What the Oscars 2022 taught us

Monday was Oscars night, but the headlines were filled with *that* infamous footage, despite breakthroughs in awards ceremony history and many beautiful outfits.

The Oscars 2022 came to serve with the winners:

- The film CODA won best picture, the first deaf film to do so in history.

- Riz Ahmed became the first Muslim to win an Oscar for short film The Long Goodbye

- Ariana De Bose became the first openly queer mixed race woman to win Best Supporting Actress for West Side Story

- Samuel L.Jackson was presented with a lifetime honorary Oscar (by friend Denzel Washington)

People from these backgrounds have had to work much harder to get to where they are, and to be recognised with the most prestigious award there is in acting is a breakthrough, not just for these individuals involved but for who they represent.

This is what we should be celebrating, talking about and championing. The Oscars 2022 has yet again showed us that there is still such a long way to go in recognising the achievements of all people within society, and even when people attain these awards, they are not given the appropriate coverage, such as Riz Ahmed's acceptance speech receiving no air time.

The Oscars is also an opportunity to drool over celebrity sartorial style. The trends from this year show red is very much in fashion and the post-pandemic longing for colours is ever present. My personal favourite this year was Jessica Chastain, dressed by Gucci:

Wearing a purple ombre gown to the Oscars

Wearing a striking emerald green cinched dress to the Vanity Fair Oscars after party

We like to think '2022' means a more accepting society and we have certainly made steps in this direction, in both fashion and awards. However, there is still so much more that can be done, such as giving individuals and their awards appropriate media coverage and support.

#oscars2022 #oscarssowhite #rizahmed #arianadebose #samuelljackson #denzelwashington #inequality #breakthroughs #muslim #deaf #queer #mixedrace #jessicachastain

*All rights reserved for the images 

Header image: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a32314940/oscars-2021-changes/ 

First image: https://www.insider.com/oscars-academy-awards-celebrity-looks-reviewed-2022-3#the-colors-of-jessica-chastains-dress-took-away-from-the-look-1 

Second image: https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Style/oscars-2022-party-fashion-jessica-chastain-zendaya-hailey/story?id=83720789