C'mon Andrew. You know you'll be watching. Art itself may not be a contest, but judging who did the best job is something people like to do. Other people are allowed to think its a contest even if you don't.

You are so right. I have not watched the Oscar's in over twenty years. I wish that America, and indeed, the entire planet would recognize them (the Oscar's) for what they are. The function is a self congratulatory meeting of people who get multiple tries to do their job correctly. It is 4 hours of "Look at me. I'm prettier, better dressed, richer and smarter than you."

Even worse, they manage to line up sponsors so that in the end we, the viewing public, end up paying for their aggrandizement. I for one could care less what these people think is good entertainment or art. You will notice that in this show we, the ticket buying public, don't get a vote.

Perhaps, just perhaps, if enough of us stop watching Hollywood will return to providing entertainment without boring us with their opinions. They are little more than well paid puppets on a very fine string controlled by the box office. That string breaks and most of these people revert into being smoke and shadows of real people. My bet is that they use the same grade of Charmin as you and I.

art is a contest with the infinite

Hmmmm... I was just about to go off to eat dinner and see what was on as tv offerings tonight. Totally forgot the Oscars, as I usually do.

But then I read your post. Is this reverse psychology? Is it your and the universe's way of getting me to actually watch? ;-)

Great post... thanks. I absolutely agree with 'Because some of the best movies out there come from places other than Hollywood.'

'you have the power to find, share and even create your own media' ... thanks for reminding. Some of the most enjoyable courses I've ever taken were in film production and directing.

Besides, we can always check BC first thing in the morning (like this) to find out who won!

I don't really care who wins. It's all just a game. I just like to watch American culture in all its finery sit down for a few hours and strut its stuff. Yes, the entire Oscar thing is nothing but a marketing ploy to boost movie visibility in the culture, so yes, it would be nice to turn the Oscars off for a few years and see what happens. Maybe the invention of bloggery and the Net will make the Oscars quaint and un-ncessary by 2025.

I would love that. One actor is better than another. Bullshit. It's all one big marketing ploy. Which workds.

So yes, let's stop this charade. But how?

Suggestions welcome.

What grates me every year is the stupid jerks who stand up and thank some non-existant GOD for their awards. Only in America. In Europe and Asia, movie stars never do that GOD bullshit when they get awards. This is the real problem with American movie stars, and the US culture, it is mired in the faux GODHOOD of America the Annointed. There aint no God, folks, get over it. Grow up and become better actors.

No more ridiculous than the actor who thanks his non-existent spouse, mother or drama coach... Whatever helps, helps, dave, and just because you don't have one doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

This is America; not soulless, sterile, Europe.

Personally, I didn't notice anyone thanking God last night, which is too bad. Religion (unless it involves Scientology or the Kabbalah) makes Hollywood squirm, and that's one of the things I want in an Oscar ceremony -- something that just drops a bomb on all the middle-class liberal assumptions of the hip and the cool. I loved it when Jamie Foxx talked approvingly about all the spankings he got as a child. With that crowd -- where Kelly Osbourne is considered a role model -- they were probably thinking about child abuse.

Lawks, free up di star bredrin dem man... let them thank who they feel like in their 'hour of glory', even if it's a God that doesn't exist. ;-)