Michael Schulman on Oscar Wars: A History of the Academy Awards

The Academy's Origins and Evolution

• 💡 The Academy Awards were initially conceived by Louis B. Mayer in 1927, not primarily for awards, but to foster harmony within the industry, improve Hollywood's image amidst scandals, and prevent unionization.
• 🔑 Early on, the Academy was perceived as a "company union" by guilds for actors, writers, and directors, leading to significant opposition.
• 🎯 Under Frank Capra in the late 1930s, the Academy pivoted to focus almost exclusively on the awards, as they were the most successful and popular aspect of its activities.

Oscar Campaigns and Controversies

• ⚡ The book highlights Harvey Weinstein's aggressive campaigning for "Shakespeare in Love" in 1999, linking his pursuit of Oscar success to his personal abuses and the power he amassed.
• 📈 This era sparked an "arms race" in Oscar campaigning, with studios like DreamWorks adopting similar high-spending strategies to secure wins.
• 🎭 The disastrous 1989 Oscar opening number, featuring Rob Lowe and Snow White, is presented as a career-ending moment for producer Alan Carr, illustrating the potential for excess and failure in the ceremony's production.

Reflecting American Culture and Society

• 🇺🇸 The Oscars serve as a "decoder" for how Hollywood sees itself and reflects major American historical events, such as World War II, the Civil Rights movement, and the #OscarsSoWhite reckoning.
• 💬 The experience of "firsts" in acting categories, like Hattie McDaniel, Sidney Poitier, and Halle Berry, is explored, revealing the isolating nature and backlash they often faced despite their historic wins.
• 🌱 Since the #OscarsSoWhite movement, the Academy has actively pursued diversity and inclusion, leading to more varied Best Picture winners like "Parasite," "Moonlight," and "Everything Everywhere All at Once."

The Paradox of the Academy Awards

• 🎪 The Oscars are characterized as both absurd and ridiculous yet profoundly meaningful, offering insights into cultural evolution and the film industry.
• ⚖️ A constant tension exists between the Academy's role as an industry prize based on artistic merit and its need to function as a major television spectacle to attract millions of viewers.
• 🔍 The phenomenon of "snubs" and the subjective nature of judging "best" in art are recurring themes, underscoring that the Oscars often "get it wrong" for interesting reasons.

Iconic Moments and Future Outlook

• 🔥 Memorable events such as the "La La Land" / "Moonlight" envelope mix-up and the Will Smith / Chris Rock slap are discussed as surreal moments that captured broader cultural shifts.
• 🚀 The Academy continues to balance its prestige as an industry award with the demands of creating an entertaining TV show, often leading to conflicts between these two objectives.
• 🎬 Predictions for current Oscar winners, including the potential for Sandra Hüller to be a surprise winner, highlight the ongoing excitement and unpredictability of the awards.