Stephen King is no Rush Limbaugh.
The talented best-selling author is a critic of the President and makes no bones about his politics.
But on Tuesday, he got hit by the woke due to his suggestion that the Academy Awards should be about “quality” and that “diversity” shouldn’t be the driving force for who wins what.
As you may have heard, among the nominations — released Monday — there were no women placed in the running for Best Director.
Additionally, there were few non-whites nominated in general.
Hence, the return of an old hashtag: #OscarsSoWhite.
On Twitter, Stephen explained his approach as a voter:
“As a writer, I am allowed to nominate in just 3 categories: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Screenplay. For me, the diversity issue–as it applies to individual actors and directors, anyway–did not come up. That said, I would never consider diversity in matters of art. Only quality. It seems to me that to do otherwise would be wrong.”
As a writer, I am allowed to nominate in just 3 categories: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Screenplay. For me, the diversity issue–as it applies to individual actors and directors, anyway–did not come up. That said…
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) January 14, 2020
…I would never consider diversity in matters of art. Only quality. It seems to me that to do otherwise would be wrong.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) January 14, 2020
That sounds reasonable to me, as it’s what each award is supposed to represent: the best quality.
But a whole lot of social media warriors appreciated it none.
Some pointed to implicit bias:
https://twitter.com/MorganJerkins/status/1217060644530401280
One person was surprised by how dumb Stephen is:
stuff produced by or with an eye to pandering to people just like them.
To say that this has had a deleterious effect on quality would be an understatement. It has caused a narrowing and hardening of what is possible in art, assumptions about what is and isn't "viable", and 2/— Chrisi Hates Cops that Murder (@chrisiousity) January 14, 2020
White privilege got a mention:
Sir, respectfully saying you as a white man can’t really say that. You had more advantages and opportunities than a person of color would have. They have been wrongfully held back in so many ways just because of their color skin.
— David Weissman (@davidmweissman) January 14, 2020
This guy thinks white dudes only choose white dudes, even if they stink:
You're a very smart person ans one of my favourite writers, but you must acknowledge you've had an easier path in your career than a woman or POC, right?
White men disproportionately reward other white men, regardless of quality.— Faron Gidge 📷 (@FaronGidge) January 14, 2020
And “damn”:
Damn, Stephen. Damn. I thought you were better than this. It should be obvious that diversity and quality *aren't separate qualities,* or in opposition to each other — except in the minds of bigots.
Damn.
— N. K. Jemisin (@nkjemisin) January 14, 2020
One person predicted the backlash:
Prepare yourself, Stephen. You have invoked the wrath of WOKE TWITTER! Sure, you might be right, but that doesn't matter to them. Only one thing works against the evils of Woko Haraam: ignore them. But still, bravo on saying the obvious truth.
— Kunchok Tendar ☸️🇺🇸☸️ 🇭🇰 🇹🇼 🇮🇳 (@KunchokTendar) January 14, 2020
Every writer of color reading this, including me, has had to work ten times harder to get the same recognition/opportunities straight white male authors get from the start. Same goes for women, LGBTQIA writers, & other underrepresented voices. Diversity matters. It matters a lot.
— Gabino Iglesias (@Gabino_Iglesias) January 14, 2020
A few hours later, Stephen apparently tried to right the ship:
The most important thing we can do as artists and creative people is make sure everyone has the same fair shot, regardless of sex, color, or orientation. Right now such people are badly under-represented, and not only in the arts.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) January 14, 2020
Did it work?
Earlier you said it shouldn't matter….
Creativity should stand on it's own.Make up your mind. 🙄
— 5..6..7..8..Pounce! aka HB (@OnPointe28) January 14, 2020
We’re at a point now where saying that an award — by definition, a symbol of merit — should be based on that very thing is considered offensive.
But what’s the alternative? If it’s gven for any other reason, it doesn’t mean anything.
A trophy that says “Brazilian Who Directed Something,” it seems to me, isn’t worth putting on a trophy rack.
Is it?
-ALEX
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