| The Gimmees |
3 February 2003
|
Award Season Arrives -- Pity
The Golden Globes have been and gone, and these prizes awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press (formerly 50 stringers who survived on hors d'oeuvres) mark the beginning of the annual pat-on-the-back season for the entertainment world. The problem, though, is the ubiquity of these awards have debased their value on an artistic level.
Setting aside for a moment the folly of naming any artistic performance "the best of the year," if the Grammy for best album goes one recording, the MTV Music award to another, and the People's Choice Award to a third, can any of them be said to be the best at all?
The cult of self-esteem is partially to blame, wherein every player in Little League must take home a trophy regardless of on-the-field success. But the industry of entertainment carries a hefty share of guilt. It is an honor just to be nominated, but when one wins, by God, then the cash comes in. Hence, the proliferation of honors.
Meanwhile, Peter O'Toole has declined a lifetime achievement Oscar hoping at age 70 to "win the bugger outright" for some future performance. The fact that he, Lawrence of Arabia, hasn't got one yet sums up the failure of the current system. The Academy's lifetime awards are exercises in maintaining its own credibility, and he is right to reject his.