roles in films and television; roles that don't specifically relate to slavery, domestic violence or other stereotyped roles.
There needs to be diversity, not only in the casting of actors and actresses, but as well amongst directors, producers, management, and the creative team. Films are meant to be representative of the world around us, but watching a film with majority Caucasian actors and just maybe one token black, Hispanic or Asian actor isn't at all representative of what I see every day when I leave home. Not only in relation to ethnicity, but also regarding gender and sexual orientation - which is another post for another day - but these are issues that should have already addressed.
Being a black Australian, this issue is somehow worse in the Australian film industry, where the industry seems to neglect even having diversity with Indigenous Australians, yet applauding the multicultural environment that we have.
I agree that you can't just nominate someone based on their skin colour and ethnic background just to seem multicultural and accepting; that is offensive. What I do agree with is the Academy's decision to actively recruit more women and non-white members by 2020 and remove current members' their lifelong membership.
We need to stop stereotyping ethnicities, and instead embrace cultural differences and showcase the ethnically diverse societies that we live in. We don't need to actively have an all-black movie just to prove a point, but we should instead aim to replicate television shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Community, How to Get Away with Murder and Orange is the New Black that represent a realistic society, not exactly stereotyping the roles that the actors are portraying.
It might seem like an 'unrealistic' checklist for Hollywood to fulfill, but that's hardly an excuse! I'm sure that from a world population of 7 billion people, there are suitable actors or actresses to cast in a film that aren't all Caucasian.
Overall, we need to depict the ethnically diverse societies that we live in. This year's Oscar nominations, regardless of the race debate, are indeed ground-breaking, remarkable films with stellar acting performances and impeccable behind the scenes work; definitely warranting a nomination. Although, regarding what Kenyan Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o said about this issue, we should be a "diverse reflection of the best of what our art has to offer today," and I don't see that in our entertainment industry today.
Soz for the unintentional hiatus; I'll be trying to write much more often! PEACE OUT!
Overall, we need to depict the ethnically diverse societies that we live in. This year's Oscar nominations, regardless of the race debate, are indeed ground-breaking, remarkable films with stellar acting performances and impeccable behind the scenes work; definitely warranting a nomination. Although, regarding what Kenyan Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o said about this issue, we should be a "diverse reflection of the best of what our art has to offer today," and I don't see that in our entertainment industry today.
Soz for the unintentional hiatus; I'll be trying to write much more often! PEACE OUT!
