...and another thing: The (Political) Oscars

I'll be the first to admit that it was pretty hot when Will Smith slapped the shit out of Chris Rock but otherwise the Oscars are just boring nonsense.

Like the SOTU address, the Oscars are pageantry - designed by the people who receive the awards to make themselves feel good about what they do for a living.

And just to be clear: I get that awards given to marginalized creators are important for various reasons beyond just the representation element. But those awards are very rarely given when there isn't an uproar about all the straight, able white folks winning.

An exception to that, of course, is the insulting inspiration film. CODA wasn't a particularly special film on its own merits. But those same straight, able white folks absolutely love to see someone they pity fit into whatever they consider, "normal."

Black person succeeding during Jim Crow era, albeit doing so on racist terms? Queer person breaking down barriers in a phobic society, albeit doing so on prejudiced terms? Best picture.

Disabled person walking/hearing/seeing/etc. for the first time? Queue up the tears. (Yes, I know CODA wasn't about this.)

For all the complaining against Land Back - especially as it relates to Native Americans - we're probably not far away from an award for some movie about an indigenous person in some rural area winning over the locals and having a tiny portion of their tribe's land returned.