Why Are So Many Oscar Nominees About Making Things?

This week I noticed something surprising looking at this year’s Oscar nominees. More at bethlapides.substack.comA surprising number of them are about artists and art-making — stories about writing, music, theater, filmmaking, and the complicated lives of people who make things.Which made me wonder if that says something about the moment we’re in.In a time shaped by AI, rapid change, and existential questions about what it means to be human, it’s interesting that so many of the stories we’re telling right now are about creativity itself.In this episode I read my recent essay exploring why movies about artists might feel especially resonant right now — and why making things might be one of the most human things we do.Along the way we talk about:• why the word creativity can feel strangely academic• the cycle of making things and how it changes the maker• the artists at the center of this year’s Oscar conversation• why sacrifice and art are often intertwinedAnd yes — there’s a small detour into my grandmother knitting in movie theaters.Because apparently knitting has much better SEO than creativity. Get full access to The Infinite Creator at bethlapides.substack.com/subscribe