The Oscars, Brain Rot, and The Death Of Prestige

About this episode

The episode discusses the impact of the internet on Hollywood and the Oscars, exploring themes of prestige and cultural messaging in film.

As younger generations continue to turn towards the internet for their content, what fate awaits for Hollywood? Last Sunday, celebrities and renowned members of the Academy gathered together to celebrate the Oscars. The awards show is considered one of the touchstones of modern-day media culture, but how much impact does it really have? And what messages are the films we’re praising really sending? In this episode of How Is This Better?, Akilah Hughes is joined by journalist and podcaster Ryan Broderick, who has dug deep into the myriad of ways in which the internet has been shaping the awards landscape, rather than the other way around. Together, they discuss: How viral marketing, “brain rot” trends, and inexperienced influencers disguised as journalists are leaking out of online spaces and into Oscar campaigns. The increased struggle for actors and filmmakers trying to take traditional paths, and how the web is turning into a more viable career launchpad. How many of the favored nominees, even at their most political, reflected warped versions of cultural fears, while those left snubbed were too close to our current moment to be properly celebrated. Hollywood’s notable shift…

People in this episode

Host: Akilah Hughes

Guest: Ryan Broderick

Topics covered

• Oscars
• Hollywood
• internet culture
• viral marketing
• prestige
• media landscape
• influencers

Keywords

• Oscars
• Hollywood
• internet
• brain rot
• viral marketing
• influencers
• prestige
• media culture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hollywood

Books & works: Academy

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