TOW #15- Nonfiction Piece- The Baffling 2016 Oscar Nominees

"The Baffling 2016 Oscar Nominees" is commentary written by Richard Brody for The New Yorker. Brody is an American film critic who has written for The New Yorker since 1999. In his commentary he address the 2016 Oscar nominees and the bias way in which the academy pick its nominees. His main purpose is to comment on the wrongfully snub actors and pick apart the nominated films. He does through his use of callous diction, most notably when he address the way in which the Academy choose its nominees. One movie in which Brody thought deserved more nomination was that of Creed, and disagreed with only Sylvester Stallone being the one to represent the film. "But the Academy’s choice of no one but Stallone to represent “Creed” at the awards—no Jordan and no Ryan Coogler, who wrote and directed it, and, for that matter, no Maryse Alberti, whose distinctively agile cinematography is integral to the movie’s emotional impact—is a grotesque distortion of the viewing experience." (2). By using phrase like "grotesque distortion" Brody avails the seriousness of his claims and further shows his feelings on who he feels worthy of giving an Oscar. Brody is successful in his purpose to in a way call out the Academy. By using insensitive and callous diction he gives a seriousness to a topic that most of his audience, movie goers. wouldn't think of. Furthermore, showing the bias of the Academy.