Oscar Nominations 2015 - A Messy State of Affairs

The nominations for the Oscars were announced this morning, and already people are saying it's the whitest nomination season since 1998. That was the year headlined by Saving Private Ryan, Shakespeare in Love, and Elizabeth. I guess Whoopi Goldberg hosted for purposes of balance?

My love for the Oscars hasn't changed since I was a kid. I remember taking my Barbie dolls and making gowns for them out of fabric or paper napkins (yeah, I know). It was a fantasy of mine to be able to walk that red carpet in particular for one reason or another. Now that love is more a version of Super Bowl Sunday - meeting friends at Fiesta Cantina on Santa Monica Blvd, watching it play-by-play on giant screens, then seeing Elton John's helicopter land across the street at the Pacific Design Center for his after-Oscars party.

There are many contenders that I'm excited about this year, but it will not be as exciting as last year. I mean, hello, 12 Years a Slave. Queen Lupita. Bow.

But the lack of diversity - not only in ethnic representation, but gender as well - is disconcerting. 

List of non-white Oscar nominees, courtesy of The Huffington Post

Politics run deep everywhere and in everything. Often, the best person for the job is passed up for someone less qualified, but more malleable. Young Money's newest signee? All politics. This is more industry-related than Academy-related, but as a huge representation of that industry (and the most prestigious) this is pretty shameful.

David Oyelowo and Ava DuVernay, actor and director, Selma

This not to say that the nominees are not deserving and that the Academy should fill a quota to make sure all nations and ethnic groups are represented. Rather, how about addressing the source? Briefly put, I dare the entertainment industry on all levels to address: 

1. Filler or token roles. The best friend, the dog walker, the bus driver, etc. Someone who's always "happenin'" with some sort of "hip attitude". 

2. On a mainstream level, "[ethnic] people comedies/romances/dramas". Don't abolish completely but, look at Hollywood at large - there are a lot of types of people here. The all black, all white, all whatever universe is a relative myth in this city, in New York, in Miami... etc. It's possible to be both entertaining and realistic. 

3. Scripts written with a lead character of non-descript secusl orientation, ethnicity, or faith and hiring a lead that portrays the straight, white, and Christian "ideal". This has been a constant for who knows how long and it's a bit insulting on everyone's behalf. 

There are more issues than these, and a change won't happen overnight because it is so ingrained in global society. Global. Addressing these issues should start now, right now, and not stop until these issues are no longer because - I hate saying it, but - there is a whitewashing afoot and everyone deserves better.

Now, can we talk about the Gone Girl snub because as much as I stan for Rosamund, I am not a happy camper....