OPINION: The Oscars are Becoming a Big Fat Joke

Recently, it seems as though our favorite programs are leaning in the wrong direction. Remember the Grammys? The Academy Awards were no different. The article I dove into pieced a very strong opinion against the Academy Awards. Jenna Jeff, author of ‘The Oscars Are a Joke, and We Let It Happen’, had a lot to say about recent Oscar winners. In her opening, Jeff criticizes the film ‘Anora’. The movie won the award for “best picture” and “best actress”. Jeff claims that this film is the beginning of the end.

The Oscars are searching for more controversy than art nowadays. The films that will continue to win will be provocative and uncomfortable, such as ‘Anora’. Hollywood, in attempts to be edgy, is losing its edge in this ironic and unfortunate twist. We should expect to see small, indie films winning Oscars rather than their experienced and well-thought-out counterparts, according to Jeff. While her opinion on the topic is very definitive, there are some points to consider. 

I do believe that the Academy Awards and other major programs are losing their credits in the arts world. Recently, these award programs have been a fight for controversy and popularity rather than storytelling and art. I mean, just look at the outrage the Grammys caused. Unfortunately, I do see a trend rising up. As a society, we are shifting away from quality and more towards unpredictability. I believe that we as a collective are searching for the next “this hasn’t been done before!”

Change is a good thing and it’s inevitable but should we fix what isn’t broken? These recent films have been in a bid for causing the most discomfort to its viewers rather than anything else. I hope that this year's films will give us movie lovers quality and creativity, such as ‘Wicked’ (which only received two awards). I also hope that light hearted,sit down movies are given to us in the future.