Stephen King’s Entirely Right About Art And Diversity

The modern world doesn’t like people stating clear and obvious truths:

There is, apparently, a backlash at this:

Stephen King took a different stance. Early on Tuesday morning, he spoke about the three Oscars categories in which he is able to nominate: best picture, adapted screenplay and original screenplay. He said that diversity is not a consideration for him when he votes as a member of the Academy. “I would never consider diversity in matters of art. Only quality. It seems to me that to do otherwise would be wrong,” he said on Twitter.

He has since been criticized by leading Hollywood names and authors saying his argument centers on the idea that quality and diversity are mutually exclusive. The director Ava DuVernay called King’s comments “so backward and ignorant you want to go back to bed”. The writer Roxane Gay tweeted that she was disappointed that King only believed in “quality from one demographic”.

That last comment is, of course, just amazingly stupid. What’s he’s saying, what’s he’s actually said directly, is that he doesn’t consider the demographic and shouldn’t.

Which is also what the Oscars don’t do. They do not have a category for the best movie by a xe, the best screenplay by a white bloke (one actually won by a bloke I was at school with) nor best adapted screenplay by a tipper of the velvet. They have three awards, for the best film, best screenplay, best adapted screenplay. The best, irrespective of who – or what – did them.

But then you know, speaking the truth is a radical act and all that.