The Oscars 2021.

Each year America has a sort of national conversation. Addressing the social and loosely political issues of the day.

Traditionally this begins with the Golden Globes award ceremony in early January. Stretches through the Super Bowl in late January/early February. Then concludes with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences or; "Oscars" award ceremony in February.

As with absolutely everything else. The pandemic has completely screwed all that up this year.

The Golden Globes, let alone the Oscar nominations didn't take place until after the Super Bowl. Leaving the Oscar ceremony to take place only last night (25/4/21).

Not only has this stretched the conversation out from two months to nearly five. Covid lockdown measures means there haven't been the usual array of industry parties, movie premieres and press conferences. All of which has made it hard to sustain the momentum.

Normally the Oscars present something of a challenge for me. Having to rush to write detailed discussions about movies that I haven't actually seen.

Last year I think I managed to confuse everyone. By actually managing to see one of the nominated movies, "Jojo Rabbit."

Continuing the theme of the pandemic really playing to my strengths. The move from cinema releases to online streaming platforms means I've actually been able to see two of this year's nominated movies. For free.

I was also able to stay up and watch the ceremony live. Although that now seems like a really terrible mistake.

The social and loosely political issues currently gripping America can be summed up in two hashtags; "#MeToo" and "#BlackLivesMatter." 

Sometimes blending with the "#TimesUp" campaign the #MeToo campaign is about gender equality and women's rights within the entertainment industry. Although it still seems to be trying to achieve the fundamental right of women not to be raped and seriously sexually assaulted.

Through the Harvey Weinstein scandal this seems to be even more of a problem within the Hollywood based US entertainment industry. Than it is within American society as a whole.

Sometimes blending with the; "#OscarsSoWhite" campaign the #BlackLivesMatter is based on the rather vague notion of; "Racial Justice." It is particularly centred on giving people from ethnic minorities more opportunity within the entertainment industry. Both the opportunity to work and to have their stories told.

In recognition of these twin campaigns the 2021 Oscars have been the most diverse ever. Both in terms of ethnicity and gender equality.

With the pandemic stealing much of the momentum. Feel free to discuss whether all this diversity has dragged standards down.

Nomadland: This is the pet project of Chloe Zhao who wrote, directed, edited and co-produced the movie. Chloe Zhao wins double diversity points. As both a woman and as a member of an ethnic minority.

The fact that she is of Asian heritage adds a new dimension to the Black Lives Matter racial justice campaign. Which at times seems less about equality and harmony amongst all races. More about conflict and the supremacy of the Black race over all other races.

America's Black community has a long history of being particularly hostile to America's Asian community. Something which is rather well summed up by Harvard University's Affirmative Action policy.

This sees Harvard University giving prestigious places to poorly qualified Black candidates. Specifically at the expense of much better qualified Asian students.

Starting in 2014 a group representing the Asian community sued to end this practice. In defending themselves Harvard claimed that having to many Asians on campus would be detrimental to the student community. In short saying; "Nobody wants to be around Asians."

That racist statement is what Harvard felt comfortable standing up and saying in Court. Despite the Black community's claims of being oppressed by a racist justice system. US Courts have, so far, sided with them against the Asian community.

Rather predictably. The 2020 US Election saw a resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Unchecked this has led to a surge in violence. Being carried out, almost exclusively, by members of America's Black community. Against members of America's Asian community.

In this violence the Democrats have seen not a problem but an opportunity. By attempting to blame the actions of supporters on; "White Supremacy!" and the racist rhetoric of President Trump. Most notably in the March 16th (16/3/21) Atlanta Spa Shootings.

This is a deliberate strategy by the Democrats to induct the Asian community into the cult of Victimhood. Which has long plagued America's Black community. The suffering on which Democrats and other Progressives thrive.

Specifically Chloe Zhao is Chinese. Having been born in Beijing.

This allows for plenty of discussion about growing Chinese influence. Particularly within the Hollywood based entertainment industry.

Take for example the 2017 movie; "Baywatch." Which doesn't immediately seem like a movie that requires much in the way of a political analysis.

Despite its appearance though Baywatch is actually a Chinese movie. Produced by Huahua Media and the Shanghai Film Group. It features Indian actress Priyanka Chopra as the villain. Reflecting a Chinese position towards its neighbour and great rival.

Also from 2017 there is the movie; "Wonder Woman." Another Chinese movie, produced by Tencent Pictures. It stars Israeli actress Gal Gadot.

In traditional Hollywood hands you would expect this to be a thundering piece of Zionist propaganda. All about the superiority of poor little Israel, its attractive women and its heroic warriors.

Initially it does tease with that. An opening about the race of people chosen by the gods. However it then takes on a much more anti-British tone. With the Israeli warrior having to battle a Lord Balfour like character.

Nomadland itself centres around the character; "Fern." Played by Frances McDormand. In the space of a year Fern sees her husband die. Then her town's industrial plant closes down. Leaving her and pretty much everyone else in her town unemployed.

Despite being in her sixties Fern responds by selling her house and possessions. Buying a van and living it as she travels around. Joining a community of fellow modern day nomads. Taking seasonal, casual work. Including at an Amazon warehouse.

As such its main themes are America's industrial decline. Along with the rise of Chinese style Totalitarian Capitalism. Where rather than having a government of the people, for the people. You have a government of the corporation, for the corporation. Against the people.

This is something which was called into sharp focus during the 2020 US Election. Where corporations, particularly Big Tech companies such as Amazon. Took the decision that they were going to impose Joe Biden and the Democrats as America's next government.

You're also starting to see it in Georgia. Where corporations, such as Uber, whose entire business model is built on exploitation and as much slavery they can get away with. Are aggressively opposing attempts to eliminate electoral fraud.

Some people have pointed out the obvious talking point that Nomadland provides. About Propaganda in movies. Corporate, Chinese, Zionist or otherwise.

The movie shows Fern and her fellow workers suffering at the hands of the evil Amazon Corporation. It was released on the Disney+ streaming service. A major rival to the Amazon Prime streaming service.

Although I think many people may have missed that the British, Brexit propaganda. "Amazon Picker" is used as a euphemism for; "Fruit Picker." The type of casual seasonal work that, prior, to Brexit was done by Eastern European migrants.

Nomadland tells the stories of an often forgotten and marginalised American community. Very much making a point of that is what it is doing. Many of the cast members aren't actors. They're people who live that lifestyle, being filmed as they do so.

This makes it a very unusual sort of film to even be nominated for an Oscar. Let alone win them. Despite them being celebrated in the world of independent movies.

That feeds into the #OscarsSoWhite debate of increasing opportunity within the entertainment industry.

Supporters of the #OscarsSoWhite campaign seem not to realise that the Oscars is really the absolute pinnacle of the profession. So it is completely unrealistic for people to achieve that pinnacle at their first attempt.

They also don't seem to realise that there is only a very specific type of movie that gets nominated for the Oscars. As part of a national discussion they have to be rather mainstream. Deal with the sort of topics you would be happy discussing with your parents.

There is a whole other world out there of independent movies. Telling stories that manage to make even someone like me blush. Many people who've go on to be nominated Oscars got their first break in independent movies. Then spent years honing their craft on them.

This was something that was heavily examined at the 2020 Oscars. Where the Jennifer Lopez produced movie; "Hustlers" was snubbed by the Oscars.

However that movie about a crime spree by a group of sex workers dominated the Independent Spirit Awards. With Jennifer Lopez performing at the Super Bowl the week before. You would think that would have helped shift focus from the Oscars to the Spirit Awards.

At around 17:15 on 26/4/21 (UK date) I've not even finished with this one movie yet.

Edited at around 19:10 on 26/4/21 (UK date) to copy & paste;

Rather like myself. Chloe Zhao and Nomadland have clearly done very well out of the pandemic.

The emotional tone of the movie is of isolation and despair. Which, thanks to the lockdowns, has been pretty much everybody's 2020.

These lockdowns have also done astonishing economic damage. The last time Britain faced unemployment, particularly youth unemployment, this high. Was during the early 1980's when Margaret Thatcher forced through her economic reforms.

Without jobs many young British people were unable to get homes of their own, get married or generally get on with their life. Facing a set of problems similar to those that drove the Arab Spring these people simply checked out of mainstream society.

Going to live in vans and buses. Forming the; "New Age Traveller" movement. Which spawned Rave culture.

Alongside things like the miners strike, football hooliganism and innercity riots. Britain saw this as an existential threat to the state itself. Rather like how the US should be seeing Black Lives Matter as an existential threat. The state's crackdown was brutal. With the so-called "Battle of the Beanfield" being one of the most famous clashes.

Across many developed European nations, particularly Britain, we've suddenly started to see lots of violent protests. Some overtly against Covid restrictions. Other against more vague causes like #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter.

These protests are not genuine. They are the state practicing for what is to come. 

As you may have detected. From the interest in British political matters. Chloe Zhao may be Chinese born but she is a British citizen. Given my experience growing up in the UK equivalent of Ellis Island I assume she was a child refugee. Most Chinese people in Britain are refugees from Totalitarian Capitalism.

From there you can discuss Britain's attempts to muscle in on President Trump's trade war with China. Through the Hong Kong Protests. Something which I cited as a cause of the pandemic.

The net result though is that Britain is now having to take in some 3m+ extra Chinese refugees.

She may have arrived through my hometown. However Chloe Zhao grew up in Brighton. Where I also used to live for a while.

Part of that time was spent living in a Nomadland-style purple van/converted ambulance. Solving mysteries with a dog named; "Screwby Ru."

Which, if you were in any way involved in the production of; "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Or the subsequent; "Scooby Doo" movies.

Must've sounded like I was taking the p*ss.

As you would expect from a movie that has taken up an entire post. Nomadland was extremely well recieved.

Winning three of the big four Oscars.

Best Picture. Best Director for Chloe Zhao. Best Actress for Frances McDormand.

To be continued in Part 2.

19:25 on 26/4/21 (UK date).