Oscars still white?

In 2015, after all 20 Academy Award acting nominations went to white actors, social media responded with the #OscarsSoWhite campaign to press for greater representation in film. Now, ten years later, has Hollywood made good on its promise to diversify? What do this year’s nominations say about the state of filmmaking? And where is the industry headed overall? Michele Foss-Snowden is a professor of rhetoric and media at Sacramento State, whose research, in part, looks at representation in film, TV and other media. Ahead of this year’s Oscars, she joined “Beyond J” to talk with host Phillip Altstatt about this year’s nominated films, the importance of not just the quantity of representation but also the quality, and overall trends in Hollywood. “M. Foss” also shares how she incorporates this critical lens into her teaching at Sac State, and discusses “The TV Doc,” her podcast where she “prescribes” TV episodes to watch to “alleviate … emotional ailments.” Listen to Beyond J on Apple or Spotify. Links: Michele Foss-Snowden on Sac State Scholars The TV Doctor The Sacramento Bee’s Black Change Makers: Meet the Top 20 leaders changing the region’s future