Hollywood's influential Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has honored hundreds of films and filmmakers since the first Oscars ceremony in 1929. Many recipients have since fallen into obscurity, while some have changed film history.
The awards are lauded as a cultural zeitgeist, sparking debate and driving social change. Arts Unveiled presents 10 formative Oscar winners, exploring their historical significance and their impact on contemporary culture.
While the 1939 antebellum drama "Gone with the Wind" is heavily criticized for its sanitized portrayal of slavery and racial discrimination, it also marked a milestone in film history: Hattie McDaniel was the first African American actor to receive an Oscar for her performance in 1940, thus paving the way for numerous Black actors in Hollywood. And yet, for decades to come the Oscars remained primarily the domain of Hollywood's elite "inner circle" — white, self-absorbed men.
Barry Jenkins broke through that glass ceiling when his film "Moonlight" won the Oscar for best picture in 2017. This coming-of-age story centered around a gay, Black lead was hailed by many as a film that ushered in a new era of African American film in Hollywood.
But, of course, Hollywood and the Academy could still do a lot more to support diversity in cinema. Ethnic minorities and women remain grossly underrepresented. It's hard to believe that Kathryn Bigelow was the first woman to ever win an Oscar for best director in 2010. Her award for the war drama "Hurt Locker" further bolstered discussions surrounding greater gender equity in film production.
Are the Oscars a reflection of society? Arts Unveiled on 10 films that not only entertained audiences, but changed cinema — and, arguably, the world.