Boycotting the Oscars

[Chocolate Cake]

There is another issue that blacks and other minorities are just not represented well in regular roles and that's a different fact.

And I think that issue is because white people are most likely not going to go to a film that stars, let's say, a film that centers around a black family. Again, there are many exceptions to this.

But making a movie is all about the money. White people love to go to the movies. Look around the theater next time. How many black families do you see? How many Mexican families do you see sitting with their oversized popcorns and drinks? Do you see rows and rows of Asian people at the theater? No. You will see mostly white people.

So why do we see more white people in the theater and on the screen? Perhaps it stems from decades of blacks not even being allowed in the movie theaters just a few generations ago? Perhaps it just isn't in our culture to go catch every movie that is released. Perhaps it is because theater prices are prohibitive to many minorities? So, in order to make money, movies are going to be produced with white people in staring roles, so the audience can relate. I don' t know if any of these suggestions hold truth, but these are my best guesses.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

What about all of the Chinese, Indian, etc people of colour who are underrepresented in Hollywood? Does Jada give a crap about any of them or is it all about her husband - I mean her race. If she wasn't just crying over a trophy I might give her more credence.

 

[wilkeliza]

And I think that issue is because white people are most likely not going to go to a film that stars, let's say, a film that centers around a black family. Again, there are many exceptions to this.

But making a movie is all about the money. White people love to go to the movies. Look around the theater next time. How many black families do you see? How many Mexican families do you see sitting with their oversized popcorns and drinks? Do you see rows and rows of Asian people at the theater? No. You will see mostly white people.

So why do we see more Whites in the theater and on the screen? Perhaps it stems from decades of blacks not even being allowed in the movie theaters just a few generations ago? Perhaps it just isn't in our culture to go catch every movie that is released. Perhaps it is because theater prices are prohibitive to many minorities? So, in order to make money, movies are going to be produced with white people in staring roles, so the audience can relate. I don' t know if any of these suggestions hold truth, but these are my best guesses.

Maybe it is because people of color don't see themselves in the movies so they aren't going to go and pay to watch yet another white man overcome a struggle when that doesn't provide any entertainment value to them. I live in a very diverse city so I can tell you for sure when I go to the theater it is not just white people. It is a mix of people going to see something they find entertaining. Now when you get to the more artistic films that are typically what gets Oscar buzz and not just action movies then you get into the fact that there aren't many artistic films that have people of color. The same goes for theater or ballet or whatever. Yet again this year the Rockets at Radio City had 0 dancers of color. If they did they all were still very pale skinned. Last year they had 1. Am I suppose to believe that there are no darker skinned dancers of the caliber of Radio City Rockets or is the casting director preferential to white dancers? It is an issue across the arts right now.

 

[Chocolate Cake]

The same goes for theater or ballet or whatever. Yet again this year the Rockets at Radio City had 0 dancers of color. If they did they all were still very pale skinned. Last year they had 1. Am I suppose to believe that there are no darker skinned dancers of the caliber of Radio City Rockets or is the casting director preferential to white dancers? It is an issue across the arts right now.

But again, how many black people are into heading to the ballet or the Radio City Christmas Spectacular? Even with Misty Copeland inspiring young, black ballerinas, I can promise you that black folks are not going to be flooding The Ballet.

It's all about the money. A stage of black Rockets is not going to bring in the cash. White people mostly go to these venues and they want to see people that they can relate to. That's a sad fact and I don't know if it will ever change.

 

[luvsJack]

Do the Rocketts have auditions? Are women of color auditioning?

 

[Chocolate Cake]

Do the Rocketts have auditions? Are women of color auditioning?

At the risk of sounding racist against white people, I highly doubt many black women are auditioning to be a part of the Rockettes. The whole notion of gluing on a fake smile and being in a "pageant like setting" with stiff kick dancing would be almost laughable in the black community. And that's ok. It's ok for different races to appreciate and enjoy different types of dance.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Not really a fan of hers, and didn't see the movie, but last year most critics thought Jennifer Aniston's performance for Cake was Oscar-worthy, but she wasn't even nominated.

And this year there's talk about Leonardo DiCaprio (also not very familiar with his work, nor a fan) finally getting a nod, having been passed by for many of his past performances.

Probably in the history of the Academy Awards, many people have been passed over. Most just hang in there and continue to try to do their best work, regardless of what the Academy thinks.

 

[wilkeliza]

But again, how many black people are into heading to the ballet or the Radio City Christmas Spectacular? Even with Misty Copeland inspiring young, black ballerinas, I can promise you that black folks are not going to be flooding The Ballet.

It's all about the money. A stage of black Rockets is not going to bring in the cash. White people mostly go to these venues and they want to see people that they can relate to. That's a sad fact and I don't know if it will ever change.

They would though if they grew up knowing that it was accessible to them and not just a white person's entertainment. Lin Manuel Miranda is fighting the fight by making great art that uses people of all colors. Look at Hamilton! The success of that show is a testament to the fact that you don't need all white leads to sell theater tickets. The audience is full of all types of people, well at least those who can afford to go and plan. Same for his show In The Heights. Looks at the audiences of The Color Purple. I know theater more than film since I studied that in college and was very involved in it here in NYC.

I'm not saying it has to be a stage full of black Rockets but a mixed race group of Rockets isn't going to bring in any less money than an all white Rockets because it is still the Radio City Rockets.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

But making a movie is all about the money. White people love to go to the movies. Look around the theater next time. How many black families do you see? How many Mexican families do you see sitting with their oversized popcorns and drinks? Do you see rows and rows of Asian people at the theater? No. You will see mostly white people.

I see mostly white people in my local theatre because the suburb I live in is 96.73% white. I wonder what would happen if I went to a theatre somewhere else.

 

[Kellykins1218]

I've seen Concussion, Will Smith's performance was certainly outstanding.

Really? We must've watched a totally different movie. My husband and I thought he was awful.

 

[Chocolate Cake]

They would though if they grew up knowing that it was accessible to them and not just a white person's entertainment. Lin Manuel Miranda is fighting the fight by making great art that uses people of all colors. Look at Hamilton! The success of that show is a testament to the fact that you don't need all white leads to sell theater tickets. The audience is full of all types of people, well at least those who can afford to go and plan..

Bolded the key words. But, again, I am sure it was a white majority.

 

[wilkeliza]

Do the Rocketts have auditions? Are women of color auditioning?

At the risk of sounding racist against white people, I highly doubt many black women are auditioning to be a part of the Rockettes. The whole notion of gluing on a fake smile and being in a "pageant like setting" with stiff kick dancing would be almost laughable in the black community. And that's ok. It's ok for different races to appreciate and enjoy different types of dance.

Yes they hold auditions and yes people of all races audition. There are many beautiful and skilled dancers who are not white (or pale skinned) who are passed over every year. Same goes for the ballet. They are there but these dancers usually have to give up after a shorter career then average for their level due to the inability to get jobs.

 

[pocomom]

I think the Oscars are silly and I could care less about stars BUT I think the fact that a back actress has won Leading Female once in the 80+ years and it was 15 years ago says something about the industry. I don't think anyone is asking for a participation trophy here- just an equal chance of getting recognized.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Do the Rocketts have auditions? Are women of color auditioning?

Dark skinned women weren't "allowed" to be Rockettes until 1987. As for openings, they don't happen very often. As of November 2014, I know of one African-American Rockette: Nikki Hester

 

[wilkeliza]

Bolded the key words. But, again, I am sure it was a white majority.

Well yes that is a major point but for a different debate. Do I think a more diverse group would attend Broadway if it was affordable and accessible to them, most definitely. That debate thought goes into the why isn't there more people with enough to be able to afford a $60 ticket to a night at the theater or that there aren't more $60 tickets available to all. At least Hamilton saw the need and started a program for NYC high schoolers to be able to go for only $10. The problem is the ones who may be encouraged by that show to pursue their dreams may not be able to afford even the $10 to get a ticket.

 

[HM]

I stopped watching the Oscars many years ago. I just don't see enough of the nominated movies, usually only one or two of them each year. And I don't really care for the 'let's be seen in all our borrowed finery" that the show seems to have become.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

At the risk of sounding racist against white people, I highly doubt many black women are auditioning to be a part of the Rockettes. The whole notion of gluing on a fake smile and being in a "pageant like setting" with stiff kick dancing would be almost laughable in the black community. And that's ok. It's ok for different races to appreciate and enjoy different types of dance.

Granted, it doesn't seem like there are a lot, but this black woman aspired to be a Rockette and succeeded.

http://t.newyork.com/articles/broad...r-41799/?utm_referrer=https://www.google.com/

 

[Mizzoufan]

I think the Oscars are silly and I could care less about stars BUT I think the fact that a back actress has won Leading Female once in the 80+ years and it was 15 years ago says something about the industry. I don't think anyone is asking for a participation trophy here- just an equal chance of getting recognized.

Didn't Viola Davis win a few years back

 

[wilkeliza]

Didn't Viola Davis win a few years back

She was actually the first black actress to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama series. That was in 2015. She does not have an Oscar.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Didn't Viola Davis win a few years back

1. No. She has two Tonys, a People's Choice Awards, two Critics' Choice Awards, etc. No Golden Globe, no Oscar. Oh, and an Emmy.

2. The answer "didn't Viola Davis win"? really does't help the case when we are talking about an 80 year history here.