Why Can’t the Oscars Be More Like a Political Election?

From the level of participation to the order of finish, politics gives you information that the Academy Awards keep secret

Oscar envelopes
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Voting for the Academy Awards ends on Tuesday afternoon at 5 p.m. PT – which means that at the Oscars, as well as in politics, election day falls on Tuesday.

But why can’t what happens next be more like politics?

Sure, we’ve seen lengthy, expensive campaigns run by sought-after professionals, favorites who’ve flamed out in the primaries (i.e., the guild awards), frontrunners who’ve missed no opportunity to charm the electorate and even politicians mouthing off about “American Sniper” and “Selma.” In that way, the Oscars are a lot like a political race already.

Also read: Oscars Final Word: What ‘Birdman,’ ‘Boyhood’ and ‘American Sniper’ Ads Are Saying

But now, as the polls close and the votes are counted, we get a curtain of silence, and a lot of unanswered questions, several of which I’d like to ask here.

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