It was bound to happen. The Oscars and their advertisers have joined the dark side. For the first time in history an Oscar telecast incorporated a “selfie” distributed to the world over Twitter.
At first glance this may not seem significant. But, if you pull back the covers several issues come to the forefront.
Advertisers are desperate to find ways to reach an audience that doesn’t want to be bothered.
Every last one of the actors portrayed in the selfie seem desperate to be relevant and or share in a collaborative experience with billions of people.
And, rather than elevate the craft and promote excellence the Oscars have descended from a professional class to the massive group of 2 Billion people who use social media everyday. If I were a cynical person I would say that the Wizard’s curtain has been drawn exposing that they are only people after all. Even Pharrell Williams wore ruby slippers! Greatness is no longer out of reach...it's at the end of your arm.
Where do we go from here?
The democratization of media creation will surely continue to erode the professional class but that is not a bad thing. Rather than have your media and movie experience controlled by the powerful few that dictate taste, you, the individual, now have the opportunity to shape the world as you see fit. And, if your message is powerful enough you will break through the noise and find your audience. No longer will artists be the pawns of those who flaunt their power and control.
Do I know where this will end up? I haven’t a clue. But this I know: art will survive as it has for thousands of years.
At the end of the film “Monuments Men” President Roosevelt asked George Clooney’s character: “Do you think art is worth the loss of life?” To which Clooney said: Yes. I believe so.
So the only question that need be answered: what is YOUR level of devotion?
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