Dear List: After reading all the comments thus far about the Oscars on this list, I'm struck by their uncritical redundancy, which is only seemingly exceeded by that of AMPAS itself. While I'm not directing these comments to any individuals on this list, it seems like you could no doubt find similar (if not identical) reactions to the Oscars amongst us "filmies" (for want of a better term; I don't want to ignore those on the list who aren't academic film scholars) *every single year* since 1927. To wit: "Paltrow/Cameron/Driving Miss Daisy is a travesty!" or words to that effect. "How could they ignore Blanchett/Dench/Richardson/(insert name of well-regarded but Oscar-snubbed British actress)?" "The documentary division is full of it!" and the perennial, ritually trotted-out, always shocked: "It's clearly all about the money!" Only the names change; the rest is all formula. A particular genre of criticism that surfaces when the nominees are announced in February, percolates through conversations, e-mails, and the SCS conference, and tails off by May, when (let's face it) the Oscars are history, and speculation starts running on this year's crop. Granted, this year we had the added drama of Kazan to discuss (Yea, Nick!). But it's generally the same. I find these Oscars discussions interesting in a pleasant and familiar way. Like talk about the weather, they're a clear sign of spring in the air. However, I'm wondering if we could shift (or broaden) our attention to the function of these particular awards (aside from the obvious money, money, and, um, money), and lists (eg, the AFI 100 and various other lists in the last year or so) in building and legitimating particular kinds of media texts. What are the criteria AMPAS (and ATAS, or other awards, for that matter) uses? What would your criteria be? Do we even *need* criteria and accolades and lists? As for this year's Oscars, I'll just contribute another perennial comment: "Could you *believe* this year's interpretive dance number?!?" -- DK -:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Derek Kompare Department of Communication Arts University of Wisconsin-Madison [log in to unmask] "There is no way out of the game of culture" -- Pierre Bourdieu ---- To sign off Screen-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF Screen-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]