Did Politics Ruin the Oscars?

If nothing else, the pandemic has shown us the weaknesses of our cultural and political institutions.

Case in point, this year's Oscars. They have problems. Big problems.

You can see those problems in the public's relationship to the movies up for best picture, the ceremony's top award.

For one thing, it's not clear anyone has seen any of the movies nominated. For another, it's not even clear that anyone has heard of them. OK, fine, I don't actually mean anyone. I'm taking a little bit of dramatic...