Gareth on Oscar Nominations

Gareth Higgins on the Oscar Nominations

The Oscars matter to me for five reasons, and the first is the one that should perhaps matter least. Despite the projections of importance placed on celebrities, the absurd wealth, and the way in which the most well-known faces in entertainment are often presented as not only more powerful, but frankly better than the rest of us, witnessing authentic celebration can be good for us all. There’s something encouraging about watching people affirm each other’s achievements, and the warmth of a community of artists getting together once a year comes from the same impulse we all share: for connection and reassurance, safety and belonging.

The other four reasons matter more: