The Indifference Toward the Prestigious Academy Awards Event
Stepping into the sweltering summer, I'm itching to seek respite in air-conditioned dark theaters, submerged in someone else's narrative for awhile. Movies, for me, serve as the ultimate escapism – a ticket to another universe or a reflection of our own selves. However, the stark reality is that many people still don't see themselves mirrored in film, particularly in the cult-worthy movies that receive recognition at prestigious events like the Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars. But, how does this cinematic powerhouse function, and does it truly matter?
Who is Making the Cut?
March heralds Women's History Month, and let's be honest, a glance at the Oscar nominees paints a bleak picture for female representation in Tinseltown's glittering sphere. The AcademyMembers vote for their peers – actors nominate actors, directors nominate directors, and so on. The nitty-gritty of the process can be found on the Oscars website, and in articles like the one on Screenrant. The directors' branch alone is helmed by 587 voters, and out of these, only a quarter are females. Among the over 10,000 Academy members eligible to cast votes for Best Picture nominees, less than 20% are people of color.
This lack of diversity seemingly explains why the majority of female and racial minority talent continues to be overlooked. But, there's been progress: in 2021, two women were nominated for Best Director for the first time, with Chloe Zhao securing the historic win for Nomadland. She also made history as the first woman of color to win the honor. In 2022, Jane Campion snagged the Best Director award for The Power of the Dog, one of only three such wins for women in the 90-plus year history of the Oscars. Unfortunately, in 2023, no female directors were recognized for their work.
Statistically speaking, this anomaly carries over to the industry at large. Out of the 100 top-grossing movies in 2022, just 9% were helmed by women – a number that actually dipped from previous years. The percentage of women of color in directorial roles plummeted to an alarming 2.7%.
This might also explain why, in 2024, only one out of five Best Director nominees was a woman. In a surprising turn of events (widely viewed as a snub), Greta Gerwig, the director of the hugely successful 2023 film Barbie, wasn't among the nominees, despite the movie's acclaim. Gerwig has had three out of her three solo directing efforts earn Best Picture nominations.
A Twist in Gender Roles
One might wonder if the lead actor nominated for an Oscar in a film called 'Barbie' was actually the actor playing the iconic doll, but no – it was the actor portraying Barbie's love interest, Ken.
Though the Oscars have come a long way since the infamous days of Hattie McDaniel, the first black woman to claim an Oscar, who was forced to sit separately from her peers and co-stars at the ceremony, the struggles for equality continue. A recent Twitter campaign, #OscarsSoWhite, drew attention to the fact that 92 percent of top film directors were men, with a staggering 86 percent of top films featuring white actors. To combat these trends, organizations like the Greene Davis Institute on Gender in Media are working to make media more inclusive by focusing on diverse representation.
The Movies Wrapping Up on Stage
Historically, the Academy has shown a bias towards serious dramas over genres like comedy, sci-fi, fantasy, and high-budget action films. In fact, out of the 601 films ever nominated for Best Picture, only six horror films have been recognized, with Silence of the Lambs being the only winner to date.
However, recent years have seen a shift towards embracing more diverse offerings in the Oscars realm. For example, Everything Everywhere All At Once, a genre-bending masterpiece from young millennial directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, was a stark contrast from the Academy's usual choices, and it walked away with the Best Picture and Best Director awards in 2023. Michelle Yeoh also made history by becoming the first Asian actress to claim the Best Actress award. Fast forward to 2024, both Barbie and Poor Things were included in the Best Picture nominations, signaling a promising trend for the Academy to continue taking chances on original and unconventional films.
With a new generation of filmmakers and actors joining the ranks of the Academy, we can only hope that improvements will emerge, if ever so slowly, in a more diverse, inclusive, and exciting direction.
The Importance of Representation
In 2024, Lily Gladstone broke new ground as the first Native American actress to be nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars for her work in Killers of the Flower Moon. Gladstone expressed the significance of such a milestone, pointing out that it was for "every little rez kid," "every little urban kid," "every little Native kid" who dreams of seeing themselves represented in film.
While I may not harbor much enthusiasm for award shows, there's no denying that being awarded an Oscar provides significant benefits, such as increased exposure and opportunities for actors and filmmakers alike. The lack of diversity among winners has consequences that ripple throughout the industry, leading to fewer opportunities for individuals who don't fit the standard mold.
In addition, research indicates that gender imbalance among movie critics can impact the types of films that receive critical accolades. As of 2022, there were nearly twice as many male critics as female, with female critics being more likely to review films directed by women, and men favoring films with female leads less than their female counterparts. This disparity has a proven effect on the media coverage and critical attention given to various films[6].
By patronizing unique and boundary-pushing movies, we send a message that these stories deserve to be celebrated and acknowledged.
Are you eager to find other tales woven by the hands of the past and the present's greatest storytellers? Harris County Public Library offers free access to a wealth of movies you can stream with your library card on Kanopy! Share your Oscar predictions and favorites below.
Books About Film, Film History, and Sexism
Brace yourself for some tantalizing reads exploring female perspectives in filmmaking and the behind-the-scenes struggles to break through the glass ceiling:
The Film Book
Bergan, Ronald
Seduction: Valderrama, Carla
Women in the Film Industry: Longworth, Karina
The Female Gaze:
The Wrong Kind of Women: Malone, Alicia
The Queens of Animation: Jones, Naomi McDougall
Hitchcock's Blondes: Holt, Nathalia
Diversity in Hollywood: Leamer, Laurence
The Hollywood Jim Crow: Erigha, Maryann
Hattie McDaniel: Bogle, Donald
Colorization: Watts, Jill
Looking for something Funny? Criticism of popular movies:
Movies (and Other Things): Serrano, Shea
Shit, Actually: West, Lindy
Luke Skywalker Can't Read: Britt, Ryan
This blog post was originally written by Sarah G. in June 2021 and was updated by the author in March 2024.
- Despite the Academy Awards' progress in recognizing female and racial minority talent, with Chloe Zhao being the first woman of color to win Best Director in 2021, the number of women directors in the industry remains low.
- In 2024, the lack of female director representation at the Oscars was once again evident, as notable directors like Greta Gerwig were overlooked for nominations.
- Organizations such as the Greene Davis Institute on Gender in Media are working to promote diversity in media, including film, by focusing on inclusive representation.
- Research suggests that a gender imbalance among movie critics can impact the types of films that receive critical acclaim, with male critics favoring films with female leads less frequently than their female counterparts.
