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A Memorable Oscar Performance
By Dr. Katherine Hermes, Torrington
The Oscar performance broadcast by ABC on March 23 was indeed memorable and, for once in ages, not trivial. Yet what made it a momentous evening was disturbing, and raises questions that are age-old about the relationship of art, artist-as-artist, and artist-as-moral-person.
In a courageous statement, the documentary filmmakers, represented by the winner Michael Moore, defied policy and gave a political statement that was shocking in its clarity and truth. I have never heard anyone but a constitutional scholar say that Bush II is not the real president, and this is, legally speaking, taken by many constitutional experts to be a fact, not merely an opinion. Moore was booed more than he was cheered, but when Adrian Brody made his inane (and implicitly pro-war) statement, he was applauded.
The most disturbing feature of the night was not Brody's acceptance speech per se, though. A lot of actors give poor speeches (thank heaven for Peter O'Toole and Julie Andrews, who can still speak intelligible and articulate English). What Brody did was one of the most offensive personal acts I have witnessed on an entertainment program.
As he came on stage, Brody took Halle Berry in his arms and kissed her hard. The enthusiasm of a boy who has just received an award? I don't think so. In one foul (fowl?) swoop, he took it upon himself to degrade the first black woman to win Best Actress. She was rendered powerless unless she wanted to look like a bad sport. The message: even though you are Best Actress, I am a white man who can kiss you whether you like it or not right in front of the whole world and if you don't like it (she clearly was offended), too bad—because you can't stop me. She was unable to consent to this abuse of the moment.
I don't know Halle Berry, so I can't say whether she went home feeling angry and humiliated while Brody went home triumphant, but it sends a terrible message to the viewing public and especially to young men. A woman's body is her own, and unless she consents to kiss you, you just can't "take" her. With the history of race relations that weighs on the shoulders of the United States, the act was even more symbolic. And then Brody went on to babble about humanitarianism and human rights, one of which he had just violated right on stage.
It was also mind-boggling to see actors stand in ovation when Roman Polanski won his Oscar. Does anyone remember that he is a fugitive from the United States for having sex with a thirteen-year-old? His art may be award-winning; that doesn't excuse applauding the man. Perhaps Mr. Brody has spent too long in Mr. Polanski's company.
It was an interesting and volatile night at the Oscars. Brody should be ashamed; Michael Moore and those who spoke out for their beliefs in an articulate manner should be proud for defying the "no politics" policy in a time of such turbulence, and Road to Perdition deserved its Oscar for best cinematography. It was a night to remember, but not for all the right reasons.
Dr. Hermes is Associate Professor of History at Central Connecticut State University.
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