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Read other letters about this article
After reading Ms. Wilson's criticism and then proceeding to the letters, I have become even more assured of the post-awards comment I made to my wife last night. Allow me to set the stage:
At first I found it merely interesting that the fashion was so subdued this year. Then, presenter after presenter (I never watch the red carpet), I found it unspeakably refreshing. HOORAY! if there are no more "capital N narcissists" left in Hollywood. I thought the list of nominees for best picture was SOME sort of sign in this direction, but I never imagined it would come to pass. To me the nominees and the awards this year seemed to be about the message--about the role of art in our society--to a degree I couldn't have thought possible.
I haven't seen Brokeback yet, but I have seen Crash. I was certain that Brokeback would walk away with best picture. I was shocked, SHOCKED when Crash took the Oscar. And then, it all became clear, and the idea presented itself:
Someone, somewhere in Hollywood has figured out how to further the progressive agenda. Somehow, someway the Academy, the film makers, the actors decided to come together and risk offending their liberal commrades by reaching out to EVERYBODY in America.
This is unbelievably good news! While I was surprised that Brokeback didn't win, and certainly there will be those crying homophobia, I don't think that washes. There was no shortage of traditional liberal politics at this year's ceremony or in the best picture catagory. The underlying message of both Brokeback and Crash is that Love is a unifying force. It does not further the cause to be outrageous and shove the Right's prudishness in their faces. Let me repeat: OFENDING THE OTHER SIDE DOES NOT HELP THE CAUSE!
I found the awards this year to be more political than usual; I found them to be just as entertaining as always (the real point of watching in my book is seeing the pure expression of positive emotions--a pleasure rarely afforded by any other kind of television); and I found them to be above all RESPECTFUL. As is obvious from Ms. Wilson's column and many of these letters, respect is a trait sorely missing from the public discourse--and apparently perceived as a weakness by those who would condemn Ms. Reese because she's just so nice.
Hooray for Oscar!
