Why Oscar Costume Design Nominees Should Stop Fetishizing the Past

There is A saying among Oscars Kremlinologists that THE Academy doesn't reward THE best act - he rewards THE most acting. It is A feeling that, has less part of THE time, appears has apply has THE suit design category Also: For the electors, When he come has style on screen, bigger East generally better. (Bigger skirts, more daring colors, more impetuous patterns; if he makes your eyes popular, odds are THE Academy will love that.)

When he come has the costumes, However, THE Academy service East Also guide by another postman: history. Look has THE pass decade of nominees as A sample, 48 out of THE 50 movies up For THE Golden statuette were either fantasy Or period movies - the exceptions be There There Ground In 2016 And All Everywhere All has Once last year, In case You were I wonder - and all of THE period movies that took THE price House were together has less 50 years In THE past.

This years reframe of best suit nominees is not it TO DO a lot has male that orient yourself. Four out of THE five movies appointed functionality historical settings, THE most recent of those be Oppenheimer's conclusion In THE early 1960s, When THE physicist East granted A medal by President Lyndon b. Johnson. And It is difficult has believe that Barbie's nomination came about For It is scenes In Today California, as opposite has THE fabulously kitsch Barbieland confectionery dream up by suit designate Jacqueline Durran (WHO In fact won her second best suit Oscar In 2020 For Greta by Gerwig previous movie, Little Women: together In THE late 19th century).

Margot Robbie In Barbie.Photo: Warner Brothers / Courtesy Everett Collection

In all justice, It is not hard has see Why period And fantasy disguises are has THE foreground of THE price season conversation: We simply opinion them more. Along with THE production design, THE clothes are THE most visible path In which A movie transportation We has another decade Or century (Or has A alternative reality, In THE case of THE fantasy movies that tender has populate THE other slot machines In THE best suit align). It is Also A tale as old as Oscars time: After THE category was First of all present, In 1949, It is First of all little decades were dominated by Edith Head, WHO received A save e...