For a time today, searching for "Academy Awards" results in Google News revealed a shocking result: CNN and The Huffington Post, to name some of the major outlets, pointing out that there are no major black award nominees at this year's 83rd Academy Awards.
While that news is sad, the fact that more mainstream media outlets are pointing to this is something to be celebrated.
Since many such news outlets are mostly white, it means a new generation of young white writers and bloggers are not afraid to hold up a collective mirror at an American Institution, as the Academy Awards are, and say "You need to diversify, dude!" The question is, what can or will AMPAS, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, do to make up for this problem?
What AMPAS can do is have more presenters of color. The Academy just sent a press release announcing that Hugh Jackman will be a presenter. Ah, good for the talented Jackman, but that's not solving the diversity demographic problem.
It's logical to assert that if the 83rd Academy Awards are seen as "too white," people may not watch it to the degree that they did last year. Think about it: we're seeing the emergence of a group of young white people who really embrace diversity and not just as an idea, but as an ideal. That means if they think the Oscars are too white, they just may not tune in at the levels that AMPAS would like to see to do better in ratings than for 2010.
AMPAS has a problem.
Why not invite an entertainer like Beyonce or Lee Daniels (The Producer of Precious) to be a presenter? Why not Zoe Saldana from Avatar? Yes, The Academy would be seen as dealing with a diversity problem, but so what?
That's the way people should think.
Bravo to American Media for noticing this Oscars problem and pointing to it.
Now, if the New York Times would say something about this, we'll throw a party!
While that news is sad, the fact that more mainstream media outlets are pointing to this is something to be celebrated.
Since many such news outlets are mostly white, it means a new generation of young white writers and bloggers are not afraid to hold up a collective mirror at an American Institution, as the Academy Awards are, and say "You need to diversify, dude!" The question is, what can or will AMPAS, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, do to make up for this problem?
What AMPAS can do is have more presenters of color. The Academy just sent a press release announcing that Hugh Jackman will be a presenter. Ah, good for the talented Jackman, but that's not solving the diversity demographic problem.
It's logical to assert that if the 83rd Academy Awards are seen as "too white," people may not watch it to the degree that they did last year. Think about it: we're seeing the emergence of a group of young white people who really embrace diversity and not just as an idea, but as an ideal. That means if they think the Oscars are too white, they just may not tune in at the levels that AMPAS would like to see to do better in ratings than for 2010.
AMPAS has a problem.
Why not invite an entertainer like Beyonce or Lee Daniels (The Producer of Precious) to be a presenter? Why not Zoe Saldana from Avatar? Yes, The Academy would be seen as dealing with a diversity problem, but so what?
That's the way people should think.
Bravo to American Media for noticing this Oscars problem and pointing to it.
Now, if the New York Times would say something about this, we'll throw a party!