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What do the Academy Awards represent?

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Last night was the 94th annual Academy Awards.

Where CODA took home best picture, Ariana DeBose made history as first openly queer woman of color, and first afro-Latina, to win an academy award for acting. She took home best supporting actress for her role as Anita in West Side Story. And Will Smith won best actor for his role in King Richard.

But, did the academy voters get it right?

If the Oscars are meant to represent the best of the year, the things that really get at what we were thinking and feeling in 2021, did this year’s winners succeed?

Soundside guest host Zaki Hamid spoke to Kathy Fennessy about the subject. She’s a film critic and writer for video librarian and the Seattle film blog, and a trustee on the board of the Seattle film critics society.

Hear their full conversation by clicking the audio above.

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