Alright haters- I'm here to give some unsolicited thoughts on the Oscars announced "Best Popular Film" category. (tl:dr - stop whining)
First of all, let me just admit that my knee-jerk reaction was also along the lines of "lolz wut". But this is wrong. For many reasons it is the wrong reaction, and here's why:
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a non-profit organization (a 501 c 6 if you care). This means they aren't out trying to make a dime. Any funds through membership, event viewing, etc. is put directly back into preservation, scientific development (of open-source software no less) and membership experiences. Believe it or not, truly, the heart of what the Academy does is preservation (hi! Academy Film Archive intern here). Because they work with limited funds, they have to be very focused in the content that they commit preservation efforts to, and Academy nominees are given top priority. Unfortunately, this means some quality films often get overlooked until they show their worth standing the test of time. Regrettably, time is not a preservationist's friend. I'm sure outwardly, this looks like a draw for more viewership, but the implications it has on the future of film preservation is much bigger than that.
Secondly, to those griping that "popular films" are not art, you're wrong. They are art. Hundreds of people worked to create that art. You may choose not to enjoy it, and admittedly, not every film made is going to be good. But if a movie that would otherwise have been looked over for not being artistic enough (I'm talking comedies, action/thrillers, and other truly good-time flicks), excited and connected with audiences enough to bring in record-breaking box-office numbers, that says a lot about who WE are. This is a lot bigger than just creating an award to appease the casual watcher. What happens at the Oscars is recorded in history; the movies nominated are carefully preserved; and the films that move us deserve a place in the vault. It may not be art in the way you choose to accept it, but it is a huge part of the human record and speaks volumes to who we are as a collective at that place in time when we buy tickets to certain titles.
Lastly, to those who I am sure are asking themselves- but if movies are shot digitally, what's the big deal? IT IS A VERY BIG DEAL. Digital files are NOT reliable. Physical film is a much safer way to ensure the survival of a movie. With technology that rapidly changes and hard drives that have minds of their own, digital files cannot yet keep up. The first rule of preservation is to make a print. That takes physical labor and physical space to store it, both of which require money, and as we know the Academy is not for profit. Therefore, to be able to properly preserve the films that move us and make us, it needs justification to allocate money and a new category will do just that.
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2087
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