The Academy Awards: The Intersection of Art, Commerce, and Politics
The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are among the most prestigious and long-standing awards in the world of cinema. The famous Oscar statuette, designed in 1928, reflects the long history of these awards. Prof. Dr. Nezih Erdoğan, Head of the Radio, Television, and Cinema Department at Istinye University, shared his insights on the public significance of the Oscars and the distribution of the 2025 Academy Awards.
The much-anticipated 2025 Academy Awards have found their winners. Prof. Dr. Nezih Erdoğan emphasized the importance of the Oscars in public perception and shared his views on this year’s award distribution. He noted that while awards from the Berlin and Cannes Film Festivals also hold great prestige, the Oscars have a far greater impact and attract more attention. He attributed this interest not only to the awards themselves but also to the fact that the Oscar ceremony is a grand spectacle and that Hollywood's global distribution network ensures its films reach audiences worldwide. Prof. Dr. Erdoğan explained, “The fact that the awards ceremony itself is a major show, featuring celebrities dressed by renowned designers, and the extensive media coverage it receives all contribute to its significance. Most importantly, unlike national and independent cinema, Hollywood’s powerful distribution network allows its films to reach audiences all over the world. It is only natural for viewers to be excited about whether the films they have watched throughout the year and the Hollywood stars they admire will receive an award. Therefore, it is no surprise that the Oscars are watched by approximately forty million people.”
Oscar: Art or Commerce?
Prof. Dr. Erdoğan highlighted that, considering the Oscars are determined by the votes of over 10,000 film industry professionals, they are fundamentally an industry award. He noted that the fact that all voters are actively working in the industry inevitably makes commercial success a significant factor in the award decisions. According to Prof. Dr. Erdoğan: "Rather than being an award for artistic excellence, the Oscars function as a mechanism for the industry to recognize its own achievements. Factors such as a film’s commercial potential, distribution power, and standing within the industry play a significant role. This does not mean that artistic criteria are entirely disregarded. However, the fact that Alfred Hitchcock never received an Oscar or that Orson Welles’ masterpiece Citizen Kane won only for ‘Best Original Screenplay’ has led to skepticism about the awards. Similarly, Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, a pioneer of art cinema, once wrote a letter to the Academy stating that he did not wish to be honored by an institution he believed degraded art, showing that such debates have been ongoing for many years.”
A Reflection of Social Change: Shifting Dynamics at the Oscars
Criticism of the Academy Awards extends beyond the balance between art and commerce. As societal values evolve, the criteria for awards and the preferences of the voting body come under scrutiny. For instance, the Oscars have often been criticized for being "too white" and for not giving enough recognition to filmmakers from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Calls for greater acknowledgment of female directors have also been a recurring issue. Additionally, there is an ongoing debate about abandoning an elitist approach and including genres such as science fiction and horror in major award categories.
The 2025 Academy Awards: A Ceremony Under Controversy
This year’s Academy Awards once again sparked numerous debates. Notably, the victory of the documentary No Other Land was seen as a reflection of the increasing polarization in the international arena. This film, a collaboration between Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers, portrays the evacuation of Palestinian villages in a region designated by Israel as a military training zone. While it had previously garnered significant attention at the Berlin Film Festival, its Oscar win was met with strong reactions from various groups. During the acceptance speech for No Other Land, a call for peace in Gaza was made, raising discussions about the role and impact of award ceremonies as platforms for political messages.
Prof. Dr. Nezih Erdoğan commented: “The fact that the film has not yet secured a distributor in the United States, despite winning an Oscar, could be explained by the political sensitivities surrounding it. Some have accused the film of being anti-Semitic, while others argue that it was made simply to appease ‘guilty consciences,’ claiming that the Israeli director is merely a ‘liberal Zionist profiting from Palestinian suffering.’ One of the harshest criticisms came from PACBI (Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel), which claims the film serves to ‘normalize’ the current situation in Palestine. Perhaps, to evaluate the documentary objectively, one must step outside the increasingly polarized perspectives.”
The Cultural and Political Influence of the Oscars
The Academy Awards serve as a platform for discussions on topics such as art, politics, gender equality, and social representation. By bringing cultural production processes and artistic choices to a broad audience, the Oscars play a crucial role in bringing different perspectives together. Prof. Dr. Nezih Erdoğan emphasized that the Oscars remain an important space for discussion: "Rather than focusing solely on who wins the awards, the conversations that emerge from the process are far more significant. The Oscars have the power to initiate dialogue on topics ranging from art to politics, societal norms to gender roles.”
Therefore, it can be said that the Academy Awards are not just an entertainment event or an awards ceremony but also a medium that sparks meaningful discussions worldwide.
