Was the Loss of Angela Basset the Product of Race Bias or Preference for a Film?
Winning and losing awards is an integral part of the entertainment industry. It is a way to acknowledge and recognize the efforts and contributions of actors, directors, writers, and others involved in creating movies or television shows. Awards have the power to make or break careers, and winning an award can be a life-changing experience. At the same time, losing an award can be a heartbreaking experience for the nominees, who have poured their heart and soul into their work.
The 95th Oscar ceremony held on March 12, 2023, was an exciting event, with the film “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” winning a total of 7 awards, confirming earlier predictions. The film had been a favorite among Oscar voters throughout the awards season. Notably, Jamie Lee Curtis won her first-ever Oscar for her supporting role in the film, while Angela Bassett lost to her in the same category for her performance in “Wakanda Forever.” Meanwhile, Vietnamese actor Ke Huy Quan won the award for Best Supporting Actor, raising questions about the dynamics that may have influenced these wins. In this article, we will explore whether race and ethnicity played a role in the outcomes of these awards.
One of the most prestigious awards in the entertainment industry is the Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars. Winning an Oscar is considered the ultimate recognition for any actor or filmmaker. It can catapult them into the limelight and open doors to bigger and better opportunities. Similarly, losing an Oscar can be a crushing blow to an actor’s or filmmaker’s career, especially if they were considered a frontrunner for the award.
However, it is essential to keep in mind that winning or losing an award is not always a reflection of an individual’s talent or the quality of their work. There are several factors that come into play when it comes to winning awards, including the popularity of the movie or TV show, the campaign strategy of the studio, the budget of the campaign, the preference of the voters, and so on. For example, an actor who delivers an exceptional performance in a critically acclaimed but lesser-known movie may not get the same attention as an actor who delivers a decent performance in a blockbuster movie that is widely popular.
Moreover, there have been instances in the past where there have been biases towards race in the entertainment industry, and this has affected the award results. However, it is essential to acknowledge that the preference for a movie in particular among the voters of the academy can also favor some actors over others and this may not be connected with bias because of race. In other words, a movie that is a favorite of the voters may sweep several categories, and the actors who are part of that movie may win awards, regardless of their race.
Winning and losing awards is an integral part of the entertainment industry, and the Academy Awards, in particular, are considered the ultimate recognition for any actor or filmmaker. However, it is important to keep in mind that winning or losing an award is not always a reflection of an individual’s talent or the quality of their work. While there have been instances of biases towards race in the past, it is also important to acknowledge that the preference for a movie among the voters can also influence the award results. Ultimately, it is up to the audience to decide what they consider as the best movies and performances, and awards can serve as a barometer of popular opinion.
