Question, Do awards from the Academy have any Credibility?

Now the Oscars have shown that politics is at least as important as talent, or appeal. They have joined the Grammy's in that aspect. I don't think this is new, but I don't believe it has ever been as blatant.

We remember Michael Moore winning the documentary award for Fahrenheit 911. Of course Jimmy Carter wins any time has a spoken word album. The Dixie Chicks swept their category. Al Gore wins for his documentary. The inconvenient truth that the former VP doesn't tell us is that there are scores of well respect climatologists that disagree with his findings. Call me partisan, but I think they need to be listened to. This however is not an essay about Global Warming.

Before the ramblings of Natalie Maines there was no rush to give the 'Chicks any notoriety. Likewise Jimmy Carter. Before his constant carping of President Bush he was known as a failed President who liked to build houses for Habitat for Humanity (an excellent charity by the way). Michael Moore's documentaries are more fiction that documentary.

These of course are my opinions, and I don't consider myself a film or music expert. Here is my concern. The impression is out there by more than just me that politics is as important to Oscars or Grammy's as anything else. I fear what this does is taint every award they give to a person on the fringes. It also leads to questions as to artists who disagree with Hollywood orthodoxy who happen not to win.

This year Melissa Ethridge won for Best Original Song. I don't know the song and don't have an opinion of it, but since she is well established as an advocate for Gay rights, which is a number one OK cause by Hollywood standards, did she win for her song, or her gayness? I don't know the answer but certainly the actions of the Academy begs the question. She may have deserved it, she has a long successful career in music. Who knows though. Likewise if Mel Gibson creates a work of art in cinema, I believe is in disqualified from receiving an Oscar. I also submit that he was disqualified before his anti-Semitic rant. He dared to explore the Passion of the Christ. This enraged Hollywood. You don't do that.

What makes it difficult to answer is that art is subjective by nature. I can't think of two industries that have alienated their patrons more than the film and recording industries. By tainting their reputation with the likes of Al Gore and the Dixie Chicks, they thumb their noses once again at the people who buy their product. Apparently looking good at a cocktail party is more important than caring what your customers think. That's what I think anyway.