Lena Dunham: Hollywood Should Have More Minorities Like My Own Show Doesn't

Super white girl on super white show watched by super white audience thinks you gotta have more diversity.

In case you missed it, Hollywood is letting more people into the Academy to boost diversity.

Also, they'll be purging old white people. No really. They'll be making sure you've been active in the business within the last ten years, or else you forfeit your Academy membership.

I can kind of see some sense in that. A lot of years lame movies win the Oscars, and it's because a lot of old people, who aren't very current at all, decided that they should make Out of Africa the winner because it was directed by someone whose name they recognize.

Still... I don't know.

This woman, who did the costumes for The Deer Hunter, is arguing against the new diversity rules.

Our job is to evaluate talent and excellence. But now your actions have added a new, unspoken category -- the "what is your ethnicity" category. This, unfortunately, comes with the ugly subtext that if you don't vote for a person of color you are a racist. Excellence is rewarded regardless of ethnic background.

...

A few years ago, I had a situation arise which completely exemplifies our recent troubles. An Asian actress friend of mine wished to join the Academy. She had theater and TV credits, but little in the way of film credits. I cautioned her that she may not be accepted because of this, but her response was only that she was a minority and therefore would get in. Needless to say, she did not because she lacked the essential credentials. This friend of mine then turned around and blamed the Academy for not accepting her because of her race, the very thing she was convinced would get her in in the first place. Now with your new policies and the climate they create, my friend will apply again and this time most likely she will be accepted. Her eligibility has not changed -- she did not have the film credentials then, nor does she now.

But now, perhaps, that may just be enough. Not only is the value of the Academy as a measuring stick for excellence in film lessened, but it will always raise the question: did one get in because of merit or because of race? For any person of diversity, this will always shadow their acceptance into this fine institution.

I support these rules for a simple reason: Liberal institutions have long ignored the onerous, stupid rules they inflict on everyone else. They don't realize how bad these rules are, because they except themselves.

Thus we get super-white Vox arguing about other companies not hiring enough minorities.

It's time that they lived under their own rules. Period.

If they have a change of heart after living under the regime they'd force on everyone else, so much the better.

Open Thread.

Sorry, gotta run. Plans.

posted by Ace at 06:33 PM

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