The following lesson activities are based on the article “What It’s Really Like to Work in Hollywood* (*If you’re not a straight white man.).”
Before Reading
Will you be watching the Academy Awards on Sunday night? Why or why not?
Do you think there is enough diversity in Hollywood movies? If not, what group or groups do you wish were better represented?
In January after the Academy Award nominees were announced, many protested the fact that it was the second straight year in which minorities were snubbed in all the acting categories.
Although the academy quickly made changes designed to increase the diversity of its membership, hurdles remain.
The piece you’re about to read interviews women and minority film industry players about their personal experiences of not feeling seen, heard or accepted, and how they pushed forward.
After Reading
Skim this article and answer the questions, supporting your responses by citing evidence from the text.
1. With which of the people pictured and quoted here are you familiar? Of which are you a fan?
2. Choose one interview to read in each category. What stories, details or ideas in what you’ve read especially stand out? Why?
3. What did you learn from this that you didn’t know before about how discrimination against women and minorities has worked over the years in Hollywood? What examples did you see of egregious double standards? What more subtle forms of discrimination did you learn about?
4. Now that you’ve read this piece, how do you think the film industry could begin to fix this problem?
Going Further
This topic was suggested by our Student Council member Jiachen Jiachen Jiang, who writes:
Popular media is finally opening its doors to diversity, from television series centered on people of color to the Oscars’ response to the controversy that sharply divided A-list actors and actresses. However, a backlash has started as well, as detractors claim that the current movement sacrifices quality for political correctness.
What do you think? Can a show or movie be made better by including minority characters? Can it be made worse?
What would true diversity in popular culture look like to you?
Related
Student Question | What — if Anything — Does the Current Hollywood Film Industry Lack?
Teaching Collection | Film in the Classroom